Vili PREFACE 



As we proceed with Dr. Darlington's book, we are rewarded, on 

 page 285, by a sudden shift in the drama. Bartram writes, Dec, 

 5, 1766, to his beloved "Peter" "I am surprised that Young is 

 come back so soon. He cuts the greatest figure in town, struts 

 along the streets, whistling, with his sword and gold lace, etc. He 

 hath been three times to visit me -preteada a great respect for me. 

 He is just going to winter in the Carolinas; saith there is three hun- 

 dred pounds sterling annually settled upon him. But Captain 

 Chancellor tells odd stories of him : that he was put in prison, from 

 which he was taken by two officers and put on board ship : but his 

 friends utterly deny it. Its pity but the truth was known, and the 

 lying party snubbed." 



Collinson's answer to this letter (page 286), written Feb. 10, 

 1767, completes the picture, and emphasizes the startling contrasts 

 between the neighbor Botanists of Darby Road in "Old Kingsess" 

 King's Botanist in Quaker homespun versus Queen's Botanist with 

 lace and sword; honest, toil-worn, English John versus courtly, 

 pampered, German William. Collinson writes : "I believe there is 

 too much truth in what the Captain saith about Young. He may 

 live to repent his folly and extravagance. Such an opportunity 

 lost is never to be regained unless he has better fortune than he 

 deserves. As a friend, I advised him often to economy and industry, 

 and not to sacrifice everything to his pleasures; for I foresaw, by 

 his way of going on, how it must end ; for I knew his salary could by 

 no means support his expensive way of living." 



The next word we have of Young in this book is to his credit and 

 shows that he did not lack generosity, which, added to other good 

 qualities attributed to him in his earlier career, probably wrought 

 some reformation, as he eventually settled down to botanical and 

 agricultural life on his father's farm at Kingsessing, very near Bar- 

 tram's Garden. Bartram, in a letter to Dr. John Fothergill, had 

 evidently accused Young of unfair treatment of him, but Fothergill 

 wrote him (page 344) (no date, circa 1772?) : "In a letter to my 

 nephew thou intimates that probably Will Young may have en- 

 deavoured to raise some prejudice against thee. He has not. He 

 durst not attempt it, as he knew my esteem for thee. He never 

 spoke one word to thy disadvantage. ... I have endeavoured 

 to assist this poor man and have aided him considerably, but he 

 will not succeed, nor can he be supported." 



On page 504 of the "Memorials," Dr. Fothergill writes Humphry 

 Marshall from Londoin, llth of Second Month, 1771 : 



". . . . William Young sends his plants over very safely, by 



