From Ellen Hutchins to James Mackay   1 Feb 1807

February 1st 1807

Dear Sir

You will no doubt be surprised to see a parcel from me so soon again but as your pleasure in plants equals mine, I could not delay writing with the enclosed minute species of Conferva. I cannot find any description of it in Withering and as you wish to get the finer kinds in a recent state I could not omit sending it in this state. At first I thought it may be a very young plant of C arbuscula but upon examining it closely in my little microscope I found it quite distinct and in fruit, I got but little of it and of that little send the best and largest plants. It grows on small mussel shells, as I know the spot I found it growing now I can get more when we have spring tides with an easterly wind. Of what I have now remaining, I shall spread some specimens for you and shall take the very first opportunity the weather will allow of to get a good number of them. I also enclose a little more of C arbuscula in ?? I think the fructifications are very apparent.

I am your etc etc

E Hutchins

I shall be glad to hear (as soon as you can conveniently write) what you think of the enclosed. Is not it an elegant little plant? How full of fruit. I am sorry I had not it to send in my letter yesterday morn but it was after my letter was gone that I found it. I should go out again today to get more only the spring tides are past.

Last night as I was going to sleep I got Turner’s ‘Synopsis’. I have sat up reading it and find I have done wrong by not sending you all the varieties I could of Fucus ??? and what I take for ceranoides of ??? And what I take for F. ??? I believe I have been quite wrong in these plants. I enclose a large variety of ceranoides as I think. I hope Mr T’s work will be in English that I may be able to read it. Fucus esculentus is plenty here.