(seq. 3)

14. Jan 1813

[postmark]
[indecipherable]
JAN 15 25
Stephen Elliott Esq {Esquire}
Beaufort
S. Carolina
franco

Lancaster Jan 14, 1813

Dear Sir

Your letter dated Beaufort Dec 26, which arrived to day, has relie-
ved me from a great deal of anxiety. I was afraid that either all my
letters dated Oct 5, Nov. 13 and Dec 2 had mis carried or that some accident
had happened. Thanks to Providence all is well and I anticipate the pleasure
of a continued correspondence in this new year.

The packet sent by Capt. Serrit arrived immediately after my second letter
was gone viz Nov 15. My observations on the plants n. 515-557 I sent to you
Dec. 2. I have found no reason to change my opinion hitherto, only Willdenows name
of 519 must be changed as we have a Poa flexuosa Smith, will autumnalis do? My
information from Virginy and Cherokee is that it flowers late. Euphorbia 533 is suffi-
ciently distinct from corollata might be named paniculata.

I regret extremely that our mutual exchange of dried specimens becomes so pre-
carious and we dare hardly venture to continue it. My sincere wish is that we
may soon have a good and honourable peace. In the mean time we may continue
our correspondence on shore by the mail and try to clear the many doubts we have
respecting our exchanged plants. I still want much information respecting your
Numbers 47, 83, 98, 128, 230, 375, 435, 550, 553.

Mr. Le Conte from NYork had made some hopes that we should see him in
company of D Eddy at Lancaster, but we were disappointed and he went to Georgia.
Did you meet him there? Is it he or his brother who is said to have a general col-
lection of Aster according to Dunns Catalogue? You are richer in the genus to the south
ward, and I wish you will give me in a future letter the names you now give to each
of your numbers. Does the new edition of Aitons H.K. [Hortus Kewensis] vol 3 contain the Asters and
Solidagenes? I have only the first volume.

Have you seen nothing since of my Elliottia, is it always octandrous and how
is the fruit? My catalogue goes very slow, the five first classes to the Umbellatas are
printed from Nov 1811 untill now, and all my begging and driving is of now use.
D. Bartons brother is the corrector of Hamilton the printer and I almost suspect
that may be the reason of the slowness — Perhaps you will be able to give me
an exact generical description of the Elliottia in time, to add it at the proper place

I had not the happiness to see D Baldwin when he was last at Philadelphia.
He informed me in his letter that he was to depart immediately on his return and
so I did not go to see him. The specimens he had sent on board of a vessel for
me remained at St. Marks and I have nothing I would be very much obliged
to you if you would communicate the numbers of the new plants with your O-
pinion on them.

By the papers I learn that the Hetty on which D. Baldwin took his passage is
safely arrived at Savanna Dec. 28. I retuned Mr. Oemlers fine collecting of algae
to him by the Doctor after having it only a few days in possession. How I long to have
a similar collection of American algae! But my excursions never extend to the
seashore and I never could persuade a northern correspondent to look after
such trifles although living in sight of the sea. What I have and look over often
with pleasure I owe to your kindness. In all the libraries of Philadelphia even of
the Philosophical and Linnaean Society there is not an author on Fucus with
figures!! Have you come to any certainty respecting the different species of Fucus
you sent to me — is your n. 8 and 9 purpurcus Gmelin and n. 22 gigartinus?
was not able to give a specifical name to any for want of books.
This Mr. Correa [Correia], I am sorry to add, intends to have us next June for Europe as
our climate will not agree with his constitution, he is, in every respect amiable
and full of knowledge and would be a great acquisition to our country, a little
backward in communicating to others what he knows and trusts entirely to his
memory with out making memoranda. This may do in younger years but hardly
at his or my age.
I wrote to the widow of Mr. Van der Schott and advised her to have a catalogue
made of his books and collections or send them to me with a limited
price
and I promised her that I would try my best to recommend and sell the same
Hitherto I have received no answer, probably the specimens will loose some of their
value, the books I suppose are chiefly German and Latin.