74
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
favourable answer from Ld. Derby in relation to Mr. Millars9 affair
upon which he determines to set out as soon as possible but as ye time
this subscription will last, was scarcely suffise for a journey to Mexico,
which I believe every body is desirous we should make, I should be
extremely glad to know yr sentiment upon yt matter, and whatever
you have any thought of extending yr subscription to further term
for my part I am ready to do anything and am desirous yt they should
be done in ye most compleat manner now yt we have gone so far in it,
two things only I have to observe further which are yt whatever more
we do we must not expect any further assistance from Ld, Derby
and yt we ought to come to a perfect resolution in what we design
before Mr. Millar sets out because it will afterwards be difficult to in-
form him of intentions time enough for him to regulate his matters
accordingly. Ld. Richmond's thoughts upon this matter should
also be known, but I entirely submit all this affair to you, and shall
be extremely glad of a line concerning it as soon as possible, I am in ye
mean time with ye greatest sincereity imaginable, Sr, Yr most obedient
humble servant,
Petre.
In his second letter (Feb. 20th 1736-7) "having accidentally
"met with two uncommon fowls which are I believe of ye
"Widgeon kind, and come from ye East-Indies. I have taken
"ye liberty of ordering them to be left at yr house. If you find
"them deserving of a place amongst yr other curious birds it
"will be a singular pleasure to me. I wish I could meet with
"any thing of greater value yt might deserve a place in yr
"collection but it is so compleat yt it would be a difficult task
"to find any thing curious yt you have not."
The following letter (June 25th, 1737) recommends for advice
a bookseller fallen on evil times who is to embark on a "trans-
acting business in Paris"; and says he his hoping to introduce
an Italian prelate, nephew to the Pope's librarian, who "is come
to see our Librarys and other curious collections in England,
"amongst which he has been very rightly informed yt yrs hold
"ye first place."
9 Robert Millar (f. 1734-42) was a surgeon. He collected plants for Sir Hans Sloane in the
Levant and afterwards succeeded Houstoun as Sloane's collector in America. Some of his plants
were grown from seed by Philip Miller at Chelsea. Sloane wrote him a testimonial for a Pro-
fessorship in Glasgow (3984, f. 252). " I have known Mr. Robert Millar for many years. He
"was bred a surgeon and understands anatomy. He travelled over the hott parts of the West
"Indies belonging to England and Spaine at the expense of severall people of quality my Ld.
"D[erby] and others in search of plants and other naturall productions in which he gave us
"by his returns great satisfaction so long as his health permitted wch. at last was impaired
"greatly by his labours in our service."
Another botanist who worked for a "syndicate"—Sloane, Sherard, Du Bois and Nicholson—
was Mark Catesby, who collected in Carolina. When he resided in Virginia (1712-9). he sent
''some dried specimens of plants, and some of the most specious of them in tubs of earth, at the
''request of some curious friends, amongst whom was Mr. Dale, of Braintree, in Essex, a skilful
Apothecary and Botanist."