Every one is convinced that two Kinds of _Tea_ are sold in the Shops, one of a blackish Colour, and the other of a faint Green; the one pretty much, and the other far less crenated: This Variation of the _Chinese Tea_, I can sufficiently account for; since _Tulpius_ tells us, that the Leaves of the _Chinese Tea_ are of a dark green Colour; whereas those produced in _Japan_ are of a fainter Colour, and more grateful Taste; for which Reason, one Pound of the latter is, in the _Indies_, frequently sold for an Hundred _Libræ_ of Silver, or, according to _Trigautius_, only for ten or twelve _Nobles_. Notwithstanding this, the Shopkeepers of _Amsterdam_ and _Hamburg_ sell a Pound of this Commodity for eight _Nobles_, as I have often before observed. I cannot, on this Occasion, forbear recommending the Conduct of _Oluis Wormius_, who, in his _Musæum, Lib. 2. Cap. 14._ informs us, that he macerated a certain Quantity of both Kinds of _Tea_, in warm Water, and found the Leaves of the one, when spread, of a dark green Colour, crenated like _Rose-Tree_ Leaves, oblong, and about an Inch in Length. Mr. _Harford_, the King's Apothecary, made me a Present of two large Boxes full of _Tea_, of different Colours: In the one Box, which contained the green, I found neither Stalks, nor Flowers, nor Seeds of the Plant, but only the Leaves; but, in turning over the _Bohea Tea_, contained in the other Box, I found three Stalks, so nearly resembling those of the _Myrtle_, that, not only Mr. _Harford_ and I, but also some others, thought that they might be justly accounted the Stalks of the _Myrtle:_ This, in so dubious a Case, is a pretty strong Argument, that _Bohea Tea_ is adulterated with _Myrtle_, which may, very properly, be substituted, in its stead, or rather exactly agrees with it. This blacker Species of _Tea_, or _Myrtle_, is far cheaper among the _Indians_ than the green Kind. The celebrated _Olaus Wormius_, on account of the vast Diversity in the Leaves of _Tea_, suspects that the Leaves of some other Plant are often sold in their Stead. This also, as I before observed, often happens with respect to _Tobacco_. That I might not, however, be charged with Rashness, or falsly accusing the _Asiatics_ of Fraud, I thought it incumbent upon me, attentively to view the _Chinese Tea_; for which Purpose, I ordered Mr. _Harford_'s two Apprentices, to pick out some of the largest, and most perfect _Tea_ Leaves, to be macerated in warm Water, and then spread and unfolded: Accordingly they shewed me ten, which were neither lacerated, nor torn; and two of the most perfect of which were accurately engraved by _Albert Halwey_, the King's Engraver. See _Histor. Cochlear. 4. Class. Quadripartit. Botantic_. These Leaves were of different Shapes and Bulks, but so like those of the _Chamelæagnus_, that the one could hardly be distinguished from the other. The Leaves of the green Kind seemed to be produced by an Herb, or Shrub, of a quite different