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accident removed it. The tail was short, so i conclude it was of 
the latter brood. But although i have had the eaves & roof of 
rny house searched ; no bird can be found. Yet it seems unlikely 
that a single Swallow should hide for the winter when they are so 
companionable in the Summer, that you very seldom then see a 
single bird. So i must conclude others are bid near it. On the 
17 th of this month i had Turnip- flowers; which i find arc 
earlier than i had seen before. Violets have been in flower weeks 
ago. But i have not marked them in my Indications of Spring. 
You see Sir, that i began my work very lazily with very few 
articles. I believe the Elm leaves that you saw at Sunbury on the 
20 of Feb. in 1750, were earlier than any i had seen. I find in 
my journal in 1738. the Elms had leaves on the 23 of March 
N.S. at Genoa ; & on my landing at Antibes the S' 1 of April, the 
Rye was in oar. — If it had been my good fortune to know you 50 
years ago, i am sure i should have been a wiser, & better man : & i 
hopo ’tis not too late now. — On y° 24 th i found a dark Butterfly in 
my keeping-room, which led me to my Indications: & find the earli- 
est (yellow) Jan. 14 last year. The Season points to me to wish you 
many more years of health, to enjoy the honest pleasure resulting 
from your instructing mankind. 
I remain, with great esteem, dear Sir, your obedient 
& obliged servant, 
R : Marsh am. 
P.S. I think you was poorly paid in 100 shillings for 100 feet 
of good Elm. The Beeches you mention (tho* hollow) of 30 feet 
round, are above ten feet larger than i have ever seen. — I had last 
week an account that there is now in Stonleigh Park 4 (amongst 
abundance of lino Oaks) an Oak 23 F. 1 1 Inches round at 5 feet. 
The Tree is sound & in health. 
[Franked by “ W. Fellowes,” endorsed by White, “ M r Marsham.”] 
* Stoneleigh near Kenilworth, now the seat of Lord Leigh. — A.N. 
