CORRESPONDENCE WITH HIS FAMILY. 119 



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 volume of Antarctic genera, new 

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

 cated to the king. Bro. Ben. has a share. The Dr. has done 

 honour to his friends, and has got a Barringtonia, a Banksia, 

 a Shejjieldia, a Skinneria*, &c. The Barringtonia^ is a noble 

 flower and is jjolyatulria monogynia. The latin I think is 

 good. His nautical work, in English, is now under correc- 

 tion, 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 y m daily do not so much observe. 

 Write very soon, and direct to this house. Send me all 

 manner of hints for Nat. Hist. I have made a visit to 

 Grimm. Bro. John has finished his Fauna. The work will 

 be large. Mr. Barr. wants me to join with him in a Nat. 

 Hist, publication ; but if I publish at all, I shall come forth 

 by myself. Bro. Tho. is laying up materials for a History of 

 Hants. He will some day take an artist down. 



LETTER XVII. 



TO THOMAS BAKKER. 



Thames Street, Feb. 7, 1776. 



Dear Sir, 

 Our snow r , like yours, was not very great, but most marvel- 

 ously drifted thro' the hedges, so as to fill all our lanes and 

 cover the gates. I was forced to dig my way out of the 

 village, and to ride for two Sundays following to Farr. 

 attended by Pioneers. As long as I stayed, the therm r con- 

 tinued abroad at 20. But on Jan. 2S (Thomas writes me 

 word) it fell to 7, on 29 to 6 ; on the 30 it was at 10 ; and 

 on the 31 it descended to half a degree below !! a degree of 

 cold beyond any instance that I have yet heard of! There 



* [Skinneria was not finally removed from Fuchsia. — T. B.] 

 t [B, speciosa, Forst, Rumph. Herb. Amb. 3, 114.— T. B.] 



