36 



double entendre, did I ever hear (this is something of the 

 man.) i For his virtues, his excellencies, and his endowments, I 

 loved him, and he me, more like a brother than a friend." 



Thirty years after their correspondence had commenced, 

 Peter Collinson writes thus to John Bartram : 



" I have pleasure upon pleasure beyond measure, with perus- 

 ing my dear John's letters of October 31st, with the rare plants 

 in Eden." 



" Think, my dear John, with what amazement and 



delight I, with Dr. Solander, surveyed the quire of specimens. 

 He thinks near half are new genera. This will enrich the 



fountain of knowledge." "But what surprises us most, is 



the Tipitiwitchet Sensitive. It is quite a new species, a new 

 genus." (Dioncea muscipula.) " 



Again soon after 



" I am glad, my dear John, I can send our friend Solander's 

 catalogue of thy last curious collection of specimens. There 

 are wonderful things amongst them, especially the Sensitive, 

 JEmpetrum" &c. * * * * * * 



" They enrich our knowledge, and anticipate our pleasures, 

 and give us a good idea of the riches in store, to gratify the 

 botanists of after ages. 0, botany ! delightfulest of all sci- 

 ences ! There is no end of thy gratifications. All botanists 

 will join with me in thanking my dear John for his unwearied 

 pains to gratify every inquisitive genius. I have sent Lin- 

 naeus a specimen, and one leaf of Tipitiwitchet Sensitive : only 

 to him would I spare such a jewel. Pray send more speci- 

 mens. I am afraid we can never raise it Linnaeus will be in 

 raptures at the sight of it." 



Again under date of August 4th, 1763 : 



" My garden, like thine, makes a glorious appearance ; with 

 fine long-spiked purple Ononis ; with the all-spice of Carolina 

 [Oalycanthus floridus, L.,~\ abundantly in flower spreading 

 its perfumes abroad ; the delectable red-flowering Acacia ; my 

 laurel-leafed Magnolia, with its noble blossoms, which will con- 

 tinue for two months or more. The great Rhododendron has 

 been glorious beyond expression ; and before, I told thee of 

 the mountain Magnolia, and the surprising flowers of the red 

 and yellow Sarracenia. Thus, my dear John, thou sees I am 



