Botany, or the Science of Herbs and Plants, has always been accounted in every Country, as well by the Illiterate as by the Learned, an useful Study and Labour to Mankind, as it has furnished them with Cures for many Diseases, and their Gardens, Groves and Fields with rare and pleasant Fruits, Flowers, Aroma-ticks, Shades, and Hedges.

And as the Wildernesses, Mountains and Swamps in America, abound with Variety of Simples and Trees, whose Virtues and proper Uses are yet unknown to Physicians and curious Persons both here and in Europe; it should be esteem’d fortunate, and a general Benefit, if a Man could be found sufficiently skilful and hardy, who would undertake, as far as in his Power, a compleat Discovery of such Herbs, Roots, Shrubs and Trees, as are of the Native Growth of America, and not described in Herbals or other Books.

And as John Bartram has had a Propensity to Botanicks from his Infancy, and to the Productions of Nature in general, and is an accurate Observator; well known in Pennsylvania, where he was born and resides, to be a Person fitted for this Employment; acquainted with Vegetables and Fossils, and Books treating of them; of great Industry and Temperance, and of unquestionable Veracity; and has by many Ships sent over to some of the Members of the Royal Society in London, at their Request, Plants, Seeds and Specimens, as were new and unknown to them (and received by them as Curiosities) in order to be farther discovered and made useful by the Learned and Ingenious there, who have yearly return’d him Names for them, and Accounts of some of their Virtues; we the Subscribers, to induce and enable him wholly to spend his Time and exert himself in these Employments, have proposed an annual Contribution for his Encouragement; with which he being made acquainted, and it agreeing with his benevolent Temper, he has promised some of us, that if it appears by what shall be subscribed, that he can maintain himself and Family, and defray the Expences he must sometimes unavoidably be at in long Journies for Guides and Assistance, he will without delay dispose his Affairs at Home, and undertake what is desired of him; and that his Searches after Vegetables and Fossils, shall be throughout the Governments of New-York, the Jerseys, Pennsylvania and Maryland; and that whatsoever he meets with worthy of Notice, in the Places and Things before mentioned, and in the Form, Situation and Produce of Mountains, Lakes, Springs, Grottoes, Rivers, &c. he will describe and yearly communicate to the Subscribers in the best Manner he can.

We the Subscribers, do therefore severally promise, for Us, our Heirs, Executors and Administrators, to pay him yearly the Sums annex’d to our Names for three Years next ensuing, he for so long time industriously employing himself in the Premises.

n.b. Subscriptions are taken in at the Post-Office in Philadelphia. Near £20 a Year is already subscribed.