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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 1874 Vol. 10 no. 115 ["A 208" no accounting for 213
going to 208 in these numbers] Clifton House Chicago Feb. 26th 1874 Hon. G. W. Clinton, Dr. Sir, I am rejoiced if my feeble efforts in collecting plants
proved a source of any gratification to you. Was there one plant which
you had not met with? Your kind note of Jan 24th came to me acceptably.
Serious indisposition has precluded an earlier response. I was surprised to
learn that Miss Wilson was losing her interest in the Academy. I sincerely
trust that ill health was not the cause. It seemed that her enthusiasm would
be adequate to overcoming all obstacles. How does this treacherous weather effect you? My husband
seriously regrets that we did not return to California for the winter. My
physician advises an immediate departure for the South, whither we purpose
going in a few days. A thousand thanks to you Sir for having so kindly named
a large portion of my plants. I do hope you may sometime go to California and
see them in all their freshness and beauty. I forwarded a small collection to
your friend Dr. Mohr, who is very enthusiastic over them, having duplicates
of only three plants of those wh. I sent. Dr. M. in a recent letter says ~I
hope to be able to give, by the next spring publicity to my observations upon
the biological flora of the Gulf region, and the geographical distribution of
mosses in the southern U.S. in general, which to the bryologist has remained,
to this day almost a terra incognita". I may have mentioned this to you.
In his last letter he expresses a fear that other imperative duties will
prohibit for the present the realisation of this hope. I have also sent a very few plants to Mr. Ch. H. Peck,
Albany. Mr. Atwater joins me in kindest regards to you, and
sincere wishes for your welfare. Believe me ‑ Very respectfully yours Elisabeth E. Atwater. My permanent address is care [T. G.?] Atwater No. 166
Washington St. Rec'd Feb. 28. [This
is Mrs. Atwater's last letter to George Clinton. In
the 27th Annual Report on the State Museum of Natural History (Senate
Document no. 102) for 1874, in the Report of the Botanist (Charles Peck),
Mrs. E. E. Atwater of Chicago, Illinois is reported (p. 85) to have
contributed to the State Cabinet 9
specimens: Viola lanceolata L., V. primulaefolia L., V. cucullata L., Argemone
mexicana L., Pinguicula pumila Mx., Gelsemium sempervirens Ait., Polypodium
incanum Sw., Apsidium patens Sw., Evernia vulpine Wulf.] ‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑ [On
August 26, 1878, Charles Mohr wrote to Clinton the following: "My
dear friend! Many
thanks for the Buffalo Courier of 25th [?] inst., which bring to me the sad
news of the death of Mrs. E. Atwater. With her demise indeed a sunbeam has
gone, that warmed and enjoyed the many friends whom she ever tried to please
and did give occasion, to partake in the joys that filled her heart in her
enthusiasm for all the beautiful and true in nature."]. |
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