I thank you for the favour of your Last, & Here Inclose you some fresh Seed of
the fine Laurus Ale[x]andrina Vulgo. It Make[s] a fine Show in a green House with
Orang[e]s &c.
Your long Silence makes Mee suspect some Illness has befallen you. The
Apprehention of It gives Mee some concern, least a Life so dear to all Men should
be snatch’d from us premature. Pray give Mee a Line how it fares
with you, and if you have any Seed of Siberia Delphinums or any other Specious
Flower Send with It – and Seed of Pulsatilla. I
have none but the Common Blew. I herewith send you my Annual Tribute which I hope
will give you pleasure in seeing New Things.
In the first place I must Acknowlege your kind Token, your JudiciousObservations on my Friend Buffons
System. I received great pleasure & Instruction, in the perusal. [I]
Do think it impossible for Him to Extricate his plan from so many
Difficulties.
I hope this will find my Dear Friend safe return’d from his Expedition to Switzerland
Loaded with Vegetable Spoils. I herewith Send you Some American Seeds.
I am fully Persuaded, It must give You a Pleasure not to be discribed, when you
came to breath[e] your Native Air, to see your Friends & the ancient Seats of
your Ancestors. But Alas, poor Gottingen Mourns your Absence &
Wee Live in Hopes of your presence Here in England. Happy Man, Who[m] so
many Friends, So many Countries, Love and Admire, & how can Wee do otherwise,
when you have devoted all your Time, all your Life, to Benefit & Improve
Mankind.
I have Delayed writeing to my Dear Friend, untill I could acquaint Him, Mr Mylius was gone. So many Delays has attended
Him, that I was very fearfull, He would be left behind, & this is the last
ship.
I hope you have mine of the 7th
Novemr in answer to yours of the 28th Augstunder Mr
Bests Cover. But least there should be any Miscarriage I now Send
p[er] post in answer to yrs of
Sepr 25 ulto.
It is frequently the Case, that Learned Men, Bred up in Univer[s]ities &
Colledges, are too little Acquainted with the use of much Money, So make but Bad
Oeconomists – that is, have not the Art of Saving, or reflecting on the Value of
Money, but Spare not to take out of the Bagg, Never thinking of the Bottome.
I thank you for yours & with concern See the Difficulties you are under. Poor
Mylius has been at Deaths Door which may afford you Some Pretence to Ask
for Money to Assist Him. But if He stays here, att 18 pounds a Month Charges for
Lodging, Diet, & Washing for 3 or 4 Months, before Money is raised, to Sett
him Free, His Debt will grow so great that there will be no clearing Him.
Collinson to Haller, 22 February 1754 Christlob Mylius an Peter Collinson, 23 Februar 1754 Christlob Mylius an Peter Collinson, 23 Februar 1754
I have also wrote by Post this Day for fear of Misscarriage, for Delays are
dangerous at this Juncture. If my Scheme below does not meet with your approbation
& Speedy execution, the Affair is all over.
