514 DOCTOR FOTHERGILL [1775. 



Many of thy plants are there in good perfection. The poor 

 Turtle came to us alive, and continued some months. We suspected 

 he had got some hurt on board the ship, as he looked uncommonly 

 heavy about the eyes, and did not care for stirring. He had water 

 enough, and land at his choice, and also the shelter of a warm 

 hovel. I am not, however, the less obliged to thee for thy kind 

 attention. 



When once the communication is opened, let me know how I 

 can, most satisfactorily to thyself, discharge the debt I have con- 

 tracted, and I will do it speedily. I have forborne taking any 

 notice, till now, of the public distress that now afflicts America, 

 and must soon, in some shape, come home to ourselves. I do not 

 think that our superiors will at all listen to any terms, but such as 

 must be disagreeable to America. I therefore expect that much 

 mischief will be done, that a large army will be sent over, and that 

 orders will be given to wage war in every part of America. 



I have no other foundation for this opinion, than from what ap- 

 pears to be the general tendency of the preparations, and the in- 

 fatuation of the times. 



It seems not unlikely but we may be rendered a severe scourge 

 to each other. It will be happy for those who know where to seek 

 for a quiet habitation, both internally and externally. 



This I wish most sincerely for all my friends, myself, and every- 

 body. What little lay within my reach to do, I have endeavoured 

 to do it honestly ; but it's all in vain. Providence may see meet, 

 by this dreadful work, to bring us back to ourselves, and rouse us 

 to better considerations. Many lives will be lost, many fine fabrics 

 demolished, the labour of ages ruined ; and all this chiefly at the 

 instigation of some proud discontented people, who have been in 

 office in America : and I am sorry to join with them the generality 

 of the Scotch, many of whom being high in authority here, and 

 seeing the * * * *f rather set against you, urge on the^e violent 

 councils ; in the first place, to gain favour with * * *, and in the 

 next, to wreak their revenge on the English, by setting them to 

 work to destroy one another. 



Whilst the packets continue to sail, it will not be very difficult, 

 now and then, to send little parcels of curious seeds in a letter to 

 thy assured friend. 



f The King, is obviously the "word intended to fill the blanks, prudently left in 

 this letter. The same prudential motive, no doubt, induced Dr. F. to omit putting 

 his name to this, his last epistle to our countryman. 



