From Ellen Hutchins to Dawson Turner   7 Apr 1810

Apr. 7

My dear Sir

I have been for some time past expecting to hear from you. I now feel apprehensive that you have been ill. My fears will not allow me to wait any longer & I beg a line to say how you are. I really feel quite uneasy & shall not be otherwise until I know that you are well. I have suffered so much by the loss of some friends & the ill health of others that I am ever ready to fear for those that remain, & am often uneasy without much reason. This I sincerely hope may be the case at present & that I shall have the gratification of hearing that you enjoy health & peace.

I hope the parcel I sent you near two months ago containing a drawing of Fucus aculeatus, some Confervæ & a few specimens of mosses has reached you. I have since found four or five Confervæ different from any you have hitherto had from me. Of late I have attended to collecting Lichens & have a great many to send you. The Bæomyces are variable & puzzling beyond any thing I have ever seen. How they do vary! & run into each other. You shall have every thing this place produces, with all my doubts & thoughts. The more I find the less I can see. It will give me great pleasure to shew you every thing you have not seen. They will appear less confused to you than to me, who know so little about them. I have found two fruit of Parmelia caperata which is very rare, tho’ the plant is so common, P. omphalodes with fruit in plenty. P. diatrypa in great plenty without fruit. I should like to know if you want of those or more of any Jungermanniæ that you have got from me. Of the moss sent in the last parcel as G[__] No 8 I can send you plenty. I have also found Parmelia farinacea with shields on the upper branches of an old apple tree that was cut down.

The Confervæ now begin to cover the rocks very fast, & Fucus clavellosus is coming in. If there be anything you wish me to know about the drawing of this plant pray let me know in time as it must soon be done while the plant is in perfection & if you can think of any thing else I could do, or save for you pray tell me. I am unwilling to trouble you with a long letter at this time, or to ask many questions. I shall therefore conclude earnestly requesting a line to say how you are. Believe me, my dear Sir, now & at all times your faithful & obliged

E. Hutchins

Ballylickey

April 7th 1810