[a] Coldengham in the Province of New [York]
February 9th, OS 1748-9
Sir,
You have don me such honour, by your two letters, One of the 6th of August
1747, the other without date by Mr Kalm, that I cannot otherwise account
for it, than by your willingness to incourage every attempt to promote knowledge: for I
am so sensible of my want of skill in the Botanical science, that I can no way deserve
the praises you are pleased to bestow on the little performances I have made. When I
came into this part of the World, near forty Years since, I understood only the
Rudiments of Botany, & I found so much diffculty in applying it to the many unknowen
plants, that I met with every where, that I was quite discouraged, & laid aside all
attempts in that way, near thirty Years, till casually I met with your Books, which gave
me such new lights, that I resolved again to try what could be don with your
assistence. If then I have been able to do any thing worth your notice, it is intirely
owing to the Excellency of your method. However, I still find my self at a loss in a
fundamental point in Botany, what it is that certainly distinguishes one Genus from an
other of other of the same Class, so as not to be in danger of confounding plants of
different Genera, by reducing them into one, or by making different Genera of such as
are really one. This difficulty I find puzels sometimes the Masters of the Art, by the
disagreements in Judgement on that head, which appears among them. I mentioned
this to Gronovius, but I have not heard from him since. I am perswaded that if this
difficulty can be removed by any method, it may by yours. It is observed, that animals
of different genera seldom copulate, unless they be of the next adjoining Genera in the
chain of Nature: That tho’ these produce young by their copulation, the breed of these
are never capable of continueing their species. So it is observed of the Mule,
proceeding from an Ass & Horse. We observe the same of our wild Geese & household
Geese. They by copulation produce Young but these never continue their species any
further. And yet we have several of the species of houshold Geese, which, to all
appearence, differ as much, or more, from each other, than some of them do from the
wild Geese. It is likewise certain, that throughout the whole Genera of both Animals &
Vegitables, the distinction of the Male & Female organs is every where observed, &
that this distinction is necessary, for the propagation of the kind, but what it is, in the
one & in the other, that makes it necessary they should be distinct, so that the species
cannot be produced by one alone, I know not, nor do I find, that any Philosopher has
attempted to explain it. This, which adapts the female of one Species to the male of
the other, is not meerely from the sise, shape or number of their respective organs, as
is plain in the case of the tame & wild Geese, & the Horse & Ass, but from something
else likewise, which I know not. What I would infer from this is, that a perfect
Similitude in the figure, number &c. of the Organs of Generation, are not a certain
Characterestic of their being of the same Genus: but that something else must be
frequently added to distinguish the Genera. You have on your principles made the Aple
& the Pear of the same Genus, & yet I am perswaded they are of different, because
there is something so different in the nature of the Pear & of the Aple, that a stock of
the one is not proper for the cyon of the other, in grafting or inoculation, whereas the
Stocks of the same Genus, tho’ of different species, equally serve for the cyons of any
other Species, as those of the same species do. We observe the same in different
species of Animals, the males of any species equally serve the females of the other.
I did not intend to say that the Zea is not a native of America, if you have seen all
that I have wrote to Gronovius on this head you’l evidently perceive, that my intention
was otherwise, however I have expressed my self to occasion mistake: On the
contrary, We have many different species of it, which, so far as I can Learn, are not in
Europe or Asia. From what I have observed of this Plant, I think it necessary to take in
the magnitude of the Plant, & the time of Produceing the seed in full ripeness, as a
distinction of the different species of this Genus; for, after the most carefull
examination, I can discover nothing else to distinguish them, & yet they are certainly
distinct species. Give me leave on this occasion to make one observation, tho’ it be a
very obvious one. There are some plants & those the most necessary for humane Life,
which grow no where but when sowen by mens hands, & in cultivated Lands, such as
our Indian corn, or Zea, Wheat, Barly, Rye, &c. That they never were the Spontanious
produce of the Earth, without the Art & Labour of Man, otherwise they must be
somewhere found growing Spontanious. So the houshold Animals, Dogs, Cats,
Dunghill Fouls, &c. seem to have been concomitants to man from the begining, & that
they cannot live without him. For the species at least, & I believe, I may venture to say,
that the Genera of Houshold Animals are no where wild, but have from the Begining
been dependants on man. Man therefore has a natural right over them, whereas we
seems to be in a state of war with the other Animals.
As I had but little skill in Botany, when I began first to examine the plants of this
Country, according to your method, it is no wonder that I fell into many mistakes: most
part of them I afterwards discover’d by [myself] & sent proper corrections to
Gronovius, the most material of which I sha[ll] copy for your use. I likewise sent several
dryed Plants to him, but they h[ad] the misfortune to be taken by the french. I had
directed the packet, in ca[se] of capture, to be delivered to Messrs
du Jardin royal a Paris. So that perhaps you may still hear of them.
I have been oblidged for near three Years past to lay aside all Botanical
amusements, the publick affairs of this Government having [oblig]ed me to be, during
the Summer Season, on the frontiers of this Govern[ment] where we could not go out
of the fortifiyed places, during the cruel & Barbarous War with the French Indians,
without danger of being surprised by the Sculking ennemy Indians.
I hope now that we have peace, it may be in my power to make som return to the
obligations you have laid on me, by sending some dryed plants, as you direct, with
such discriptions as I can make of them. I cannot hope for any great reputation from
what I do of this kind, but if you think, that my observations or descriptions can be of
any use to the publick, you have my leave to make use of them in what ever manner
you shall think proper.
I receiv’d the Dissertation you sent by Mr Sandin, & likewise your
Fauna swecica, & Flora Zeilanica from Mr Kalm. They are very
acceptable, as I could not otherwise have procurd them in this Country. They shall
remain with me as tokens of your Esteem for me & which I hope my Children will value
after I am gon.
Mr Kalm ariv’d so late last fall in Pensylvania, that the season of the
year did not permet him to proceed in his intended voyage. He tells me that he
designs for Canada next spring. I hope to see him at my house in his way thither & to
have the pleasure of his conversation for some days. It will give me pleasure if I can be
of use to him in making his voyage more convenient or safe for him. If you’l please to
continue your faveurs of writing to me Mr Collinson of London, with
whom you correspond, will take of your Letters to transmit them to me Or if they be
sent to Pensylvania & directed to the care of Mr Benjn
Franklen, Post Master in Philadelphia; they will come to my hands God praeserve you
in health for the benefite of Mankind But before I conclude I must inform you that the
title of Summus Praefectus no way belongs to me. I know not what has led
you into this mistake I am with great regard
Dear Sr
Your most obedient
humble
ServantCadwallader Colde[n]
[Address]
Celeberrimo Carolo Linnaeo Archiatro Regiis Sueciae
TEXTUAL NOTES
a. MS1 [The manuscript is damaged: readings inserted within square brackets have been taken from ED1 or ED2].