From Ellen Hutchins to Dawson Turner   1 Jul 1812

July 1

My dear Sir

Tho’ I can hardly hold my pen after the fatigue of yesterday’s excursion & have much to do this morning. I cannot resist the gratification it gives me to tell you of my pleasures & to enclose part of my treasures. I set out at 3 o’Clock in the morning for a distant mountain lake, which I had once before visited, at a time when I did not collect plants. On the way I walked thro’ a deep & curious Glen, where I was delighted beyond expression at finding in a little gloomy cavern that beautiful rarity Hymenophyllum alutum [Killarney Fern]. I could not find a single frond in fruit. I have brought home roots to plant. I placed some by a rock at one side of my flower garden where I had a morsel that I got from Killarney last year growing, so that I may expect the good roots I have now planted will flourish. I have put more in another situation. I cannot enclose you a fine specimen but have some good ones for the next parcel. I suppose you get it long since from Mr Mackay. However you will not be sorry to have a little more from me. By the side of the Lake I found the fine Jungermannia No 59 which I enclose. It is not the same of any specimen I have from Mr Hooker. Perhaps it may be new. I have a large store of it but could not find fruit, if it be any thing that you would like more of I can supply you abundantly. I am told that the Hymenophyllum has been nearly destroyed at Killarney, the place where it grows is so well known that any person can find it. I have a Hieracium that I cannot make out & will send you in a few days with some of the mosses that you wished to get more of, at this time you will excuse my looking for them. I heard from Mr Mackay that Mr Hooker’s first No had been left with him for me. I expect to have it in a few days, I suppose you met with some person who brought it to him. Let me again thank you for the beautiful & valuable American mosses, I wish I could send you so great a number of any thing, equally valuable, the best I can I am & shall ever be willing to give, indeed it is a great pleasure when I find any thing new to think it will give you pleasure. A friend near Dublin has lately sent me Dicranum polycarpum & Gymnostomum microstomum. I dare say you have them but if not I can share with you or get you some. Mr Mackay has just sent me a little Gymnostomum that I had not before seen, it is like microstomum but different—

You have long before this returned from Town & I hope found Mrs Turner & all your girls well, little Ellen will soon be able to call you. How does she get on? I have not answered your last kind letters, I should have written but was disabled for some days by Rheumatism in my arm. I hope to go again into the mountains next week & if I find any thing worth sending or telling you about you shall soon hear of it for I feel as if I never could send anything I find soon enough,

Ever faithfully yours

E H.

July 1st 1812