From Ellen Hutchins to Dawson Turner   10 Jan 1810

Jan 10th 1810

Your letter My dear Sir found me a few hours ago, just finishing a drawing of a minute Conferva different from any I have hitherto seen. I shall put a little of it into this letter, it grew on Fucus loreus. I am anxious to hear from you in what state you wish to have Fucus aculeatus drawn, whether in the state it appears at this season destitute of jointed filaments & which is I believe its most common appearance, or as I found it last spring with tufts of filaments. The young plants alone seem furnish'd with them. Perhaps you would like an old plant & a piece with the filaments. As you seem anxious to have it speedily I do not lose a post, & only wait your answer. As soon as I hear from you, I shall do it, & send with it thro Capt. Mangin a drawing of the enclosed Conferva & another great beauty No 63 sent on glass in the last parcel, together with some of the mosses you wish for more of. I am very glad you have found Hypnum No 2 distinct from subtile [Amblystegium serpens]. I have some & am sure I can get more. No 7 I can get more of. No 11[?] must I think be the same that I sent you before for H. fluviatile [A. fluviatile], for I never found anything like it but in one little spot. Of Grimmia No 3 I can send you more & if I have not perfect specimens in the house I can get some where it grows: a very favourite spot by the rocky, woody side of a little waterfall particularly dear to me as the place of [deletion] growth of Jung. trichophylla [Blepharostoma trichophyllum] one of my new species & many mosses. I have spent many happy hours creeping among its rocks & never quitted it without regret. The troublesome little affairs of this world continually deprive one of the enjoyment of such pleasures. But whither am I wandering. Let me return from the rocks & thank you most warmly for all your kindness & for all the information you give me. I beg you never to think it necessary to apologize for any delay in answering letters, indeed you never I think delay. I should feel very uneasy if I thought you put yourself to inconvenience in writing sooner than you had leisure. I am very sensible of the value of your time, & feel very grateful for the part of it you bestow on me. I am very glad Mr. Hooker is so near the publication of the Jungermanniae. I hope he will find the little one I enclosed you in my last letter distinct. Most likely he is already well acquainted with it tho' it is rare here. What a delightful tour he is likely to have in Iceland under such advantages as you describe. The enterprising zealous spirit I suppose him to possess is I think greatly to be admired. Perhaps I value active minds the more from observing that of the very few people I see. Much the greater part seem sadly at a loss to know how to get rid of time. I am ever ready to wish success to travellers & sincerely hope he may escape such adventures as he met with at sea last year. Thank you for the new Bryum you sent me. Mr. Eagle's taste in drawing seems rather singular. It seems an odd fancy to paint the capsules of mosses green, so very unnatural surely. The rich variety of colouring in the leaves, stalks & capsules is a great beauty. I know not how to thank you for your wish to gratify me with the sight of Mr. Hooker's drawings which I am sure are very fine & the still higher pleasure of seeing you, a gratification that I cannot at present flatter myself with any hope of enjoying. I feel it impossible to think of moving from those who from ill health & other reasons would be miserable without me. In such circumstances I cannot think of self gratification without its being followed by self reproach. Your Lichens are of great value, many of them I have found here & many more I have not. However I may discover more of them, I am quite a beginner. Lecidea atrovirens [? Rhizocarpon geographicum] is a striking ornament to many of our rocks particularly by the seashore & sometimes on mountains. Before you receive this letter you will I hope get a parcel thro' Capt Mangin containing a few Lichens, to you not very useful I fear, & drawings of some beautiful little Conferva. I hope to have a few more to send with the drawing of Fucus aculeatus. My dear Sir I have written in such a hurry that I hardly know what I have said. It is time to bid you good night, past 1 Clock & I have yet a letter to write. How I long for the summer mornings when I can have many undisturbed hours before breakfast. At all hours I feel your truly obliged friend

E Hutchins

Janry. 10th 1810 -