Elliott, Stephen, 1771-1830. Stephen Elliott papers, 1791- approximately 1947. Letters from Henry Muhlenberg to Stephen Elliott, 1812 December 1-1815. gra00020. Archives of the Gray Herbarium, Botany Libraries, Harvard University.

7. Nov 1813

[postmark] LANCAR. P 25 — NOV PAID 8 Stephen Elliott Esq {Esquire} Charleston franco S. Carolina

Lancaster Nov 7, 1813

Dear Sir

I have been for some time anxiously waiting to hear from you and am afraid that all is not right. My last letter to you dated August the 25th in which I promised to make up a small packet of specimens for you. This has been done and by some mistake came instead of Trenton to N York, where Mr. Lacoste promised to send it with his goods to Charleston and see it delivered to you with safety. From N York it was forwarded the latter end of September. Oct. 12, I put a copy of my Catalogue in the mail post paid for you as I had done some time for D. Baldwin, and several others who had favoured me with specimens. Whether the conveyance by mail is safe I do not know, I have received no answer of any of my friends and begin to doubt. It was the only way I knew and I thought it worth trying.

That you are every day engaged in a multiplicity of business I can easily conceive, but a little relaxation will be necessary and I know by experience that no unbending of sitting business is better then an excursion for subjects of natural history. Your situation at Charleston is excellent expecially for algae and I long to hear, what you have discovered. You will see by my catalogue (if it arrived) how little I have of Fucus and Conferva. My excellent friend Zaccheus Collins has been at the seashore and has brought a number of fine specimens which he generously shared with me but unluckily we have not a single author on Fucus with figures in our publick libraries and remain in the dark. Fucus sinuosus, sanguineus, purpurascens, membranifolius I think were amongst them.

Mr. Correa who intended to go to Europe and had gone to Boston is now determined to remain for some time longer in America. He is an excellent botanist but too often a hidden treasure, however I expect much good from him. Of D. Baldwin I have not heard lately, his last letter was written immediately after the great hurricane and the loss of an amiable young child. He has sent me, by degrees many specimens but they are rather imperfect as they were inclosed in letters, a few were quite new to me. When the navigation will be opened I expect to see the new ones in greater perfection.

When you look through my catalogue I bet you will assist to fill up the many blanks especially in the colour of corolla and in the time of flowering and add, the plants wanting of your naturalized plants I know but little. Wherever you find a mistake let me know it candidly, it is impossible to escape them. Whatever I find myself to amend or add I will let you know. P. dichroma — [J?]emen setosum read nudum is an overlooked mistake of the Press. A supplement shall follow as soon as the 400 copies are gone which were printed.

A new correspondent has offered himself to me from Boston Mr. Jacob Bigelow from whom I expect to get some northern plants, perhaps he may do what I expected in vain from others. From Europe I have seen or heard nothing in a long time.

I do not remember whether I have added my names, to the numbered specimens 501-600. From n. 590-600 are Fuci and Confervae with out name, so much I remember. If any remain doubtfull to you I have a copy of what I have sent.

I remain with great respect Sir Your most obedient humble Servant Henry Muhlenberg

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6. Dec. 1813.

[postmark] LANCAR. P PAID 25 DEC 8 Stephen Elliott Esquire at franco Charleston South Carolina

Lancaster Dec. 6, 1813

My dear Sir

Hardly had my last letter dated Nov 8 gone to the post, when I had the pleasure to receive your favour of the 30th of October, by which I see that my packet trusted to the care of Mr. Lacoste at New York containing my numbers 501-600 was not delivered to you. Sorry I am that so little hope remains for a continuation of our pleasing remittance of specimens. Hardly the waggons which go from Boston to the southward will be certain and safe conveyance. I have it from experience, however we might try, but let them receive pay at delivery of the packet.

That you have received my Catalogue and are in general satisfied with the performance, gives me pleasure. I regret with you not only that a sign * could not be added to the ND. for want of this sign, but that the paper is very bad and will hardly allow any addition or note. Chiefly on that account I made the Catalogue as a foundation on which something more perfect might be grounded. My copy is bound with white paper between and I fill up the blanks and add corrections whenever I look over new specimens.

The letter C I had put only to such plants as I take bonafide to be naturalized in deed. The line of distinction is very nice, especially in such plants as desire some culture. When it is not likely that they ever will disappear from our states although they want some assistance I would rather have them in a Catalogue with C then not at all. In a future day the botanist may have a proof that in our time such a plant was thought exotic but naturalized. Arena, Secale, Triticum, Cerasus, Malus, Cydonia, Oryza, Gossypium and others are of this sort. I shall be very happy to have your opinion on the southern plants, which are C, or should be excluded. Mr. Oemler sent me as I mentioned before several seeds from Savanna with out any mark. Hibiscus subdarista not vegetated, Argemone alba ☉, Hibiscus speciosus, virginicus, collinsonia purp. not veg. Hibiscus diversiflorus, is this native? Hibiscus grandiflorus, Hibiscus manihot, Hibiscus scaber a very small plant, has not flowered, Asclepias curassavica, Galinsogea [Galinsoga] parviflora, Cleome pentandra, which of those would you exclude from an American catalogue?

When ever you have leisure I entreat you to let me have a Catalogue of such N American plants native or naturalized as you miss in my catalogue adding cat. cor. duration and fructus. And where you think I was wrong pray do not hestitate to correct me. Whatever I give is with the usual proviso & errors excepted, and no one can please me better than he how shows me any mistake. I am no Yankey but like to guess with a Yankey untill I hit.

Would it not be well if you would give to the publick an index or catalogue of all the Carolina and Georgia plants in the same or a better manner than mine is? I wish that Walter might be explained in particular. My next wish is that a similar catalogue might be published to the northward by Drs. Peck, Bigelow, Cutler or some other communicative botanist, who is free from jealousy and nostrums. By joining of hands we may do something clever.

You are now at Charleston in a fine situation for plants near a botanical garden and the ruins of Michauxs' nursery. Have you discovered nothing new? Is Baldwin n. 716 Ageratum conyzoides fl. pupureo native? What is his 719 native Marygold? 742 Arundo in gardens like Donax and native? 763 Vaccinum left by Michaux. Juncus capitulo laterali globoso sessite?

Amongst your own numbers several were so unique and imperfect that you will not find them to my knowledge in my Catalogue. Pray let me have your opinion on 199, 230, 375, 435, 365, 550. My adversaries remain yet and every observation to clear away my doubts will be extremely wellcome, in Schoenus, Cyperus, Juncus, Salicornia, Aster Solidago, Prunus, Crataegus, Asclepias and Salix. Which species have you in those genera? Could we only see one another once more personally!!

As for your Fuci and Convervae I can only repeat my great desire to see every species you can spare. They have in last year been my favourite amusement. For want of figures I am at a great loss. Whatever I thought certain I put in the Catalogue. Only be comparing a number of specimens we arrive to a certainty. What is your own opinion and of your numbers you were pleased to send to me, and you have intended to send to Mr. Turner? What I ventured to guess I have mentioned already.

Have you heard lately from our valuable friend D. Baldwin? His last letter to me was dated Sept 24 immediately after the hurricane and the loss of an amiable child. My last to him Nov 18. Upon which I have no answers. I would be very glad to hear what you have received from him and D. Boykin or your excellent friend Le Conte. When ever you write to them, remember my great esteem although not personally acquainted.

Doctor Bigelow at Boston continues his correspondence which is very valuable to me. He promises northern Fucus and Convervas although he has now "none of any consequence". I have seen some at a distance with D. Barton from the northward, which were excellent and of great consequences. The Doctor could never be persuaded to allow a nearer look, and this spring he told me, they were moth eaten not worth seeing or sent to Europe. Mr. Correa is yet at Boston and in great esteem with the northern botanists. When he returns to Philadelphia we are likely to hear more of northern Botany and especially of northern Algae.

In the Boston libraries they have Lamarck, Poiret, Curtis, Allioni, Smith, English Botany, Plukenet, but no particular work on Cryptogamia. Plukenet is an excellent book for a southern botanist and contains good figures of Florida plants which I do not know and might be added to a NA. catalogue.

The only Salsola they have at Boston is the common one Salsola caroliniana. D. Bigelow thinks our Chenopodium maritimum Walter or Chenopodium tenuifolium Rafinesque may be the Salsola salsa of Michaux. The plant which is named Ch. tenufolium has no semen cochleatum and is I think a real Chenopodium although in habit very much alike to Salsola altissima L. Whether the Chenopodium maritimum of Walter your N. 103. is sufficiently distinct I do not know. Pray is your 103 ☉ or ♃ or ♄?

They have at Boston 2 Salicornias. I am uncertain whether the same with ours. According to D. Bigelow a, herbacea, articulis apice compressis integris (nec emarginatis) squamis acutis sub? mucronatis, is this your n. 48? b, ramosissima ramis superioribus saepe geminatis spicis filiformibus"

It seems to me we have four Salicornias if not 5. herbacea, virginica and the cospecies or variety your n. 48, ambigua your 267, and one discovered by Mr. Collins in the Jersies near fruticosa and foliata, ramis alternis articulis vitusis foliis cylindricus ut videtur cuale sesquipedali fistuloso strialo ligneo. Mr. Collins is an excellent correspondent, with an eye equal to a microscope and indefatigable in "looking again" He has sent me from the Gap Mountain and the Jersies several Southern plants. The Jersey seashore deserves to be examined very close.

Quite lately I laid my hand on the American edition of the Edinburg Encyclopaedia and was much pleased with the article Botany. It contains a number of observations new to an American botanist. Persoon has been excerpted pretty general. The Cryptogamia is less so C and very much I long to see it. I can hear nothing of the continuation of the Species Plantarum and wish it may soon appear.

I have nothing to add but my best respects to Mrs. Elliot and the tender of my services. May I soon hear from your health with sentiments of unchangable esteem I remain Sir Your most obedient humble servant Henry Muhlenburg

Having room left I will add from my copy a few corrections and additions to my Catalogue [(1. through out the proper quantity or pronunciation of the genera when dubious. The Printer would not agree to it as being too troublesome. 2. p. 2 Olea 2. Sativa C. 3. fragrans C. Georgia. 6. Dichroma instead of Setosum read nudum 7. Scirpus add 28. umbellatus. N Caes 9. Panicum add 27. verrucosum. N Caes. Car. Georg 16. Plantago add 9. linearifolia Pens. Georgia 18. add. Mirabilis C. 22. add. Maerostema vitifolia. 24. add. 8. Chironia stellata 26. add. Viola 24. trifoliata ♃ Georgia 28. Asclepias add 22. connivens. Car. Georg 29. Chenopodium add 14. floridana murale Pens. 30. Anni add sub to uniformis 31. Cicuta latifolia add probably Angelica lucida 37. Rumex add 11. hastatulus S. Baldwini ♃. Georg. 42. Cassia add 11. ✝ aphylla. 46. Asarum add 5. acuminatum 48. add. Prunus 19. occidentalis? Sphaerocarpa? Georgia 49. Crataegus. 18 tomentosa (glandulosa Mx). Car. 50 add Dalibarda lobata (nisi geoides). Georg 56. Thymbra put Supra 3 — dent. opposit to ringens 430 65. Aeschynomene — legumen read lomentum — Sesbania 5 dent. add aequalis. 68. Hypericum add 25. tetrapelatum ♃. Pens. fl Jul

69. Prenanthes add 8 pumila, grass leaved. Georgia 70. add Onopordum, acanthus ♂ C. N Amer. 72 add. Santolina, pinnatifida. Louisiana. Pens H. fl. Jul 73. Tussilago add 4. petasites C. Pens 82 Typha under M. 3 ph. add F o — Zea under Cat 2 valv. add 2 flor. 85. Morus Cal Male. 4 part. put F 4 pt. and instead of Cor. Fem. 4 ph. put o. — Xanthium read Cor. M. 5 fid. F o. and so in Ambrosia 86. Hydrocharis read Cal 4 fidus not phyl — Castanea read Cor. M. 5 pet. Fem. o. 90. Croton read Cor. M. 5 pet. Fem. o. 92. Panax add. under Cal. M. integ. H. 5 dent. 101. Conferva add 21, fucoides, longata — Fucus 7. add Sanguineus, Sinuosus, membranifolius, purpurascens, subfuscens 103. Xyloma add 3. acerinum besides many small additions when Cal. is super od infer. in the colour of Cor. and in Dur. which can easily add when you observe the plants alive].

Fissidens femicompletus fr. Pensylv. but without fructi ficalios — to show how easily a small Fucus or other plant can be sent with out further expense [specimen attached]

9. May 1814

[postmark] [?NC ] 25 MA PAID Stephen Elliott Esq {Esquire} franco Charleston S. Carolina

Lancaster May 9, 1814

Sir

Your very acceptable letter of the 18th of April last arrived safe at Lancaster the only one since Oct. 30. Our mutual friend D. W. Baldwin has informed you, how severrly I have been visited by an apoplexy since January 20, when it was impossible to write and even to read. By the blessing of God my health is a recovering. D. Baldwin continued his letters and sent me by divers letters several specimens, what ever were cryptogama I can distinguish although my eyes are still very weak, the larger specimens were very imperfect and hurt by the carriage.

If you have an opportunity to send anything new, you will do me a great favour. My son in law Musser departed last March at Philadelphia and I now have no correspondence left to forward or to receive any packet except my excellent friend Zaccheus Collins at Philadelphia opposite Christ Church who is able and willing to assist me.

If you are at leisure I beg you in particular to inform me 1, which N American plants you have found wanting in my Catalogue 2, which of your plants should have the sign Cicur or Cultivated 3, Any emendation that occurs in time of flowering, colour of the color and so forth I have made a number of emendations in my own copy, and am willing to send you whatever I have as soon as I am able to write better.

You do not mention the receipt of my former pacquet which was sent by land. From Boston I received several specimens and queries by D. Jacob Bigelow whom I recommend as an excellent botanist and correspondent.

D. Baldwins numbers sent during my sickness were from n. 1291to 1471 which I could only return by the generical names — several were new to me. I wish to persuade him to send his own names. I find that a number of your own plants are without a name and therefore not yet in my Catalogue. How much I would be pleased to hear those names!

Pardon me for writing so abruptly, you see with how much difficulty I can command the pen. For all your communications and you excellent instructions I thank you sincerely. The all mighty preserve and bless you. I remain with great esteem Sir Your sincere friend and obd. servant Henry Muhlenberg