43 



Dr. Franklin and John Bartram.* Peter Collinson's attachment to 

 Natural History, led him early to make a collection of dried speci- 

 mens of plants, and he availed himself of his ready access to the best 

 gardens around London. He became intimate with the most eminent 

 Naturalists of his time and was one of the few who visited Sir 

 Hans Sloan, at all times familiarly ; a firm friendship having been 

 early established between them which lasted while they lived. There 

 were but few articles in that superb collection, now the British 

 Museum, commenced by his friend, with which he was not familiar. 

 He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1728, and became 

 one of the most diligent and useful members. While unremitting in 

 his attention to business, he extended his correspondence upon Na- 

 tural History, and all matters connected with the arts and sciences, 

 the world over. Such was his diligence and economy of time that he 

 never appeared to be in a hurry, while he maintained this extensive 

 correspondence with great punctuality, and laid so many of the 

 learned and ingenious under obligations to him, in distant parts of the 

 globe, by acquainting them with the discoveries and improvements 

 in Natural History around him, that he received like information 

 from them in return. Cadwalader Golden, Esq. of New York, and 

 Dr. Franklin and James Logan, of Philadelphia, as well as John Bar- 

 tram, were among his particular, and most valued correspondents. 

 His aid to the Philadelphia Library was extended, in a similar manner, 

 to many others in the vicinity ; and was promotive of widely ex- 

 tended and lasting good, which entitle his name to our grateful 

 remembrance, and secure to Dr. Darlington many thanks for bringing 

 it vividly to mind. During the residence of Linnaeus in England, 



*R is but just to add thefdUauriny testimonial by his son. 



"At Sproughton Church, near Ipswich : 



" This monument is erected 



by Charles Streynsham Collinson, Esquire, 



to the memory of his father 



MICHAEL COLLIXSON, Esquire, 



late of the Chantry in this parish, and also 



of Hendon in the County of Middlesex; 



who died the llth of August. 1795, aged 67 years 



He was distinguished for his knowledge of Natural History, 



And for the attention he pave to botanical subjects in particular. 



From- his generally well-informed mind and polished manners, 



his company was much esteemed by persons of the first eminence; 



And he endeared himself to his more immediate connections. 



by his 



benevolence and liberality. 



The enjoyment of the latter part of his life was greatly interrupted 

 by a series of painful disorders, which he sustained 

 with much exemplary resignation and fortitude." 



Nich. Lit. An. 5th To?, p. 315. 



