Cadwallader Coldeyi with Peter Collinson, fyc. 131 

 Mr. Collinson to Dr. Colden. 



London, Feb. 10th, 1768. 



I had the pleasure of my dear friend's letter, with the packet 

 for Lord Shelboume, which was delivered. Now there is Lord 

 Hillsborough appointed secretary for the colonies ; for the future 

 your application will be to him. We may now hope, as the 

 colonies are his peculiar care, the public grievances will be re- 

 dressed, yours in particular ; so the sooner your application to 

 him the better, and if it was conveyed by your friend, Sir Jeffrey 

 Amherst, it may have more weight ; for I have no acquaintance 

 with him. * * * 



I presume you have heard of the wonderful discoveries. Near 

 the Ohio, about six hundred miles below Pittsburgh, and four 

 from the river, is a great Licking-place : [here] George Crogan, 

 Esq. found a great quantity of the great long elephant's teeth 

 and bones. He sent over of these great long teeth or tusks six 

 or eight, which 1 have seen and handled. Some about six feet 

 long, and the same thickness as recent elephant's teeth of that 

 size, and, what is remarkable, some are not in the least decayed : 

 the ends cut off show as fine white ivory as recent ivory. Now 

 is not this wonderful ! A small tooth about two feet long, of a 

 chestnut color, hath a fine natural polish, as if just taken out of 

 the head of the young animal. 



As there never were any elephants in America, neither could 

 they subsist for the severe long winters where they are now found 

 near the Ohio, what hypothesis can be formed to account for 

 these being found there, under a bank on the sides of this great 

 lick, where some portions of the bones and teeth lay exposed to 

 view ? (seven hundred miles from the sea.) Mr. Crogan believes, 

 from the quantity of the bones and teeth, there could not be less 

 than thirty animals. He sent the teeth to Lord Sbelbourne 

 and Benjamin Franklin. Portions of the like elephant's teeth 

 found in Peru, were sent last year as a present to the Royal So- 

 ciety. Mr. Franklin talks of coming over by some of the sum- 

 mer ships : he is very well, and much caressed and admired here. 



Pray give my kind respects to thy son David. I shall be 

 greatly obliged to him for the information he intends me on the 

 Rattlesnake. Any remarks on natural history will be very ac- 

 ceptable to your sincere friend, P. Collinson. 



