seemed to be in coming from a man, who had been in the heat of battle and slaughter.

Old Franklin is still alive: I had lately a letter from him, beautifully descriptive of the discoveries of the age, and thanking his Maker that he lived now rather than 1000 years since, to see the vast improvements in every science; hinting a wish to have lived 1000 years hence, to witness the amazing improvements still to be evolved and brought to light.

Several Humane Societies are established in America, the West and East Indies, with which we correspond.

I am aware that I shall tire my friend with trivialities, but

I am sincerely his,

J. C. LETTSOM.

I shall charge the Mangel Wurzel 4s. 6d. per pound, if agreeable.

LETTERIAXVI.

From the same.

London, June 6, 1790.

Dear Sir Mordaunt,

I am so much in thy debt, for the superior value of thy communications, that I always take up my

pen with diffidence, and at present I have more reason than usual for pleading my poverty of materials; but I must not forget, that I owe answers to thy favours of March, April, and May. Somehow it has happened, that every time I renew my application for Mangel Wurzel from Paris, it seems worse and worse; so that I fear I am treated with old or imperfect seed; mine, however, is growing, though not, I think, with its former vigour. A few days ago I sent by the Fakenham coach, for thy acceptance, ten pounds of seed out of another bag from France, which thou mayest use and give away, at thy own pleasure: particularly to such as may have purchased seed, and may be likely to meet with disappointment. If the gentleman who ordered two pounds has not received his quota, perhaps as much may be spared from the packet sent last Monday.

I am very glad to hear that Mr. Styleman is so active in the plan of resuscitation adopted by the Humane Society. He must be a niggard indeed, to set bounds to philanthropy. We cannot extend our rewards throughout the kingdom; but we do as much as we can; and annually, as our finances increase, extend our compassion and aid to distant parts. I moved last week for an Apparatus, and directions, to be sent to Algiers; and hope, by means of this kind, our countrymen may gain the love of that barbarous people; and, by some happy resuscitations, rouse them from the dark apathy of fatalism: that they may learn to

estimate life as becomes a fellow creature, liable to a thousand vicissitudes. I have now inclosed for thy acceptance a few papers of the Humane Society, which I hope to send off on Monday the Fakenham coach.

I

approve of thy plan of charity.

I have not seen the endive mentioned in thy letter of the 29th of April. As to the folle avoine, it is, I fear, not likely to grow; mine seems not likely to appear, though sown time enough to expect its appearance.

But, what is more to our purpose, I have just received the small packet from Dr. Anderson, so long expected. I shall take out a few seeds, and forward the packet on Monday. I had a polite letter from the doctor, enclosing his Bee, who seems likely to prove a very busy one. Some classic author says

Nihil legebat quod non excerperit; and it may be very applicable to his projected performance.

I write in haste to catch the post, and as I cannot read what I have scrawled, be indulgent to the errors of

Thy Friend,

J. C. LETTSOM.

LETTERLXXVII.

From the same.

Dear Sir Mordaunt,

London, July 9, 1790.

I do not stand upon ceremony; I wrote last; but a trifle has occurred to me to induce me to put my friend to postage, for half a dozen grains of rice. In Lord North's economical administration, I remember the calculation on the expence of oats, carried to New York during the late war, that every corn was estimated at three half-pence. Though I do not follow his lordship in losing an empire, I do in exporting corn. This rice was found at Timor, by Captain Bligh, of the Bounty, whose crew, in returning from Otaheite, mutinied, and put the captain, and, I think, eleven other men, in the open boat. boat. After traversing a sea of 3600 miles, he arrived at Timor, where this rice was found. It requires warmth, and should therefore be placed under a glass. It seems to be a hardy kind, and may be usefully cultivated in some future period, either here, or in a more Southern latitude.

As to the folle avoine, mine fails. There is reason to think art is used to destroy its vegetation before we receive it. The East Indians roast,

in the embers of charcoal, many of the seeds they sell to Europeans, to prevent their growth.

Yours, &c.

J. C. LETTSOM.

LETTER IXXVIII.

Sir M. MARTIN, Bart. to Dr. LETTSOM.

Dear Sir, July 15, 1790. I thank you for your obliging attention in sending me the rice. Whether that proves worth three half-pence a grain or not, I assure you any token of your remembrance will ever be much more highly prized by me.

I can readily believe the calculation of Lord North's oats, as my own horses have eaten hay when the late Mr. Pitt was " conquering America in Germany," which was said to cost half-a-guinea a ration; so that, with conquering, keeping, and losing it, I think we should have been as rich if we had never known the land. Had it been possible for us to retain the empire you seem to lament the loss of, would our own liberties have been more secure? and do you not think the whole world would have joined against us, rather than have brooked the insolence of our power? Even had all the powers on earth declared openly against us, and we had attempted nothing out of