Elliott, Stephen, 1771-1830. Stephen Elliott papers, 1791- approximately 1947. Letters from James MacBride to Stephen Elliott, 1814 April 4-1817, undated. gra00020. Archives of the Gray Herbarium, Botany Libraries, Harvard University.

I was on the eve of meeting with Mr. Lyon but his sudden death prevented. I was sent for to render him medical assistance but he had expired before the message reached me. I fear he died not so much for the want of proper & timely medical aid as from receiving that which was improper. His disease was typhus fever & agreeably to the notions of the people where he died he was blooded freely but 3 days before his death. This insinuation how ever should be hushed as those about him I believe acted for the best.

I was indulged with an inspection of his specimens & papers. He kept a regular diary of all his peregrinations in the MS. since the year 1804 & carefully noted all the non descript & doubtful plants he met with. Between Andromeda & Menziesia he places the Elliottia racemosa. What plant is this? — I found on a detached paper the description of a genus named Lyonid. I took the liberty of copying it & now enclose it. He had never met with it seems the tetrandrous non descript sent you last year after my return from the upper country. You doubtless recol =lect a plant with pinnated & serrated leaves belonging to Tetrandria sgynia which you said you could refer to no described genus. (see specimen No. 22 in the present collection) I had a good opportu =nity this year of observing it & now enclose you such a description of the frutification as you may depend upon. I brought home two roots of it & intend to plant them. If you wish them particularly I will send them to you. Mr. McQueen of Savannah also carries home with him several roots of it.

I have to regret the death of our friend at Nance's who used occasionally to send specimens. I found several plants in his collection of this sea

=son but most of them were too much injured to be sent— The specimens from No 80 inclusive are some of them.

Your observations on the specimens will extremely agreeable acceptable. By referring to the Nos alone — I will I will be able to recognize them.

I remain Dear Sir, Yours very sincerely J MacBride

N.B. I have 20 or 30 mineral specimens which I will send you as soon as a proper opportunity offers—————

25. Oct. 1814 —

Stephen Elliott Esq. {Esquire} Charleston To the case of Mr. Robt. Quan.

Sullivan's Island, June 7th 1815

Dear Sir,

This accompanies a book which Mr. Gourdin requested me to send you. I had the pleasure of receiving to day the Transactions of the Linn Society. I am very much obli =ged to you.

I found yesterday two Laplisia of considerable size. The largest will probably weigh 2 or 3 pounds. They were left by the tide in the rubbish of the old bridge. As they were in contact I suspect they are of different sexes. They emit when disturbed fluid of a deep purple colour which tinges the water so much that, in the pail where I keep them, they cannot be discerned for some time after the ejection. The colour soon fades. These are of a dark greenish colour & spotted white, they are furnished with four tentaculs which appear to be rolled up, & at the bottom of the upper pair are they eyes. They move in the water by the action of ala which proceed from the side of the animal upwards & fold over each other. Between the ala is a round tubercle at the right side of which is the vent for the fluid just mentioned. These creatures resemble our rabbit more than anything else. Let me know if this animal is new to you & I will endeavor to preserve one or both. I hope you will think of the place you suggest of sending me some vessel & preseve such animals. I hope you may find it convenient to pay the Island a visit this week.

I am De. Sir, with great regard Your obl. J MacBride

Stephen Eilliott Esq {Esquire} Charleston To the care of Danl. Ravenel Esq. {Esquire}

Pilularia globulifera Asplenium viride Parietaria cretica Salix retusa — 5 Carex montana ——— praecox ——— pauciflora ——— limosa ——— brizoides — 10 Neollia spiralis =Erigeron uniflorum [uniflorus] Tussilago hybrida Senecio incanus Artemisia spicata ——— caerulescens ——— glacialis =Ornithopus perpusillus Cytisus capitatus Trifolium ochroleucum 20 Vicia lathyroides ——— cassubica Polygala chamaebuxus =Arabis alpina ——— halleri 25 Thlaspi montanum ——— campestre =Draba aizoides =Antirrhinum spurium Teucrium botrys =30 Anemone alpina Ranunculus alpestris ——— glacialis ——— aconitifolius Trollius europaeus 35 Helleborus hiemalis [hyemalis]

Nigella arvensis Papaver alpinum =Sempervivum arachnoideum Arenaria polygonoides 40 Silene rupestris ——— acaulis Chrysosplenium oppositifolium Saxifraga bryoides ——— muscoides 45 Arbutus uva ursi Stellara passerina Vaccinium oxycoccos Trientalis europaea Rumex digynus 50. Juncus supinus ——— jacquini [jacquinii] Bupleurum falcatum Samolus valerandi Arctia alpina. 55. Bromus gracilis Avena versicolor Cynosurus coeruleus Aira praecox. =Ricinus palma christi. 60. Rhus cotinus Crotalaria retusa Moluccella laevis Linum usitatissimum Spartium scoparium 65. Antirrhinum triphyllum Oenothera longiflora Alyssum linifolium? Leonotis nepetifolia Pardanthus chinensis 70 Nepeta cataria Cestrum nocturnum [Ocimum?] basilicum

Medicago nigra Convolulus tricolor 75 Anagallis caerulea Scorpiurus subvillosa Martynia diandra Sterculia platanifolia Delphinium ajacis 80. Nerium oleander Melia azedarach Myrtus communis Veronica gentianoides Asparagus officinalis 85. Hydrangea hortensia Gladiolus communis =Isatis tinctoria Asarum europaeum Euphrasia officinalis 90. Inula brittanica Iberis umbellata Erica vulgaris ——— mediterranea ——— tetralix 95. Olea fragrans Dictamnus albus Viburnum opulus ——— tinus Triticum [planum?] 100 Corchorus japonicus. fl: pl: Salisburia adiantifolia Artemisia — Verbena triphylla 2 Stolonifera Saxifraga 1 105. Tamarix gallica Lantana aculeata Tiquilia [parv?] Physalis chenopodiifolia Spilanthes oleracea 110. Laurus cinnamomum ——— camphora Thlaspi perfoliatum Artemisia pontica Datura arborea 115. Aesculus hippocastanum Tillandsia Ulex europaeus Datura fastuosa Hibiscus trinonum 120. Pelargonium odoratissimum Jasminium grandiflorum Narcissus Coronilla emerus Allium 125. Pentapetes phoenicea.

Sullivans Island, July 31 1815

Dear Sir,

If you have completed the perusal of the olive branch you will oblige Mr. Gourdin by sending it to Messrs. Gaillard & Maryck's to be conveyed to Pineville by the St Stephens' post.

Let me repeat to you the offer of my services as a transcriber. The heat of the weather prevents me in a great measure from leaving the house except in the evenings & mornings. The leisure thus afforded I would willingly devote to copying yr. notes &c— I feel great anxiety to see such a flora as I know is in yr. power to give the world— I know nothing so likely to diffuse a taste multiply the number of the votaries of botany as such a publication. I fear nothing is to be gained by the delay of publication, on the contrary many obstacles may grow out of it.

Early publication will certainly enable you eventu =ally to present us with a more exuberant flora, by awakening enquiry, than you would otherwise be enabled to do— The want of books, I believe is the only reason of the want of botanists. Have the goodness to excuse my freedom—

I am Dear Sir, Yours with great regard J MacBride

Genl. Pinckny has been so kind as to } offer to offer as the means of convey- ance to Long Island when you can } find it convenient to visit us— }