1776 "SEND ALL MANNER OF HINTS" 307 



my amendment of murmur electricum of Linn. Dr. Hales, 

 in 'Vegetable Statics,' settles the point from experiment, 

 that the moister earth is, the more deio it attracts ; and 

 that a surface of ivater attracts more moisture from the 

 air than a surface of moist earth. I wish I could assist 

 you in mosses: time and practice will render you more 

 adroit; but some lessons would be better. Dr. Forster 

 has already published a quarto vol. of Antarctic genera ; new 

 genera, with cuts. It is a splendid book in Latin, and 

 dedicated to the king. Brother Ben. has a share. The 

 Doctor has done honor to his friends; and has got a 

 Barringtoniay a Banksia, a Sheffieldia^ a Skinneria, &c. The 

 Barringtonia is a noble flower, and is folyandria monogynia. 

 The Latin, I think, is good. His nautical work, in English, 

 is now under correction, as to stile and idiom, at Oxford. 

 Pray be more explicit about "the influence of the W. and 

 S. exposure on our trees." We that see them daily do not so 

 much observe. Write very soon and direct to this house. 

 Send me all manner of hints for Natural History. I have 

 made a visit to Grimm. Brother John has finished his 

 Fauna; the work will be large. Mr. Barrington wants 

 me to join with him in a Natural History publication, but if 

 I publish at all, I shall come forth by myself. Brother 

 Thomas is laying up materials for an History of Hants ; he 

 will some day take an artist down. 



The first part of the following letter relates to the 

 Chancery suit resulting from Mr. Holt's will, which 

 seemed likely to rival the celebrated one of " Jarndyce v, 

 Jarndyce" in length. A letter of the same date, and on 

 the same subject, addressed to Mr. Thos. Barker, ends : 



" Perhaps by and by the L<* Chancellor may be of our first 

 councils opinion, and may decree away everything from us. 

 So uncertain are all human concerns ! " 



