Correspondence of Asa Gray and G. W. Clinton
Edited by P. M. Eckel
Res Botanica
Missouri Botanical Garden
October 13, 2005
Return to home

The Correspondence of

Asa Gray (1810-1888) and

George William Clinton (1807‑1885)

 

1871


 

Vol. 7 (133) [E 98]

 

[blue ink, embossed]

 

[Botanic Garden, Cambridge, Mass.] C. Sat. 15 [1871]

 

Cercidiphyllum is a genus incerta sedis. Nobody knows.

 

Patri[n?]ia = Nab..anaceae.

 

If I see any young woman prowling round our Garden ‑ gathering specimens to be sent back here for names, I'll shoot her.

 

For Kellog's &c. collection of California plants you should write to Prof. W. H. Bewer, New Haven, Conn., tho' I believe I have notified him of your wish.

 

Wright's Cuba collections on hand ‑ are of these amounts. Phaenog. with Ferns. sets of 660, 750, 780, 960, 1165, 1260, 1330, species. Fungi, named by Berkely & Curtis 286, 269, 250, 210, 310 species.

 

There, you can take your choice ‑ $10 a hundred.

 

Expect your things back soon

 

Ever Yours

 

A. Gray

 

Recd. Jan. 17, ansd. 25th

 

There is a Patrisia, a synonym of Ryania of the Bixineae; Patrinia, Juss. in the Valerianeae. An example of a letter from Brewer to Clinton would be as follows:

 


 

 

Vol. 7  (142) [E89]

 

[printed stationary: Sheffield Scientific School of Yale College, New Haven, Connecticut]

 

Jan. 30th, 1871

 

G. W. Clinton Esq.

 

Buffalo N.Y.

 

Yours of Jan 25th is received ‑ I shall soon be at work at Bolanders & Kelloggs Plants, and you shall have one of the first sets ‑ I have made as yet no estimate of the number of species.

 

Meanwhile, just now I am trying to raise means by subscription for the preparation of a complete list of the species described west of the mississippi & North of Mexico. Mr. Watson has prepared a partial list in MSS which we wish completed & published ‑ he has agreed to prepare it, and the Smithsonian will print it and pay $250 toward clerical labor on its preparation. It will take  $1000 to get it ready, so the remaining $750 must be raised by subscription from the small number of botanists interested in such a work.

 

The proposed work will be a list of all the species of the region named, with index & of references to the literature of each species. I have so much confidence in Mr. Watson's fitness for the work that I have subscribed $100 and assumed the responsibility of raising the rest, and several other botanists have pledged various  sums, from $20 to 100 each.

 

We expect the work to be out the present year. The Smithsonian Institution will supply extra copies to the subscribers to the fund (the number not yet stated but to depend upon the cost of paper and printing) that they may use for sale or exchange, to (in part at least) reimburse themselves for their outlay.

 

Some such work has become a necessity, for the literature of our Western Botany is scattered through a bewildering mass of literature.

 

Would you or any of the Botanists of your city that you know of, like to aid in this work. If so please advise me at your earliest convenience ‑ and oblige

 

Yours truly

 

Wm. H. Brewer

 

[Recd. Feb. 1, ansd Feb. [4] promising $50]

 


 

Vol. 7  (151) [E 80]

 

[printed stationary: Sheffield Scientific School of Yale College, New Haven, Connecticut]

 

Feb. 8, 1871

 

My dear Sir

 

I have yours of the 9th in which you "cannot promise more than $50 towards the list of the Western Plants, but hope to double it" &c. Now, I thank you for that, and will say that there will be no need to double it. I will let you know when the money is wanted. I have written to quite a number of botanists and the response has been so kind, that I am sure that when I get through (or, as district school teachers say, about boarding, "get around") I am sure that the awards will be forthcoming. I have closed the contract with Mr. Watson, & with the Smithsonian Institution, and the work will go on. Good work always will go on if pushed, the trouble is that many think it ought to run of itself, like sap in the spring ‑ merely by tapping the trees ‑ now it needs more than that ‑ and I like what you say about your society of Nat. History ‑ such a society needs fostering ‑ as carefully as hot‑house grapes ‑ but if fostered & pushed & coaxed, it grows and pays well (here the simile of hot house grapes ceases) ‑ with its fruits.

 

I must say that I was a little amused when I read in your letter the thanks for a "genial" letter, ‑ begging letters are generally not of this kind, the only way I could bring myself up to the work of writing such a batch of them as I have, was to think of the desireableness of the work to be accomplished ‑ such an index & catalogue has become a necessity. I began one myself in connection with my [Cal.] botany ‑ I spent some weeks first and last at it, tried vaious kinds of printed blanks to simplify the labor ‑ but in spite of all I could do ‑ the work was too big & too tedious to be done as a labor of love. 

 

I do not know of whom foreign lichens, fungi & algae can be obtained ‑ one has to be on the lookout for such when occasionally offered for sale ‑ if I hear of any I will let you know.

 

I take the liberty of enclosing my photog[raph] may I be bold enough to ask yours ‑ to place among my other Botanical friends in my album ‑ as well as in my remembrance.

 

Yours truly

 

W. H. Brewer

 

Hon. Geo. W. Clinton, Esq.

 

Buffalo, N.Y.

 

Recd. Feb. 10

 


 

Vol. 7  (139) [E 92]

 

Friday [a few days before Jan. 29, 1871] So ‑ a letter in from you just as the parting day stops my work, & so it gets an answer.

 

Yes, I'll examine thoroughly your Carex rather than you should load us with a needless new one. I am a sad sceptic of new Carices. Send it by all means that I may nip it in the bud! C. capillaris is an arctic ‑ alpine sort of species ‑ dosen't grow in Onondaga Co.

 

C. fulva nobody has got American specimens of, except Torrey one. Reason enough I could not sent it to you.

 

I could send on the parcels of Wright's Cubans ‑ but you would find it a job to affix the names.

 

Have you Grisebach's Cat. Pl. Cuba? [...] May perhaps yet be had of [Mister Mann?] &c.

 

I have a [drop] for you ‑ viz. to have you order this set on condition that C. Wright puts the names on the tickets (all but such as he can't name yet). And make him do it, as soon as he gets back from his trip ‑ at U.S. expense, to San Domingo, ‑ may be 6 weeks hence ‑ may be longer. Meanwhile I'll see nobody runs off with the set.

 

I am not sure you will find a Mangrove therein: they are very hard to make specimens of ‑ leaves fall off.

 

I am going to look in my Herb. & if I find a specimen of Mangrove I can spare, it will go into your pigeon‑hole.

 

Ever Yours

 

A. Gray

 

[on back in pencil:] I found a poor Florida Mangrove for you ‑ & there is a chance of one from Cuba.

 

A. G.

 

Recd. Jan. 29

 

Charles Wright was a prodigious collector of plants, to the great benefit of Asa Gray at Harvard, who was the recipient of most of them and who promoted, raised money for, identified, published and distributed Wright's plants. When Wright collected in Cuba between 1856 to 1867, his work was described by August Grisebach, a German botanist specializing in taxonomy and biogeography (1814-1879), in a work entitled Plantae Wrightianae e Cuba Orientali, a two part work published between 1860 and 1862.

 

 

 


 

Vol. 7  (195) [E 31]

 

[embossed stationary: "Botanic Garden, Cambridge, Mass.]

 

April 20, 1871

 

Dear Clinton

 

Did you get a parcel I discharged upon you lately?

 

Wright has got home. Now is your time if you really want a set of his Cuban plants. His report is that he has sets of Phaenog. & Ferns numbering 1550, 1330, 1260, 1165, 960, 780.

 

He has fungi, 310, 210, 250, 269, 286.

 

Lately, what we knew not of one set has turned up of his mosses (Coll. 1856 ‑ 1858) printed labels by Sullivant 131 species ‑ Lichens ‑ Tuckerman, 149 species.

 

These are (the Mosses & Lichens) as rare as old Gold, & will be snapped up, when known of. The[y] will sell for each fully 15 dollars n gold ‑ I think that will fetch them.

 

The Phaenog. &c. you can have the sets of for 10 dollars the 100, in currency.

 

What sets ‑ if any ‑ will you have.

 

Ever Your most [truly]

 

Asa Gray

 

Recd. & ansd April 22

 


 

Vol. 7  (197) [E 29]

 

As to Genus‑paper, I'll see if I can find the man ‑ who has moved ‑ that I ordered from

 

Ordinarily to get it made he would want a considerable order. But I could find some large Manilla paper to match ‑ nearly ‑ & have cut up to size. Have enough at once to last. Send me a bit of your paper as pattern for me. And send me the size you will have it, unless it is some of my own furnished you, ‑ which I suspect.

 

Ever

 

A.S.

 

[Asa Gray, April 24, 1871.

 

Recd. April 24, ansd. 27th.]

 


 

Volume 7 Wright

 

Vol. 7  (198) [E 28]

 

[notepaper with fading ink, once blue‑purple]

 

Cambridge April 24th, 1871

 

Hon. George W. Clinton

 

Dear Sir

 

Prof. Gray has shown me your letter asking a set of my Cuban plants. I find that the set you indicate has been sold but the adjoining larger set (1550 sp.) & the one next smaller (1260 sp.) are still on hand. There are over and above the sets as they were put up a small parcel since determined and distributed of Palms from 15 ‑ 20 species and there may be a few orchids later which have not yet been named nor distributed. These will be very few ‑ may not even reach these sets for they are quite scanty.

 

Please let me know your wishes & oblige

 

Yours truly

 

Chares Wright

 

P.S. If you see my cousins Julius or David Francis please give my love to them.

 

[Charles Wright, April 24, 1871, ansd 27th. Recd. 24th, ansd. 27th inclosing $100.]

 


 

Vol. 7  (200) [E 26]

 

[embossed paper: Botanic Garden, Cambridge, Mass.]

 

April 28 [1871

 

Dear Clinton

 

A box from C. Wright ‑ chock full ‑ goes from here to‑morrow, by Express. addr[essed] to the Buff. [Society crossed out] Academy of Nat. Sciences ‑ I could not add a sheet of paper. So when I next go to town I will see if I can match & get you a small lot of Manilla &c. ‑ cut up.

 

Wright will send his acknowledgements of the 100 dollars from Wethersfield [Connecticut], whither he has gone for a while. Take your time fully about any remainder. 

 

Your gold add 10 or 11 percent to currency.

 

Ever yours

 

A. Gray

 

Recd. May 1

 


 

Vol. 7  (203) [E 23]

 

[embossed paper: Botanic Garden, Cambridge, Mass.]

 

May 2, 1871

 

Dear Clinton

 

Here is a [go, qu.?], I think. The Cuban Lichens & Cuban mosses must have been left out of that box that C. Wright packed & I dispatched to you. For lo, here they must be ‑ [...] the box was as full as it could be. And I must send you by Express. I have tried in Boston to get genus‑paper for you. But I can't yet make it fit ‑ nor do anything to advantage ‑ unless you give order for as much as 5 reams at 17 1/2 cents a lb.

 

I will try another place when I can. There is a chance.

 

Ever

 

A.G.

 

P.S. Let me know if Wright has sent you a copy of the 8th volume. Grisebach, Cat. Pl. Cubensis.

 

A.G.

 

Recd. May 4

 


 

Vol. 7  (206) [E 18 & E 19]

 

12 May [1871]

 

Laid up ‑ in bed yesterday with cold & loss of voice.

 

When I next go to town (Boston) may be tomorrow. I will try what I can do for a few reams (say not over 5) of Genus for you, ‑ & report ‑ Species‑paper. Let see who else may want. 12 reams would perchance tempt. Somebody else was asking for some.

 

Oh, I have a scheme in view ‑ to make [Wilson Ph..ough??] keep such. I'lll write to 'em.

 

I send you the moss & lichen parcels ‑ in a bundle. ‑ As you have the Griseb. Cat. Pls. Cub. ‑ you had best return the copy C. Wright gave you.

 

Hurry Tuckerman into sending you his dissertations, in which he dissertates on these Cuban lichens. Wright has later nos. than any in Griseb. & he is bound to cite them in his List ‑ printed in Havanna ‑ & to give you names ‑ from time to time.

 

You will find now & then a mess as to nos. I wash my hand of it. Tackle C. Wright ‑ to heart's content. He is getting old ‑ [...] the mark & careless.

 

Bother him as much as you like.

 

Ever Yr.

 

A. G.

 

Recd. May 14

 

 

 


 

Vol. 7  (208) [E 16]

 

Cambridge 15, Mar. 1871

 

Dear Clinton

 

I can get you this paper for 12 cents a lb. ‑ large sheets ‑ & have it cut up ‑ perhaps at some waste ‑ can get as much or better as you re[quire] ‑ say as little as 2 reams ‑ you to pay for the cutting which would bring it up to say

 

Paper about 48 per ream   5.76

cutting,    12             .24

say $6.00

 

Or, they will make a lot soon ‑ at 12 1/2 cts. a lb. ‑ cut at the mill, if you take 5 reams or more.

 

This is not Manilla, but is fairly good.

 

At another Mill, I can get made Manilla paper, at 20 cts. a lb. Weigh 50 lbs the ream. Better, certainly, but cost $10 a ream.

 

I think the former will do you well, will it not?

 

Truly Yours

 

A. Gray

 

 


 

Vol. 7  (210) [E 14]

 

[embossed paper: Botanic Garden, Cambridge, Mass.]

 

19 May 1871

 

Dear Clinton

 

You leave me in total doubt, on reception of yours of 18th with $20. ‑ enclosed.

 

What sort of paper for genus [covers] will you have? ‑ That of which I sent you a [bit as Bottom] ‑ the cheapest.

 

I shall infer that, & order it when I go to Boston next (I have just been to‑day) unless you tell me by Monday that you want the highter‑priced Manilla ‑ which you will have to wait for. So I conclude you want the 12cts paper, cut up, to size, $20 [...]

 

As to species paper, Prof. W. J. Beal, Lansing, Michigan, wants some. Will you write to him ‑ find out how much he would take, & perhaps you & he could ocmbine in an order which I could get made advantageously.

 

Ever yours,

 

A. Gray

 

Sorry indeed your household is on sick list so.

 

Recd. May 20 (Sunday) ansd 21st.

 

W. J. Beal became a member of the faculty of the Michigan State Ahgricultural College in Lansing, Michigan. On campus he established a botanical garden, nursery, arboretum and, among other positions and activities, became director of the first Michigan Forestry Commission.

 


 

Vol. 7  (211) [E 13]

 

Boston  24, May [1871]

 

Dear Clinton

 

I have found some paper that I think very nice ‑ have bought a ream for you ‑ at least 85 [inches] ‑ but have to have it cut to size, i.e., to 16 1/2 x 24. ‑ which will waste full 10 [inches]. But I get it for 12 cts. & pay $1. for cutting exact.

 

Please report on it ‑ & tell me if it is cut square, & if it suits. If you speak soon I could get as much more as you like ‑ or this may last you for the present.

 

I hold the rest of your money ‑ subject to your order.

 

That is the best I could do.

 

Ever Yours

 

A. Gray

 

Recd. May 25

 


 

Vol. 7  (215) [E 9]

 

Wethersfield, Conn.

 

June 5th 1871

 

Hon. Geo. W. Clinton:

 

Dear Sir:

 

Prof. Gray sends me your note to him of ?30th ult. that I may inform you myself, I suppose, how I will bear "friendly scolding." I think I can bear such about as well as a rhinoceros would the peppering of an elder popgun upon his epidermis.

 

I hate quilldriving worse than hoeing, mowing or ploughing; yea, worse than grubbing which I have been practising mostly of late.

 

Moreover I am doing what is nearly equivalent to the Flora you mention. My object in publishing the Revisio was to give the Cubans and any one who might visit Cuba my views of all Cuban Plants known to me. With Grisebach's Flora B. W. I Islands [British West Indies] & Catalogus Pl. Cubensium & my Revisio of the latter, any one visiting Cuba for the study of its flora will have in small compass & partable form pretty fair aids for determining the greater part of its species.

 

You think I suppose that I ought to prepare for Cuba some such a work as Gray's & Chapman's for the U. States or Grisebach's for B. W. I. Islands.

 

I have some reasons for declining the task.

 

I began my botanical labors at top & worked downward ‑ of course I've not reached the foundation & never shall I suspect. In short I'm not well qualified for such a labor. I have no botanical training. What I know of the science I have picked up or filched from others.

 

Then I am poor and can't afford the time for it and I am not sanguine enough to believe that the sale would defray the cost of publication much less compensate me for this and the labor too.

 

Furthermore, such a work if prepared at all should be adapted to the use of the people of the island. ‑ that is, should be written in Spanish for which my knowledge of that tongue is not sufficient though I could get good help in this respect.

 

You will observe that the Revisio is shockingly printed. This is neither my fault nor Mr. [Sauvalle's] who is indefatigable in correcting the errors of the press without, at last, being able to make the impression even respectable.

 

You will also note that I have made quite a number of new species at which Prof. Gray every little while sets up a growl; why I hardly know. I see not how I could do otherwise. I've certainly acted with all the caution & care at my command. I couldn't go to Kew & Paris and Berlin and Vienna to compare my specimens with those of the Herbarium there.