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"The hail on Wednesday demolished all my little stock of blown Tulips; the enclosed laid a day and night in the walks ; are much less and nothing like what they were last year.-Give me leave, Sir, to ask, if I may drink Mountain wine? Doctor Prescot says, Sack is the safest, if not only wine I ought to use. True, I take but little of any, I am most for water and honey. Your tried goodness makes me thus troublesome.

"With my hearty wishes of all health and happiness to your dear self, good lady, and all yours, I remain, honoured dear Sir, ever yours, THOMAS PETRE."

"HONOURED Dear Sir, April 29. "You have Mr. Waterton's and my hearty thanks for your late present. The Fish were very fine, afforded us a noble feast, and swimmingly washed down in your good health.

"Your Layers and Cardinals were no less cordially entertained, with a care answerable to their character and your kindness; and, as soon as our hot-bed is filled, their Eminencies shall profoundly rest therein.

"I am in pain about my appointment, and your kind promise of being at home on the second of May, because I just now understand that Mr. Tancred's visit is primary to the Sessions at Pomfret, where, with the rest of the Catholicks of this Riding, that day is fixed for their registering, as we hear; if not, and we can wait on you, it shall be before noon, or not that day: and so shall write on the Friday following, to fix, if possible, the desired time of personally assuring you how profoundly I am, ho noured dear Sir, ever yours, T. PETKE."

May 10.

"HONOURED DEAR SIR, "The concern in yours of the third (and which I got not till the eighth) was very kind; but could it be comparable to ours, in the loss of your dear company, and the trouble we gave your good family and lady? (to whom my best respects.)

"To add to my misfortunes, your kind present has been plundered and exchanged (somewhere) for such trash as I never saw: possibly I may in time find out the thievery. I am just asking Esquire Ireland (who kisses your hands) to wait on you next Monday; and, though he should happen to be hindered, I hope nothing will prevent me from personally then assuring you how profoundly I am, honoured dear Sir, ever yours, THO. PETRE." "HONOURED DEAR SIR, June 23.

"Had I in the least been apprised of the late honour you did me, our Table, as well as my Garden, had been in better order to have received you; my surprize was great, but not comparable to my pleasure, from so kind a visit. It made me forget not only some particulars relating to, but the very pains themselves; though, upon the following alteration of the weather and change of the moon, I paid dear for the happiness of that day. At present, however, I am much better; and as well (I believe) as ever I am like be; since, as my life grows shorter, my pains,

I am persuaded, will be sharper.-I please myself with the thoughts of soon seeing your so kindly promised varieties of Tulips, Raynunculo's, &c.; and beg they may not set out too early in the week, but so as to be fresh against Fridays, when some of our family are generally in Wakefield. Soon after your leaving Walton, I got the favour of yours from Wakefield; and the milk diet there mentioned is very agreeable.

"The assurance of your and your lady's good health, will be highly welcome. With my best respects to her, I am, honoured dear Sir, your most obliged humble servant, THOMAS PETRE." "HONOURED DEAR SIR, July 29.

"Your silence to my letter of thanks for the honour of your visit makes me fear a miscarriage, or your want of that health I so heartily wish you, and impatiently wait for an account of. My state is rather worse, especially upon any alteration of the moon or weather; and see no hopes of help. Mr. Perfect of Pomfret has newly brought me a posey of his Carnations; but I hear yet nothing of your promised Raynunculo's and Tulips, and sometimes fear a miscarriage. Most of my best sorts are dead, and I have but two of yours alive, and in as poor a condition as myself; however, had I a posey of yours, by comparing them with my own, possibly we might both be furnished with some new sorts. I should be glad to hear you have got a recruit of Raynunculo seed, and to share therein, that I might once more make a trial. Whenever you favour me in this kind, if directed to be left with Mr. Naylor, in North-gate, they will come both safer and sooner than formerly to, honoured dear Sir, ever yours at command, THO. PETRE."

"HONOURED SIR,

August 3.

"It seems an age since I had the happiness of seeing you; and since our last transient interview at Wakefield, I have been so obstinately tortured with the stone, and find the least riding so racking, that, being out of all hopes of ever more reaching and regaling myself in your Garden, give me leave to beg a posey, and a sight of those last July-flowers from your friend mentioned at our last meeting at Huebanck's, where I shall be overjoyed to see them, and, much more (upon the least previous notice) to wait upon your dear self. I have been so cheated with the London Gardeners, that I take the freedom to inquire whether your friend would be so kind as to help me to the best sorts, upon sending the names, and paying for them upon delivery? "My best respects to Madam Richardson; and Mr. Perfect just now telling me of his designs of waiting on you this night, in haste, I am, honoured Sir, ever yours, T. PETRE."

66

"HONOURED DEAR SIR,

Walton Hall, August 10. Impute this my so uncommon silence to sickness, and your silence to my last, where I so begged your advice concerning the state I was then under. Often have I inquired after yours and your worthy family's good health (that is so justly dear to me), and which I shall be so truly glad to hear of.

But my

present

present inquiry is, to know if some of my July-flower Seedlings (from much the best Seed I ever sowed) will be acceptable to you and your worthy neighbour, Doctor Stanhope. If so, I could wish some servant might be sent with a basket for them, against the first quarter of the moon, when I shall be re-transplanting of them, and by that means I may also have the pleasure of a posey of yours and Doctor Stanhope's Flowers. The favour of your answer will oblige, T. PETre.

"A Layer of my bloted Hedge-hog Hollin is at your service. "I have also some bold Auricula's, raised from Mr.Wentworth's of Woolley's Seed, which you may most freely command; but I beg, dear Sir, that you would not give yourself the trouble, unless you really think them worth fetching. My endless obligations make me proud of assuring, by any means,, how much I am, honoured dear Sir, ever yours, T. PETRE." August 27.

"HONOURED DEAR SIR, "The account Mr. Waterton lately gave me of your good health was all pleasure, as your kind inquiries after mine was all goodness. My pains, Sir, are not only racking disorders, but often mount violently up to my head; and as they daily increase, and my days shorten, my miseries must sharpen. My curiosity put me upon purchasing the book I take the freedom to send, in hopes it may remind you of something that may chance to do me service; it is prettily penned, but his grand proposition seems not fully proved.

"Unless, Sir, your Seedlings prove better than mine, I am sorry I sent them. I have saved your Pett Pickotee, but lost both your Bezarts. A roguish Gardener, whom I was forced to employ, stole half of your six Tulips, and two of the remaining three proved both of a sort. Your fine Raynunculo's, and most of my best Tulips, fell also into his hands; so that I shall be glad of an offsett from my own, or any such sorts of Tulips, if any can conveniently be spared, with a layer of your two Bezarts; and, as I have some good sorts still left of July-flowers, the more freely you command them, the more you will oblige, honoured dear Sir, ever yours, T. PETRE." October 4.

"HONOURED DEAR SIR, "Your silence to my last, which presented you with some Seedlings, makes me dread some sickness, or that those Carnations I was so choice of, and so carefully sent, came not safe to your hands. My uneasiness, however, on this head, is not comparable to my concern for that health I so heartily wish you, and which I must never have; for my pains grow not only much sharper, but more frequent than formerly. My grand catholicon, I am persuaded, must be patience. I have too often trespassed on yours; and shall be glad to know if my Seedlings came safe, and your thoughts on Cawood Seedlings, whereof such various reports have been sent to,

"Honoured dear Sir, ever yours,

T. PETRE. "HONOURED

"HONOURED DEAR SIR,

October 9.

"With my hearty acknowledgments for your last favours, you have here the effects of my last promises; which had sooner waited on you, had my Layers been sooner struck. They rise so weak, that I am forced to send two old Roots of my two pretty sorts of Painted Ladies, with about ten more varieties, all differing from any I found with you in flower. I have lapt up two in a Hart's-tongue leaf, for my friend your Gardener, viz. Generul Talmash and estminster Grafton, because I am persuaded he will admire them. Though they stood me to 12d. apiece, I would not give (as to myself) that price for a thousand of them. "In hopes of an equivalent, I have added half, a hundred Raynunculo's and Emynies; with three roots of Double Pinks, that have been flowering since May.

"Be pleased to let me know when you would have the Double Yellow Rose; I had sent it now, but that I thought it rather too soon. Give me also leave to beg at least one Layer of my Crown of flowers; for I have but two, and those so poor, that I fear they will die this Winter. I have yet less of my Seedling Pyebald, or the first pot in your Garden, viz. only one, but well rooted. One there was amongst your London Flowers, which you were pleased to mark yourself for me; and that I beg may be put up apart, with what Layers the two above-mentioned Flowers can conveniently furnish me. With my best respects to Madam Richardson, I am, most faithfully, &c. T. PETRE." October 15.

"HONOURED DEAR SIR,

"I received the favour of yours just as I was going to York, from whence I am just returned. I am heartily sorry for your mentioned indisposition, and shall be truly glad to hear of your perfect recovery. My pleasure would be infinitely more perfect, were I more able to serve you. I have sent the best Layer I could find amongst the Pussion Flowers, with a couple of those July-flowers I found not amongst yours, viz. the Anne of Great Britain, and the Dunkirk Painted Lady; neither were they in Doctor Stanhope's collection. I have saved but very little Seed, but send it with great pleasure, because I know it to be good.

"I find myself under such chronical and complicated infirmities (so unfitting me for the Garden), that I design, as soon as possible, to part with all my Flowers, far cheaper than I bought them in. Your goodness being answerable to your interest and insight, you will, I am sure, do your best to befriend on this head, Honoured dear Sir, ever yours, T. PETRE."

"HONOURED DEAR SIR,

Oct. 20.

"I am doubly in your debt for the favour of both yours, with the so welcomed box, for which you have my hearty thanks; and I am doubly unfortunate, both in being from home when you were so kind as to call at Walton, and for being also (as I fear) incapable of complying with your last desires; for Mr. Waterton (who is yours, and very sorry he knew too late of your kindness VOL. I.

in

in calling) assures me he fished that whole day to no purpose; and believes the Otters have been as fatal to him as to yourself; though I am rather of opinion, that the abundance of his Coal-pit water (he is now forced to let into the dam) is a far greater destroyer of his fish. He designs upon the first floods another fishing; and if then he is successful, my endeavours shall not be wanting to serve you.

"My last was run up in such haste, that I forgot Mr. Fletcher's affair; and your silence makes me fear his greater forgetfulness of one who so befriended him in his distress. Your further efforts on this head will further oblige, honoured dear Sir, &c. T. PETRE."

Mr. ISAAC RAND* to Mr. SAMUEL BREWER.

"DEAR SIR, Haymarket, Sept. 18, 1718. "In order to repair your loss, I send you, by the flying waggon of this day, a box containing the Plants mentioned on the other side; amongst them, I doubt not but you will find some that you desired. I hope they will come safe; I went with them myself to the carrier's last night, and saw them booked. You will excuse the imperfections of some of their names; I believe you will by them easily know what they are. I shall not forget to furnish you some Seeds, and though I send these now, it is not with an intention to debar your intended visit. When I shall have the happiness of seeing you at the Garden, I shall be very glad to supply you with what I can. I am able to judge nothing by the samples you sent. We have two Capsicum; that perennial one is with a very small upright fruit, commonly called Birds-pepper at Barbadoes; the other has hardly made fruit yet; I know not if it be the same with yours,-if not, I should be glad of it. I never knew any of the Melongenas hold the winter, though they seem very sturdy plants; they are commonly called Bringelle's, but perhaps, this may be only a SolaOur gardeners have lost both the Henbane and Lotus, though the latter grew well, and we had made three or four Plants of it. Mr. Lloyd and his whole family have been in the country all this summer, and are still, else I had sent you his direction sooner; his house is James street, by Covent-garden.

num.

*An Apothecary in the Haymarket. He was appointed in 1722 Lecturer and Demonstrator at the Chelsea Garden, being the first who filled that office after Sir Hans Sloane's donation. He published, in 1730, in 8vo, “Index Plantarum Officinalium Horti Chelseiani." The list contains 518 plants of the Materia Medica; and specifies the part of each used in Physic. He also published "Horti Chelseiani Index Compendiarius, 1739," 8vo.- Houston gave the name of Rand to a West India shrub of the Pentandrous class, figured by Sloane: and it is retained by Linnæus. Pulteney, vol. H. p. 103.

Of whom see before, p. 288.

"We

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