368° Original Leticrs of Dr. Franklin: 
The Collinson you mention is the same gentleman 1 cor- 
respond with ; he is a most benevolent. worthy: man, very 
curious in botany and other branches of natural history, and 
fond of improvement in agriculture, &e.. He will be pleas- 
ed)with your acquaintance. Jn the late Philosophical Trans- 
actions, you may see frequently papers of his, or letters-that 
were directed to him, on various subjects. -He is a member 
of the Royal Society. 
An ingenious acquaintance of mine here, Mr. Hush Rob- 
erts, one of our most curious farmers, tells me that it ap- 
pears by your writings your people are yet far behind us in 
the improvement of swamps and meadows; Iam persuading 
him to send you-such hints as he thinks may. give you far- 
ther insight into that matter. But in» other: respects, -he 
greatly esteems your pieces: He says they are preferable»: 
to any thing of, late years published on that subject im Eng= » 
land. . The late writers there, chiefly copy from one anoth- | 
er, and afford very little new or useful; but you have col-. 
lected experiences, and facts, and make » propositions, that 
aré reasonable and serviceable. You have taught him (he 
says) to.clear his meadows of elder, (a thing very pernicious | 
to banks,) which was before beyond-the art of all our farm- 
ers; and given him several other-useful informations. 
Tam exceedingly obliged to you for the plan and diree-., 
tions concerning ditching, It is very satisfactory and I hae 
will be useful here. 
Our Academy flourishes biencite expectation. We have. 
now, above one hundred scholars, and. the number daily in-:: 
creasing.» We have excellent masters.at present; and as» 
we give pretty: good salaries, I hope we shallalways be able: 
to procure such; We pay the Rector, who. teaches Latin 
and. Greek, &c. per Ann. sos - - £200 
The English Master -) 9 = - 150 
The Mathematical Professor - - 125 
Three Assistant Tutors, each 60£ - 180. 
Total per Ann. £655. 
Our currency is something better than that of New York. 
The scholars pay each 4£ per Ann. 
The changes of the barometer are most sensible in high 
latitudes. In the West India Islands, the mercury continues 
