3T 



not much behind thee in a fine show, but when thy Eden plants 

 flower, I shall not be able to bear the report of them." 



" Consider, my dear John, what pleasure I feel now. 



I can give thee an order for a ten guinea box, for young Lord 

 Petre. Little did I think, when I gave thee the first like order 

 for his valuable father in 1735 or 1736, that I should live to 

 give the like for his son. It may be truly said that the spirit 

 of Elijah rests on Elisha, for he began this year with a box 

 of thy seeds." 



In acknowledging this, Bartram thus expresses himself : 



" I am heartily glad that young Lord Petre is possessed of 

 the botanical taste of his father. I wish he may resemble him 

 in virtue. I have intended to inquire after him and his mo- 

 ther in every late letter. The pear raised from her seed hath 

 borne a number of the finest relished fruit. I think a better 

 is not in the world." 



In a note to which, the editor informs us, " This tree, known 

 as * Lady Petre's Pear tree,' is still (1848) flourishing at the 

 Bartram garden, standing close by the house. 



Peter Collinson, in 1764, when noticing Bartram's last re- 

 mark, says : " It has been thy patience to wait, but my plea- 

 sure to hear of the delicious pear raised from Lady Petre's 

 seed ; but she, dear good woman, is gone to rest." 



In 1765 he makes this announcement : 



" I have the pleasure to inform my good friend, that my 

 repeated solicitations have not been in vain. I this day re- 

 ceived certain intelligence from our gracious king that he had 

 appointed thee his botanist, with a salary of fifty pounds a 

 year." 



These are a few of the many, many specimens of the acts of 

 kindness, expressions of sympathy and admiration, and long 

 abiding, devoted friendship, which these letters present, hold- 

 ing up Peter Collinson as a pattern for the doers of good in 

 all succeeding ages. 



" He was one of the earliest and most constant correspon- 

 dents of Linnaeus, and was highly distinguished in the circle 

 of naturalists and antiquaries in London, for nearly half a 

 century." 



An interesting little tract giving some accounts of him, 

 4 



