From James Mackay to Ellen Hutchins   24 Aug 1810

Dear Madam

I am ashamed at being so long in writing to you. My principal reason has been that I had nothing interesting to communicate and I am sorry to say it yet pretty much the case. I have had but little time of late to attend to indigenous botany on account of my necessary attendance in the Garden. My father who lives with me and used to be of great use in superintending my workmen when I had occasion to leave home has been very poorly all the summer; on account of which and some other circumstances I have almost given up the idea I had of going to England this season, although I have still some thought of going to see the Liverpool garden next month.

I have now two more No.’s of the Fuci for you, but as they do not contain many native species I think of keeping them a little while longer when I expect to have another No.. The only native species they contain are saccharinas, digitatus and phyllitis. You are mentioned as one of the finders of the latter. Its fruit it seems is still unknown. In the No. of E B for April your beautiful F. ulvoides has again made its appearance. Dr Smith does not seem quite satisfied at it being made a distinct species from punctatus and has the following observations after making some remarks on its appearance he says “When however we consider how variant in appearance the fructification of the very same Fucus is often found, we cannot but feel rather dissatisfied on the subject, and we submit the matter to the publick, chiefly out of deference to the experience and judgment of the Lady who discovered this elegant seaweed, and of Mr Turner, who is rather inclined to support her opinion.” Your new species of Ulva, called ramulosa is figured in the same No.

The last Number of the Edinburgh Review a work which you are perhaps acquainted with contains some interesting extracts from two publications of the celebrated Humboldt, a Prussian gentleman who began an expedition to Spanish America in 1799 and was engaged in it until 1804. In these distant travels he is said to have directed his enquiries into every department of nature and of society. The mass of curious information which he procured, and the superb collections which he was enabled to make relative to different objects of science far exceed, it is said, any thing that has heretofore been achieved by the exertions of an individual. He is said to have cast much light on the history of our species, to have extended the limits of accurate geography; and to have increased to stores of botany, zoology, and mineralogy with immense additions. These invaluable acquisitions classed under different heads are to be brought out successively, in a style of execution unrivalled for elegance and splendour. Some portions of the composition have only yet appeared which are said to be yet disjointed and unfinished – nor is the narrative of the voyage which will occupy ?five quarto volumes yet begun. ???? have already been spent in publishing what has come to the hands of ?? our reviewers; and perhaps as many more will elapse before the whole shall be completed. The work is published at Paris. I have thus given you some account of a work of which you are perhaps already acquainted with, but should that not be the case I will send you the Review along with the No.’s of the Fuci as if you have not seen it your curiosity must be excited. I hope your Mother's health is better and that you have not entirely given up your Botanic walks.

I shall be happy to hear from you and remain with much truth, your most obliged and aft. servant

J. T. Mackay

(Note written in margin of last sheet)

I've enclosed your bank note back from the person I gave it to. They said it was a forgery although I don't see that it has been marked as such. I return it as I hope you know the person you got it from.