From Ellen Hutchins to James Mackay   3 Jan 1807

January 3^rd 1807

Dear Sir

The stillness of the water yesterday tempted me to go to the rocks. I have found very fine plants of Conferva arbuscula (some of them I think in fruit) which I have pressed as dry as I could and enclose knowing that you wished much to have them in the best state for the purposes you mentioned. I think it will be difficult to draw them.

I enclose a little bit of the other Conferva you wished to have unspread. I can get fine specimens in fruit I think about the end of March not sooner. The very first I can find shall be sent. It would be much easier to make a drawing of it than the other. I shall be very glad to hear of the safe arrival of the things I sent you a few days past. When you tell me anything of them or any of the plants I have sent you, mention only the numbers of the last parcel and if you want the same of any of the former ones send me a bit of the plant you wish but I believe I shall be able to get you all you want by attending to those marked on the paper of specimens I enclosed and which you returned.

You may expect in the next parcel some good plants of C. arbuscula. It generally grows on small mussel shells. The other plant enclosed sometimes on rock but oftener on Fuci.

I wish much to get Mr Dillwyn’s Conferva [his book, British Conferva]. Will you be so good as to let me know when it is published or if any part of it has already come out and the price, when I have this I can get a bookseller at Cork to get it for me from England. When does Mr Turner publish, are there to be plates [engraved drawings] in his work? I fear I am very troublesome asking so many questions.

I am to have the boat and crew all the next summer to go where I please so that you may expect a good parcel at the end of it, I have high hopes of adding to our collections. If I don't get something new I shall begin to feel what I think I have never yet been troubled with, envy, and then you know I must hate you with very good cause, you have had so much success.

Until I grow envious, you have my best wishes for its continuance.

E Hutchins

(Note written at top of page one)

These plants are I think in fruit perhaps more of the enclosed are in the same state. I had not much time to examine as the post is just going. The fructifications appeared to me in a little microscope like 4 or 5 little round bumps clustered on the tips of the branches.