32 



happy discovery of my favorite Meadia. It is really remarka- 

 ble none should be found since. 



" I hear nothing more of that proposal thee mentions ; but 

 if there were any real intention of carrying it into execu- 

 tion, no one properer than thyself for Natural History and 

 Botany. 



" That the Indians should be alarmed at our sounding or 

 measuring I don't wonder they should be jealous of our inva- 

 sion of their property. Every man is tenacious of his native 

 rights, and if you invade their rights, you must take the conse- 

 quences. Let those be well banged I may say well hanged 

 that, by their unjust proceedings, provoked the Indians to 

 hostilities, knowing before-hand their cruel resentments." 



Bartram says to Collinson : 



"March 4, 1764. 

 ****** * * 



" I think our Indians received a full value for that cheating 

 walk, and pretended to be fully satisfied with what they re- 

 ceived above the first agreement ; and as for Pittsburg, they let 

 the French settle and build there ; then why may riot the Eng- 

 lish, after they had drove the French out, keep possession of 

 it ? And as the Indians have committed such barbarous de- 

 struction on our people, we have more reason to destroy them 

 and possess their land than you have to keep Canada. And 

 must all our provinces suffer a prodigious yearly expense, and 

 have thousands of our innocent people barbarously murdered, 

 because some of our traders made them drunk to get a skin 

 cheap ? or an Irishman settles on a bit of their land which 

 they will never make use of ? And if we must settle any more 

 land, or any of the branches of the Mississippi, pray say no 

 more about our great British empire, while we must not be a 

 farthing the better for it. 



" I should be exceedingly pleased, if I could afford it, to 

 make a thorough search, not only at Pensacola, but the coast 

 of Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and the banks of the Missis- 

 sippi. I make no difference who got it, if I could but safely 

 travel in it. 



" My dear friend, I am so far from taking offence at thy 

 familiar way of writing, that it gives me much pleasure." 



