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Correspondence of Elizabeth Atwater and G. W.
Clinton |
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The Correspondence of Elizabeth Atwater (1812‑1878) and George William Clinton (1807‑1885) Edited by P. M. Eckel, P.O. Box 299, Missouri Botanical
Garden, St. Louis, Missouri, 63166‑0299; email: mailto:patricia.eckel@mobot.org 1866 Vol. 2 (205)
[D17] Clifton House. Chicago. March [18]66 Hon. George W.
Clinton Dear Sir, I take the liberty of forwarding for your acceptance, by
Mr. Atwater, a few Botanical Specimens. Those not otherwise designated are
from the State of Illinois. You will excuse the apparent haste in which the
labels have been added as but a few moments of preparation were allowed me. I have not the presumption to think you will find the
enclosed specimens in better condition than those you already possess. I only
thought to send you the Fern, which, with others, a friend recently brought
me from Scotland, and, by way of packing it securely, have added a few of our
Western Plants. Of the Dodecatheon ‑ the pride of our Prairies, I
could send you a specimen entire, did it occupy so much space. I will reserve
it for another opportunity. Believe me Sir, respectfully yours, Mrs. Samuel T. Atwater Recd. March 9 [It
is possible that Mr. Atwater hand‑delivered the specimens to Clinton on
a business trip to Buffalo, as Mrs. Atwater resided in Buffalo for a time
(see letter of March 36, 1867).] Vol. 2 (219)
[D3] [Stationary with small emblem at the top: a stylized
"A" for Atwater. Clifton House, Chicago, March 15th, [18]66 Hon. George
W. Clinton, Dear Sir, You quite embarrass me by the welcome accorded to the
few hastily prepared plants forwarded by Mr. Atwater. As I said in my former
note, I only purposed to send the Scottish Fern, thinking from that far off
land it might be acceptable. The Krigia, the Arctostaphylos, and the
Dodecatheon, I could not forbear to add, our Cypripedium we think beautiful,
and thus I was enticed to fill the box. I was well aware that many of the specimens were not
entire, as they should be for preservation in such a collection as that over
which you have the pleasure to preside. I have to offer, by way of apology,
that my little collection has been thoroughly depleted by furnishing specimens
to friends at homs and Abroad. At the solicitation of the wife of our British
Counsul, ‑ Mrs. G. Edward
Wilkins ‑ I forwarded to England a few weeks since, my best prepared
duplicates. The duties attendant on our late Sanitary [?] Fair, and illness consequent
on over exertion in its behalf, forbid any additions to my plants last
summer. Thus my poverty. Relative to naming the flowers, I only intended to give
the localities, but, rather mechanically, added a few of the names. I thank
you, Sir, for furnishing me with the names of those with which I was less
familiar. Having several specialities, if the expression be
justifiable, I do not pursue Botany with the avidity which I ought, not from
lack of interest, but want of time. My knowledge thereof is sadly deficient. We always travel in summer, and my book is ever at hand
to avail myself of any flower that fortune or accident [viz.] a broken rail,
may perchance throw in our way. I shall be most happy to preserve specimens
for you. As I mentioned last week I have in reserve for you a
fine plant of the Dodecatheon ‑ entire. The stems are ordinarily of
such luxuriant growth that it is inconvenient to transport them five or six
miles from our prairies unbroken. The mosses you are at liberty to retain, should they be
of any value to you. I have a fine Herbarium of an hundred specimens prepared
by Dr. Lapham, which includes those varieties. Through the courtesy of Mr. Woolworth I have received
the 18th Annual Report "of the condition of the State Cabinet of Natural
History" at Albany. My grateful thanks are your due for this kindness. I
invariably denote the internal ... breakfast at the "Delenan" and
the hour of departure at eleven o'clk for the West, to an examination of the
interesting objects contained in this State Cabinet. I take this opportunity of saying that any trifling
accessions to your department which I may have it in my power to occasionally
make, I shall bestow cheerfully on the conditions of no public recognition
thereof, and that my notes may be regarded as confidential. Dr. Scott horrified
me with a violation of this prohibition. Believe me, Sir, Very respectfully yours Elizabeth E. Atwater Recd March 17 [The
quality of rail manufactures varied in the quality of iron used. Patents were
developed in the iron industry and railroad engineers developing technical
specifications for the producers to improve the quality of the iron rails and
the wheel castings for the locomotives and cars. Still, rails broke under the
load of the engines and the cars ‑ a problem still demanding solution ‑
probably not solved until the use of steel in both wheels and rails. One can
imagine the frequency and expectancy of travelers disembarking in out of the
way places while the rails were being repaired and botanizing in the
vicinity.] [Lapham,
Increase Allen (1811‑1875): the following is the only letter from I. A.
Lapham in the Clinton correspondence: Vol.
1. 40. I 186 Milwaukee
June 13th 1865 Dear
Sir I
have your kind favor of the 10th with the new Scirpus Clintonii. Please acept
my thanks for the same ‑ and for specimens in
fruit which you promise in a few days. With this are the two
species of Poa you desire. Dr.
D. Cooley died several years ago, and his extensive herbarium has been
donated by his widow, now Mrs. Babbett, to the Michigan Agricultural College.
I once had the pleasure of seeing it. Of course I looked for duplicates of
Gnaphephorum ‑ but there were none! Dr. Cooley lived in Washington
County, Michigan. It
is one of my chief sources of regret that I am not able to devote more time
to the pursuits of Natural Science, and to respond in a proper manner to all
who desire information and specimens from this part of the world. Whether it
will ever be different seems doubtful. During the present season I have not
been able to get into the woods once! I
am glad you are pursuing the subject with so much success. Yours
truly I.
A. Lapham Hon.
G. W. Clinton Recd.
June 16. Wrote 17th, incg Sc. C'ii & Naias major] ‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑ Vol.3 No. 161 [M 63] [stationary with an emblazoned "A" at the top
for "Atwater"] Clifton House. Chicago. Octr 19th 1866 Hon. George W. Clinton, Dear Sir. Ere this note reaches Buffalo, you may have received a
box of plants which I have called by the way‑side in our travels the
past summer. You are aware of the difficulties attending this kind of
employment en‑route and will therefore make all due allowances
for imperfect specimens. I think you will be pleased with the Sabattia ‑
especially the white variety. It is exceedingly rare. Amid the various
patches of the pink var. ‑ I only found in one locality the white ‑
and but few specimens. We were four weeks at the seaside, Greenport, L. I.,
and I watched almost daily for a fresh supply, but they came not. I have forwarded a few plants from the highest point ‑
"the Chin" of Mansfield Mountain, Vermont. There are several rare
varieties of ferns found in a locality pertaining to this Mt. called
"Smugglers Notch" ‑ which we had not time to visit, but I
have promise of the ferns at some future day. The Monotropa I found on this mountain, and regret
having inadvertently omitted sending you a specimen. If being of their
particular locality renders it of additional interest I will forward it at a
future time. Believe me, Sir, Very respectfully yours Elisabeth E. Atwater Recd Oct. 21 ansd 29th [Greenport
is a village in Suffolk County in southeastern New York State, on the
northern extension of Long Island between Long Island Sound and Gardiners
Bay. It had a population in 1949 when Webster's published its geographical
dictionary of 2608. It is a summer resort with oyster and fishing industries,
some shipbuilding.] ‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑ Vol. 3 No. 194 [M 28] Clifton House Decr, 8th, 1866 Hon. George W. Clinton Dear Sir, By the Courtesy of Miss. Harvey I forward one variety of
fern from the vicinity of Ascutney [sp.?] Mountain, which I have an
indistinct recollection of neglecting to enclose in the recent parcel
addressed to your care. Relative to procuring plants, as you suggest, with long
stems, roots & c, I am especially careful to do so, when I cull them
myself, but I cannot sufficiently impress upon the minds of friends to whom I
am often indebted for specimens, the necessity of such appendages! At some convenient opportunity, ere another summer is ushered
in, if you will please signify to me what plants, or family of plants would
be acceptable. I can avoid encumbering you with duplicates of which you are
not desirous. With many thanks for your kindness in naming my
specimens, believe me, Sir, very respectfully yours Elisabeth E. Atwater [no acknowledgement] |
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