From Ellen Hutchins to James Mackay   10 Nov 1807

Dear Sir

I had written part of a letter to you two or three days ago with the Conferva enclosed and delayed finishing it until I should hear from you. I got your letter this morning and am glad to find you liked the last parcel. I had some Sertulariae to send you but forgot them indeed. I was very much hurried that day I made up the parcel and forgot to send you some specimens of Hieracium Sabaudum and the variety I mentioned of Blechnum spicant as you think the Hieracium I enclosed is murorum. I have been mistaken as I took the species of which I enclose a small specimen to be it. I sent you roots of that I enclosed and can if you should want them send some of the present species. I thought I sent in the last parcel a good many specimens of Fucus dasphyllus, but as you have not got them I must in my hurry have lost or mislaid them. However I can with the next things send you those I have for myself and replace them next season. I have been for a short time past pretty /partly[?] attentive to fresh water Confervae and I have met with a good many species. I shall have specimens of all I can get for you. I have already preserved a good many. I think the minute species marked No 44 must be flocculosa. Its magnified appearance so perfectly agrees with Dillwyn’s plate. He describes his as a freshwater species, but this is found in the sea, even after drying the microscope will show its wonderful manner of growth.

No 46 found in a cavern is an elegant little thing. Do you recollect where you saw

Asplenium marinus [?] on the shore near this place, here it grows and clothes the rocks most beautifully. Conferva Brodii [?] is pretty plenty.

I send you a good specimen of the Byssus I sent long ago. I have lately met with Conferva stricta. I shall be able to get you specimens enough next summer and I have now got some of C. Casta - the Conferva I sent you long since marked No 4 will after being long dried if raised from the paper and put in water recover its recent appearance. I have not seen any other kind recover but it.

I have some specimens of No 2 for you, good ones in fruit. It is very plenty in one little spot and no where else that I have seen.

I enclose you the specimens of Sertularia I should have sent by my brother. I have got ?Barkerhoal and have been endeavouring to make out the few species I have found. I hope I shall find many more. Whatever I can find I shall send you part of, if you should wish for more of any of these I now send let me know.

I am quite delighted with ‘Dillwyn’. I have made out many species that I should not have known without it. I shall be very glad to hear whatever you can tell me of Mr Turner’s work, the plates must be very interesting but alas for me the language is a sad thing and cruel Latin!

I am very glad that he has been so successful in Scotland, no wonder you should regret his visiting that country without you.

I was glad you have so soon an opportunity of sending him the parcel. It contains some of every thing I could get that was worth sending. Many of the specimens I had for my own collection, but I can replace them easily.

I am glad you see any alteration for the better in my brother. I who see him almost constantly am less able to perceive it.

I remain your …… ……

E Hutchins

I am quite vexed that I have not more seeds of Centunculus minimus to send you. I had a great many but unfortunately my little mice got into the room where I had them and soon scattered them all.

Thank you for what you say about the American plants.

Note with two specimens, one on either side of a slip of paper in the letter.

No 47 This grows in great abundance along the sea shore covering rocks and banks of earth that are washed by the sea in high tides, and over which fresh water runs at other times.

No 48 I believe this a Conferva bipunctata but I am not quite sure, when recent it is extremely slippery and gelatinous.