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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 1867 Vol.4 no. 81 [G 141] Dear Sir ‑ Through your favor of the 8th I am
happy to be assured of the progress you are making in the arrangement of your
Herbarium; and gratified to learn that some of the plants which I contributed
have been deemed worthy a place in so valuable a collection. Your valuable suggestions relative to procuring the
entire plant ‑ or the arrangement thereof ‑ with other
instructions of equal importance shall not in future be disregarded. I propounded a query in one of my notes to you Sir, to
which you have not responded. Are you surfeited with plants? or rather with the class of plants which I have sent you?
Shall I ever send you more specimens of the same ‑ if not, what
shall I cull for you in my next summer's wanderings? Do you recollect any
plants which grow in the vicinity of From a little book of plants culled by a friend in the
locality of The Houstonia with its
upright, wild violet blue astonished me by it presence in a fresh state last
week (or rather the first week in March). A lady friend at present in I thank you most cordially for your polite offers of
duplicates and if not trespassing on the claims of others would exceedingly
like a climbing fern. Believe me Sir, Very respectfully yours, Elisabeth E. Atwater Recd March 19 ands 20th [There
are numerous references in the
From A. Gray, First Lessons in Botany and Vegetable
Physiology. 1862. ‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑ Vol.4 no. 99 [G 123] [Stationary with a little red emblem, "A" for Dear Sir, I have the pleasure to acknowledge your letters of March
20th and 22nd. The latter enclosing your carte de visite.
Most assuredly I shall accept it ‑ and esteem myself honored in the
bestowal. It shall occupy a page in a gorgeous, photographic Album presented
me on last New Years day by Mrs. Lincoln, wife of our martyrd
President. I owe Mr. Marshall an apology for having so long delayed
a response to his note ‑ asking for my picture (?). While
hesitating as to the expediency of sitting for this object, time has passed
on ‑ leaving me in the character of a delinquent. Should I sit for my carte and the result be satisfactory
‑ that is ‑ look as much like me as any one else ‑ I shall
take pleasure in forwarding it to Mr. Marshall. And now let me disabuse you of an impression which you
have, I fear, imbibed, and which I may have encouraged ‑ yet not
intentionally, relative to my knowledge of Botany. I fain would be, or would have
been a scientific Botanist, and, no doubt,
should have made some proficiency had not so many years of my
residence in You speak of Mrs. Lincoln's Botany ‑ I was
educated at Madame Emma Willard's Seminary at Speaking of Madame Emma Willard brings to mind the fact
that knowing me to be a collector of autographs, she not long since enclosed
for my acceptance an autograph note of your father's, adding, that to no
other person would she part with it. 27th I had proceeded thus far on yesterday, when friends
were announced ‑ Mr. & Mrs. Kinne [Kinney?]
of But seriously ‑ I thank you most gratefully for
this precious collection. I have only had time to examine the ferns, which
truly delight me. So soon as my letter is mailed & they shall receive my
undivided attention. Of course my letters do not pass into the archives
of the Society! If this be required I shall never write again. I have penned
my letters, in my accustomed way, as I converse ‑ informally. Believe me, Sir, gratefully yours, Elisabeth E. Atwater Recd May 30 ansd on Ap. 18 [sic] ["The
Troy Female Seminary, situated [in the City of Troy] on Second Street,
between Congress and Ferry Sts., was the first established at Middlebury,
Vt., in 1813, removed to Waterford in 1819, and to Troy in 1821. It was incorp. May 6, 1837, and received under the regents Jan.
30, 1838. It was gained a national reputation under the charge of Mrs. Emma
Willard." Footnote no. 7: "More than 7000 pupils have been educated
here, a large number of whom have become teachers." (French, 1860 p. 560). See illustration below and discussion in Introduction.] [Mr.
Marshall was perhaps Charles D. Marshall, the first curator of entomology of
the young Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences from 1861‑1862. He was
also an early member of the Board of Managers and perhaps it is to him that
the Buffalo Museum of Science's album of carte‑de‑visite photographs was formally assembled, outside of
George Clinton's personal requests for these cards from his correspondents
(Goodyear, George. 1994. p.175. Society and Museum.
A History of the ‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑ Vol.4 no. 149 [G 71] [on stationary with a small emblem "A" at the
head] Until your letter came, Judge Clinton, I was not fully
sensible that the Spring‑time was at hand, if I except
a severe cold and cough. My customary Spring attendants. That little
"Hepatica ‑ on the hillside" has haunted me ever since. I
long to be liberated form the routine of City‑life, and roam at will in
the country. Three Philadelphia ladies, boarding at the Clifton,
returned from a few day's visit in Michigan this evening ‑ kindly
remembering my predilections with a variety of wood mosses ‑ a large
root of the Saracenia, which I have planted in the
earnest hope it may bloom ‑ and an exquisite boquet,
formed of the Epigaea repens,
and the graceful vine of the Mitchella, with its
winter‑bound scarlet berries. They could not have tendered a more
effectual panacea for my indisposition. Relative to the carte, I beg you, Sir, give me
the credit for an earnest endeavor to respond to your application. I did
sit ‑ no less than four times. The result ‑ ask you? Anything but
satisfactory. Had it looked no worse than the original it should have been
forwarded forthwith. If there be any variation from the truth ‑ I claim
that it be in my favor! My friends rebel at my photographs, invariably, for
the reason, that what little expression my face affords is drawn out in
conversation; in repose it is, if possible, more stupid. Have you ever known
such persons? If so you can appreciate my position. If not, I ask you to
believe that I speak truthfully. Should not the artist be disgusted with me,
and I with him, a truthful picture may, at last ensue. Am I exonerated
from the charge of "perverseness?" I hoped to have had in my power to send to the Society,
last season, specimens of the Nelumbium luteum, with its curious seed vessel. The lady friend on
whom I confidently relied to supply me with the plants, writes a letter of
apology, and regret, on account of her inability to fulfill her promise, and
trusts that no obstacle will interpose to present its accomplishment ‑
the coming summer. I cannot forbear enclosing these little harbingers of
Spring. The Epigaea, being formed in a prim boquet, was divested of all appendages. They hail from Believe me, Sir, Very respectfully yours, Elisabeth E. Atwater Recd. Ap. 27 & ansd 29th ‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑ Vol.4 no. 168 [G 52] [A
nearly invisible embossment of a cameo of a young woman's face, not
noticeable, but the two inner pages of the letter the lines are staggered in
such a way as to call attention to it. This stationary is different from her
usual printed "A"] Dear Sir, Your letter of April 30th came duly to hand. My thanks
for the names of the mosses. I think I mentioned to you, some weeks since, our
contemplated trip, in June, to My husband joins me in this expressed wish. He will not
pledge himself to render any device in the way of procuring specimens, but
will throw no obstacles in the way of making a collection. Experience has
taught him, how, in traveling, to raise trunks and other heavy objects for
the furtherance of this pursuit, and he does it with a good grace. Knowing
well, it must be done! We trust this arrangement will not interfere with your
other duties. We would extend the invitation most cordially to Mrs. Clinton.
We feel that there is much of interest in the prairie Country and the I write in extreme haste ‑ earnestly hoping we may
have the pleasure of your Company. Please say to Mrs. Clinton that she can
accomplish the entire trip without fatigue ‑ only one day by rail. Believe me Sir, Very respectfully Yours, Elisabeth E. Atwater Recd May 22 ansd 23d |
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