23 



takes all his distinctions from the stamina and the styles, the 

 first of which he calls husbands, and the other wives. 



" The performance is very curious, and at this time worth 

 thy notice. I would send it to thee, but, being in Latin, it will 

 want some explanation, which after I have given thee, thou 

 wilt, I believe, be fully able to deal with it thyself, since thou 

 generally knows the plants' names. If thou wilt step to town 

 to-morrow, thou wilt find me there with them at E. Shippen's, 

 or J. Pemberton's, from twelve to three. I want also to say 

 something further to thee, on microscopical observations. 



" Thy real friend, 



" J. LOGAN. 



" Stenton, 19th of June, 1736." 



This letter furnishes the evidence that Peter Collinson was 

 the first one to call Logan's attention to the great discovery of 

 Linnaeus, and put the means in his power which led him to 

 those experiments whereby he tested its truth, and made the 

 publication which added so greatly to his own fame. 



The next year Peter concludes a letter to his friend thus : 



" Now, dear John, I have made some running remarks on 

 thy curious letter, which contains so many fine remarks, that it 

 deserved to be read before the Royal Society ; and thee has 

 their thanks for it, desiring thee to continue thy observations, 

 and communicate them. I say make no apology. Thy style is 

 much beyond what one might expect from a man of thy educa- 

 tion. The facts are well described, and very intelligible." 



In another, the same year, he says to him : 



" Thy map of Schuylkill is very prettily done, and very 

 informing ; now I can read and travel at the same time. Lord 

 Petre has seen it, and is much pleased with that and thy jour- 

 nal ; one helps to illustrate the other. I intend to communi- 

 cate it to a curious map-maker ; it may be of use to him in 

 laying down that part of the river Schuylkill undescribed." 



March 3, 1741-2. He writes : 



" DEAR FRIEND JOHN : By our good friend Captain Wright, 

 I have sent Sir Hans's kind present, of his Natural History of 

 Jamaica, in two volumes. These I have put in a box I hal 

 made on purpose for them, and directed it on two places for 



