Letter 1053

[fol. 174] Dundee June 8th 1706 Sir The extraordinary kindness you’ve shown me, makes me neglect no opportunity of addressing my Self to you; wherefore I have desired Mr Constable who formerly conveyed my Papers to you to pay you my dutifull & heartie respects. I’m Sorry I can’t acquaint you with any new Improvment or Discovery, but I take the freedom to tell you that the Elephant mentioned in my Last, (& whereof I shall hereafter give an Account; being Strait’ned with time at present) her falling So happily in our way, has so animated, the Physitians & Surgeons here, ‘being twelve or thirteen in number, that they have erected an Hall & Garden, & design to do their utmost for improvment of Natural History in making a Collection of Curiosities; whereby, tho’ we dare not assume the name of Royal or Learned, yet hope to deserve the title of a curious Society. And as the beginning & entertaining of Correspondence, is a great Mean for obtaining of this, so there is none we are more earnest to do it with than your self whose admirable Knowledge in Natural History, honourable Status you’ve attain’d to, great Regard of the Lovers of Natural Improvements & exceeding Kindness to our Country-men has deservedly made you [?] mind & sought to by all the Lovers of Learning. May it therefore please you, to honour this Infant Fraternity with your Assistance & Encouragement, & to receive it amongst the Admirers of your honourable Society by advancing it so at present, as hereafter, it may be able to give you [?] due Returns of Gratitude which your Favour & Countenance will abundantly deserve. T’will be our greatest Ambition to acquaint you with what-ever we find fit for Natural Improvement, & our greatest Honour, to give or receive such things as the one may have abundance of & the other not furnish’d with, & in all this I shall reckon my Self infinitly bound to you, whose Surprising Kindess has for ever oblig’d me to be Sir Your most sincerely devoted servant Patrick Blair