Cadwallader Colden with Peter Collinson, fyc. 121 

 Mr. Collinson to Dr. Colden. 



London, March 9th, 1743. 



Dear Mr. Colden — You cannot be more surprised at the 

 progress of botany in Doct. Linnaeus, than 1 am to see what a 

 proficient you are on his scheme. I could not have imagined it 

 had reached in so short a time to the remote parts of North 

 America, for I hear he has made several proselytes in different 

 places on your continent. But your fame reached me long be- 

 fore your letter. My valuable friend, Dr. Gronovius, let me 

 know what a fine present you have made him ; the good man is in 

 raptures. I doubt not but Doct. Linnaeus has heard of it long be- 

 fore this. I shall soon send your curious observations to Doct. 

 Linnaeus ; your criticisms are perfectly just ; you have done me 

 a pleasure in circulating it through my hands, because it sets 

 me right who have not leisure for such nice observations, and 

 tothe Doctor, I know it will give him the greatest delight; any 

 omission in him is not owing to his judgment, but want of 

 growing subjects whose minute parts are more distinct, which 

 are lost in dried specimens ; so that at the same time that you 

 are improving your own knowledge, you are greatly obliging 

 your friend; and if all his pupils was equally as communicative 

 as you are, his works would be more perfect and complete. It 

 is no little disadvantage to him to be settled as in the fag end of 

 the world. In his letters to me, he envies our happiness, who 

 have a free and frequent intercourse with your world, and our 

 gardens abound with its productions; and then we have an- 

 nually seeds and specimens which produce something new, and 

 proper to exercise the talents of so learned and curious a bota- 

 nist. But a gentleman of your benevolent disposition may in 

 some degree soften the severities of the north, and Flora may, 

 in some little disguise, by your assistance, for once appear amidst 

 ice and snow. A few specimens preserved and dried in paper, 

 and a few seeds, sent him as opportunity offers, with your cu- 

 rious remarks, would be to him all that I have allegorically 

 hinted ; and I will take care they shall be safely conveyed to 

 him. * * * I am, with much respect, your affectionate friend, 



P. Collinson. 

 Vol. xliv, No. 1 .— Oct.-Dec. 1842. 16 



