OLD ESSEX GARDENERS AND THEIR GARDENS. 77
It appears that it was Joseph Breintnall, an enterprising
merchant of Philadelphia, who brought John Bartram to Collin-
son's notice. According to Fothergill, "that eminent naturalist
"John Bartram may almost be said to have been created such by
"my Friend's influence." Collinson "had some correspondents in
"almost every nation in Europe; some in Asia, and even at
"Pekin; who all transmitted to him the most valuable seeds
"they could collect, in return for the treasures of America."
Collinson's "Account" gives the purchases of boxes of seeds
for each year. "In the Years, 1736, 1737, 1738 and 1739.
"Seeds were annually sent over by Jno. Bartram from Pensil-
"vania To Lord Petre for which He had frequent Presents.—But
"the Collecting Them, did not become a Setled Trade, and
"Business untill the year 1740." The next year, 1740, the
Duke of Norfolk and Lord Petre both bought "2 Boxes Seeds"
each for ten guineas. In 1741 the same two names appear and
in 1742 those of the "Duke Richmond" and "Duke Bedford"
are added. The lists continue till 1767. Lord Petre's Son.
purchased one box in 1763 and two in 1764. "A List of Seeds
"contained in Each Box" gives the names of 105 plants.
In W. Darlington's Memorials of John Bartram and
Humphrey Marshall, which is mainly correspondence, there
are several references to Petre. The first letter from Peter
Collinson to John Bartram is dated Jan. 20th, 1734-5. In the
second, four days later, he writes:—
"The box of seeds came very safe, and in good order. Thy
"remarks on them are very curious; but I think take up too much
"of thy time and thought. I would not make my correspondence
"burdensome; but must desire thee to continue the same collections
"over again; and to prevent trouble, only number the papers, and
"give the country name—or any name thee may know it by again;
"then keep a list of them by thee, with the number to the names, and
"when they come here, those that do not come up, we have only to
"write to thee for the same seed to such a number, to send over again.
"As I design to make a present of part of these seeds to a very curious
"person [Lord Petre], I hope to procure thee some present for thy
"trouble of collecting."
On March 1st he writes:—
"I am now just returned to town from paying a visit to a noble
"lord, my most valuable and intimate friend. One of my proposals,
"I sent thee last year, to collect the seeds of your forest trees, was
"for him, as he is a universal lover of plants. I presented him with a.