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Crane Court, to be produced and examined before the 
Royal Society at fome of their firft meetings after the 
long vacation. My health would not permit me to at- 
tend myfelf ; but I am informed, my Lord, that when 
they were cut open and examined before your Lord- 
fhip and the reft of the Royal Society prefent, their 
appearance promifed fuccefs; and that they were or- 
dered to be delivered by Dr. Morton, fecretary to the 
Royal Society, to the care of Mr. William Aiton, 
Botanic Gardiner to her Royal Highnefs the Princefs 
Dowager of Wales at Kew at my requeft, that the 
Royal Society might be informed whether they would 
-vegetate. 
I have juft now, my Lord, had the pleafure of re- 
ceiving a letter from Mr. Aiton, advifing me, that he 
had fent to Mr. Robertfon, houfekeeper to the Royal 
Society, two pots with the young oaks rifing from the 
acorns preferved in wax, which Dr. Morton lent him 
from the Royal Society in December laft ; and am 
well perfuaded he has carefully attended to an expe- 
riment, the fuccefs of which, if properly followed, may 
in a few years put us in pofleffion of the moft rare 
and valuable feeds in a vegetating ftate from the remo- 
teft parts of the world, which in time may anfwer 
the great end of the improvement and advancement 
of our trade with our American Colonies. I am, 
My Lord, 
with the greateft refped, 
Your Lordftiip’s 
moft humble and obedient fervant, 
OrayVInn, March 9, 
1768. 
SIR, 
John Ellis. 
