But this is no certain proof on either side of the question, only a corroborating circumstance of the species of a tree: nor should I have mentioned it, but for the manner in which Kœmpfer, with an imagination truly poetical, describes the autumnal beauty of his _Fasi-no-ki_, or spurious varnish-tree. “Rubore suo autumnati quâ viridantes sylvas suaviter interpolat, intuentium oculos e longinquo in se convertit.” Even this description would make one suspect it is not the same with the China varnish-tree, which, I am informed, did not turn purplish in the garden of the British Museum till the first frost came on: whereas it is well known, that some of the Rhus’s and Toxicodendrons, particularly the Carolina pennated one, change to a fine scarlet colour in the beginning of a dry autumn, even before any frost appears. Mr. Miller seems surprised, how I should think, that the Carolina pennated Toxicodendron, or poison-ash is like the _Fasi-no-ki_ of Kœmpfer. I must here acknowledge, at this time, not having seen Doctor Kœmpfer’s specimen, I imagined, from the shape of the lobe-leaves (as he has described them) and from the remarkable scarlet colour of both these trees in autumn, that Mr. Miller might be right in what he has advanced; for it was from his authority I took it, depending on the information he gives us in his Dictionary, fol. edit. 6. under the article _Toxicodendron_, where he takes some pains to assure us, that they are the very same plants. In the next paragraph I find Mr. Miller has intirely mistaken the meaning of one part of my letter to Mr. Webb; which I must recommend to him to read again, and he will find it exactly agrees with his own sentiments. There he will find my opinion is, that notwithstanding the change of soil and situation, this _Sitz-dsju_, or true varnish-tree, and the _Fasi-no-ki_, or spurious varnish-tree of Kœmpfer, are distinct species of Rhus or Toxicodendron, and will ever remain so. Mr. Miller now desires me, since I have seen Dr. Kœmpfer’s specimens in the British Museum, to declare, whether I think I am mistaken. In answer to this, and to satisfy Mr. Miller as well as myself, I have been very lately at the Museum, and have looked very carefully over Dr. Kœmpfer’s specimens, and do sincerely think, as did other judges at the same time, that the _Sitz-dsju_ is not the same with the Carolina pennated Toxicodendron, nor the _Fasi-no-ki_ the same with Father D’Incarville’s China varnish-tree. Mr. Miller informs us, that one of the best kinds of varnishes is collected from the Anacardium in Japan.