From Ellen Hutchins to Dawson Turner   4 Nov 1812

Though I am almost stupid with a heavy cold I hasten to answer your letter & send a few specimens of Jungermanniæ which I am sure you & your friend M^r. Hooker will be glad to see. Pray thank him for his observations. You will see how many mistakes I have made respecting J. Lyellii which I now find was one of the first things I collected & had it a long time before I knew what it was. It was the first Jungermannia I ever observed in fructification. I think Mr. H. says he has seen but one capsule. I can send you plenty next spring. They shall be better dried than the old specimen I now send. Correcting all the mistakes I made respecting their species & comparing specimens fresh & dry has, I hope, led me to detect another mistake, for I hope it will prove that by mistake N^o. 47 has been united with epiphylum & that M^r. H. will find it a very distinct species. To me it appears a particularly fine one. Pray observe it closely. Is the J. sinuata described by Withering a British species? I should like to see it. I used to call N^o. 47 by this name, supposing it to be Withering’s species. We have it in very great abundance.

I am very glad indeed to learn that M^r. Hooker has altered the plan of his work so as to include all the Hepaticæ. I will try to collect for him & as soon as I can find time will send him what I have at present. I am not rich in Riccia Marchantia etc. I have only R glauca & fruticulosa the latter I expect to prove a Jungermannia. It is very near to J furcata. The blue colour does not appear until the plant is dried. I have M conica which seems rare in this country growing only in one spot by the sea shore that I have ever observed. I believe you got a little with some Jungermanniae a day or two after you wrote to me. The no.s for which I am very impatient have not yet reached Cork but are every day expected. I enclose you the new Orthotrichum in a good state. The inner teeth distinguish it from anomalum. The capsule is larger & narrower. The calypta much more hairy. The fruit stalks longer. The leaves narrower & more pointed. More disposed to become twisted in drying. The stalks are remarkably brown below & bright dark green above. The contrast is strong &very striking. The capsules are remarkably yellow & shining. The plant grows in larger & more dense patches than anomalum & seems confined to mountainous situations – Will you give the new Rosa to Mr Sowerby or wait until you see more specimens. I have a few & will next year send you a larger supply as it is pretty common here. I believe I told you I had found another habitat for Utricularia intermedia but no appearance of flowers. The plant I am pretty certain propagates itself by means of those buds that are formed at the ends of the shoots.

The season is now becoming very interesting for seeking Jungermanniæ, they are all advancing fast in fructification, I shall be as busy & attentive as health & many other concerns will allow, but I fear I shall not be able to do very much. My Mother who was a little better is not as well as she has been though not confined to her room.

I lately found more of the beautiful new Thelotrema & can add to your store. How does Lich. Brit get on, have you worked through the Verrucaria? Or are you still winding among the rocky [?]mazes/mosses? Let me ask too for Hist Fuci. Is it fast approaching the conclusion? I fear you have too many things to attend to, & that my old delight & great favourite does not get on as rapidly as usual. You must not be offended at my taking its part & inquiring with affection for an acquaintance that has so often given me pleasure. I shall soon send you a parcel & your Musc. Hib. which I kept all season with the view of adding as many [__] of new species as possible. I have been collecting materials for the parcel this long time past. Pray tell me of any things you are desirous to have. The Lichens you have marked in the lists so that I know them. I intend to send you diamonds before long, you know what I mean, Irish ones. I hope to get Asbestos to send you. I have been promised some specimens. It has been lately found in a remote place, 30 miles off. -

I dare not write more. The clock has struck 3 & my letter has 3 miles to go to Bantry. Tell me how you all are & believe me ever yours

E.H.

Nov^r 4^th 1812