December 4. THE COTTAGE GARDENER, 143 
WEEKLY CALENDAR. 
m! w 
DECEMBER 4—10, 1851. 
Weather near London in 1850. 
Sun 
Sun 
Moon 
Moon’s 
Clock 
Day of 
1) j D 
1 
Barometer. 
Thermo. 
Wind. 
Rain in In. 
Rises. 
Sets. 
R.&S. 
Age. 
bef. Sun. 
Year. 
4 Th 
Linnean Society. Horticultural Society. 
30.081 —30.029 
50—38 
S.W. 
06 
50 a. 7 
51 a. 3 
2 41 
11 
9 
42 
338 
5 F 
Laughing Goose comes. 
3f>.307 —30.243 
54—31 
S.W. 
02 
51 
51 
3 48 
12 
9 
18 
339 
6S 
Black-throated Diver comes. 
30.377 — 30.345 
45—32 
S.W. 
— 
52 
50 
4 56 
13 
8 
53 
340 
7 Sun 
2 Sunday in Advent. Polyanthus 
30.328 — 30.323 
46—26 
E. 
— 
53 
50 
6 6 
14 
8 
27 
341 
8 |M 
Skylarks flock. [flowers again. 
30.346 — 30.322 
37—28 
S.E. 
— 
55 
49 
rises. 
© 
8 
1 
342 
9|Tu 
Red-throated Diver. 
30.319 — 30.293 
38—29 
N.E. 
— 
56 
49 
4 a5l 
16 
7 
35 
343 
10 W 
Wild Swan comes. 
30.240 — 30.146 
42—28 
S. 
— 
57 
49 
5 43 
17 
7 
8 
344 
It has been justly observed that—“It is the duty of every one who 
comes into the world, to leave it as much wiser and better as he can than 
he found it.” If this doctrine was acted upon, what a glorious world we 
should have. There are those whose private pleasures conduce to the 
public good, and it is true wisdom to cultivate such, forablessing attends 
them. The individual whom we have selected for the subject of our 
present biographical sketch, was an example of the foregoing remarks. 
Peter Collinson was born in St. Clement’s Lane, Lombard Street, in 
the year 1693 , and afterwards settled in partnership with his brother, as a 
woollen draper, in a shop then under the sign of the Red Lion, in Grace- 
church Street, a place and calling not very favourable to the cultivation 
I of botany and natural history ; yet by prudence, industry, and a wise dis¬ 
tribution of time, the two brothers succeeded, not only in establishing a 
lucrative concern, but in securing the leisure necessary for carrying on 
their favourite pursuits. Their tastes were similar, they mutually assisted 
each other, and both took country houses at Peckham. To Peter Col- 
linson’s residence was attached a large garden—in this he cultivated, 
successfully, the principal useful and ornamental plants then grown in 
England, and also added an extensive collection of exotics from various 
parts of the world, but chiefly from North America. John Bartram, of 
whom we have given a biographical sketch in our 5th volume, was his 
agent in the latter country. But Collinson’s object was not to collect for 
himself merely, but to distribute to others, and to create and diffuse a 
taste-for whatever was useful and beautiful in nature and art. He en¬ 
joyed the pleasure of giving as well as receiving; he increased by scat¬ 
tering ; his heart devised liberal things, and by liberal things he acted. 
Few influential persons left these shores to settle abroad but Collinson 
found them out, established a friendly connection with them, and became 
their friend and patron ; he suggested plans for them to adopt on arriving 
at tMieir destination, and sent them, from time to time, information of 
what was going on in England- Hr. Franklin first received from him 
hints on the subject of Electricity, and his essays on that science were 
subsequently addressed and dedicated to his benefactor. In a letter 
which he afterwards wrote to Hr. Fothergill, on hearing of Collinson’s 
decease, he says :—“As you may he unacquainted with the following in¬ 
stance of his zeal and usefulness in promoting knowledge, which fell 
within my own observation, I take the liberty of informing you that a 
subscription library being set on foot in Philadelphia, he encouraged the 
design by making several valuable presents to it, and procuring others 
from his friends, and as tho library company had a considerable sum 
arising annually to be laid out in book^ and needed a judicious friend in 
London to transact the business for them, he voluntarily and cheerfully 
undertook that service, and executed it for more than thirty years suc¬ 
cessively ; assisting in the choice of books, and taking the whole care of 
collecting and shipping them, without ever charging or accepting any 
consideration for his trouble,” The Daptor further observes that the 
! success of this library led to the establishment of about thirty others, 
j and was the means of spreading much useful knowledge in that part 
I of the world. 
Peter Collinson was a Fellow of the Royal Society, and of most of the 
! leading Benevolent and Scientific Associations of the Metropolis ; in all 
these he was an active and working member, contributing liberally to their 
support. He watched for opportunities to impart knowledge, and wrote 
articles at various times for the Philosophical Transactions, and the 
Archteologia; he also furnished several Papers to the Gentleman’s Maga- 
: zine, “ On the Management of Sheep in Spain, and their probable ad¬ 
vantageous introduction into Carolina, Georgia, and the Floridas; ” “ On 
American seeds imported into England in 1751, and their cultivation ; ” 
“ On the White Pine, Weymouth, and other Pines; the Fir, and various 
species of North American evergreen trees, &c.,” and several other 
valuable Papers. In 1736, he hecamc acquainted with Linnteus, by the 
1 visit of the latter in that year to London, and afterwards corresponded 
I with him until his death. In these letters you perceive the benevolence 
1 of his character, and the desire he manifests to impart useful information 
to his friends. Writing to him, October 3, 1748 , he says :—“ My orange- 
trees are yet abroad. My vineyard grapes arc very ripe. A considerable 
quantity of wine will be made this year in England.” Again—the fol¬ 
lowing year he remarks—“ Our gardens were in great beauty in January 
and February. Almonds, apricots, and peaches in blossom. February 
23rd I went into the country; the elm hedges had small leaves. Stan¬ 
dard plums, almonds, and Curnus, in full blossom. Gooseberries showing 
their fruit. In short, it would be endless to tell you the wonders of this 
season.” In another letter he observes—“ I love all books of natural 
history, and every production God has made. Pray what sort of land, 
river, and sea shells, arq found in your country? Is anything peculiar 
observed in their natures ? What sort of fossils are found in Sweden ? 
Have you any particular species of fish that are found in no other parts of 
the world ? Any insects peculiar to Lapland or Sweden ? Send me 
specimens of them, or any other natural production.” 
Collinson was in the habit of making notes and memoranda of what he 
saw and heard, and particularly on the books he read; these, if collected 
together, would form a curious and interesting volume on the then state 
of the scientific world, and especially in the department of botany and 
natural history. Note.—" In March and April, 1761 , the Duke of Rich¬ 
mond planted a thousand Cedars of Lebanon, on the hills above his house 
at Goodwood ; plants five years old, that I procured for him at ISs. each. 
—P. C.” 
Doctor Fothergill, who wrote a short sketch of his life, and who was 
his warm friend and admirer, says :—“ He had correspondents in almost 
every nation in Europe, some in Asia, and even at Pekin, who all trans¬ 
mitted to him the most valuable seeds they could collect, in return for the 
treasures of America. In this exchange of good offices, there is abun¬ 
dant cause to believe no man ever exceeded him in respect to punctuality, 
care, and generosity; few had ever more intelligent correspondents, or 
succeeded better in enriching this country with the vegetable products 
of every other, that could either add to its advantage or ornament. And 
were I to assert that he was the means of introducing more new and 
beautiful plants into Britain than any man of his time, and was inferior 
to none in his acquaintance with the history of their introduction, I 
should run little hazard of transgressing the bounds of veracity.” 
Cotlinsonia canadensis was first introduced into this country by Col¬ 
linson, in 1735, and named after him by his friend Linnaeus. He had an 
extensive acquaintance with the first-rate naturalists of his age, and with 
persons of various ranks, who were distinguished for science and learning ; 
among these were Ellis, Derliam, Woodward, Solander, Dale, Lloyd, 
Sloane, and others. At the residence of the latter he was a frequent 
visitor, and materially aided him in the formation and arrangement of 
his magnificent collection of curiosities, which subsequently formed the 
foundation of the British Museum, to the trustees of which they were 
sold for ^20,000, but Collinson says that they cost him /£*50,000. He 
seldom called upon his friends without imparting some useful sug¬ 
gestions, or introducing subjects tending to the public good. He was 
particularly solicitous that young persons should cultivate refined tastes, 
and adopt ennobling pursuits. His sociable and affable disposition quali¬ 
fied him to convey to these information adapted to their capacities, and 
calculated to incite their ardour. He lived in great domestic happiness, 
and kept a hospitable table. His wife, son, and daughter, entered warmly 
into his views, and aided him in his undertakings. In 1/49, he removed 
to Ridgeway House, at Mill Hill, and was two years in transplanting his 
collection. He was seized with a sudden illness whilst on a visit to his 
friend, Lord Petre, at Thorndon Hall, Essex, and died August 11, 1768, 
aged 75. Inclosed in his will was found a paper, importing “ that he 
hoped he should leave behind him a good name, which he valued more 
than riches ; that he had endeavoured not to live uselessly, and that all 
his days he constantly aimed to be a friend to mankind.” 
For the preceding observations, we are indebted to an old correspondent 
(S. P. Rushmere ), and we will only add a few other particulars from 
other sources, though he is well entitled to a lengthened notice, indebted 
to him as our gardens are for introducing so many of their choicest 
ornaments. His collection was very large; his specimens were well 
chosen : he had a botanical garden at Mill-hill, near Endfield, which at 
that time contained many curious plants not to be found in any other, the 
number of which was continually increasing till his death. This collection 
and garden brought him acquainted with many persons of rank and dis¬ 
tinction in this kingdom, who were distinguished by their taste in plant¬ 
ing and horticulture, or desirous to make rural improvements. With 
some of these he frequently spent a few days at their seats, commending 
and censuring what he approved and disapproved in the designs they were 
carrying on, with an integrity and taste that did equal honour to the 
simplicity of his manners, and the rectitude of his judgment. Frequent 
opportunities, during a long life, had furnished him with an extensive ex¬ 
perience of the effects of different methods of cultivation, and of the 
particular soil and aspect which were best adapted to different plants and 
trees; how beauties might be best improved, and incurable defects 
hidden : by this knowledge he often prevented young planters from com¬ 
mitting capital mistakes, rectified others into which they had been misled 
either by the ignorant or the designing, and prevailed upon many of his 
friends to adopt this rational amusement, and persevere in it, to the 
mutual advantage of themselves and their country. “ I never knew an 
instance,” said Mr. Collinson, “in which the pursuit of such pleasures 
did not either find temperance and virtue, or make them.” 
He was a remarkable instance that he who is never idle need never be 
in a hurry. He was always doing something, and therefore he transacted j 
all his domestic and mercantile affairs, and preserved his extensive and [ 
multifarious correspondence, with a quiet regularity and silent despatch 
that equally prevented embarrassment and delay. The blameless simpli- i 
city of his manners, and the careful economy of his time, kept his mind , 
! perpetually serene, and serenity is always easily improved into cheerful¬ 
ness. When he was in London, he applied to the business of his counting- 1 
house; when in the country, he was almost continually employed in his | 
garden, observing and assisting the progress of vegetation, which equally I 
contributed to his pleasure and his health. He was in the highest degree 
fond both of flowers and fruit. Of fruit he always made the principal part 
of his meal; and his house was never without flowers, from the early 
snowdrop to the autumnal cyclamen. 
Meteorology of the Week. — At Chiswick from observations 
during the last twenty-four years, the average highest and lowest tern- | 
peratures of these days are 46.o° and 35.6° respectively. The greatest 
heat, 57°, occurred on the fith in 1848, and the lowest cold, 14°, on the 
6th, in 1844. During the period, 85 days were fine, and on 83 rain fell. 
No. clxvi., vol. vn 
