CORRESPONDENCE WITH IILS FAMILY. 110 



assist you in mosses : time and practice will render you more 

 adroit; but some lessons would be better. Dr. Forster has 

 already published a quarto volume of Antarctic ovnera, new 

 genera with cuts. It is a splendid book, in Latin, and dedi- 

 cated to the kino-, Bro. Ben. has a share. The Dr. has done 

 honour to his friends, and has got a Barrincjtonia, a JBanksia, 

 a X/n'tfiflditf. a Skinm'rta*, &c. The Barrinytonia'f is a noble 

 flower and is polyandvisi monogynia. The latin I think is 

 good. His nautical work, in English, is now under correc- 

 tion, as to stile and idiom, at Oxford. Pray be more explicit 

 about " the influence of the W. and S. exposure on our 

 trees." We that see y daily do not so much observe. 

 "\Vrite very soon, and direct to this house. Send me all 

 manner of hints for Nat. Hist. I have made a visit to 

 Grimm. Bro. John has finished his Fauna. The work will 

 be large. Mr. Barr. wants me to join with him in a Nat. 

 Hist, publication ; but if I publish at all, I shall come forth 

 by myself. Bro. Tho. is laying up materials for a History of 

 Hants. He will some day take an artist down. 



LETTER XVII. 



TO THOMAS BARKER. 



Thames Street, Feb. 7, 1776. 

 DEAR SIR, 



OUR snow, like yours, was not very great, but most marvel- 

 ously drifted thro' the hedges, so as to fill all our lanes and 

 cover the gates. I was forced to dig my way out of the 

 village, and to ride for two Sundays following to Farr. 

 attended by Pioneers. As long as I stayed, the therm 1 " con- 

 tinued abroad at 20. But on Jan. 28 (Thomas writes mo 

 word) it fell to 7, on 29 to 6; on the 30 it was at 10; and 

 on the 31 it descended to half a degree below !! a degree of 

 cold beyond any instance that I have yet heard of! There 



* [Skinncria was not finally removed from Fuchsia. T. B.] 

 t \B. spcciosa, Forst, Rumph. Herb. Amb. 3, 114. T. B.] 



