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Correspondence of Leo Lesquereux and G. W.
Clinton |
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The
Correspondence of Leo
Lesquereux (1806-1889) and George
William Clinton (1807‑1885) 1866 Vol. 2. No. 139 [D 87] Columbus, O. Jany 7th [18]66 My dear friend, You see that I immediately
accept the title and friendship which you have the kindness to offer me and I
assure you that I do it gratefully and in the hope of meriting it [of me; if
ere?] I can find occasion to prove the high and sincere regard which I feel
for you. When I received your first letter, I [judged] you at once as a man
whose heart contained something better than a mere blank book with Dollars
and cents on the pages, and whose mind was provided with the best materials
constituting a reasonable being. I long to get your likeness, to see if the
ideal which I have got of your physiognomy is near the truth and I hope that
you will soon fulfill my desire of obliging it. I shall be sincerely
thankfull for it. You have my best thanks for
the specimens of Orthotrichum anomalum. But I do not know yet if I will use
them for the musi or if I will return them to you. Those of the musci are
small but they are operculated and even calyptrate which is of great value.
And also when I received yours I had already passed the Number put it in its
place and so anxious am I of finishing my work before spring that I do not
find time to come back and review a passed No. I will keep these specimens a few days, perhaps a few weeks and
decide according [to] circumstances. In any case I will return the specimens
of O. cupulatum. They are too few and
mixed with one or two other species. I will at the same time send you the
promised series of Orthotrichum which you so ungratefully refused to
receive from me. I hope that you will be able to find the means of
subscribing for a set of the Musci for your museum of Buffalo. The work is a
spendid one and will be a true normal Bryological collection of American
mosses. Has Mr. Peck written you
about the catalogue. He wrote me that you suggested the idea of giving
descriptions of some of our rare species not yet described in Sullivant's
manual and asked my advice. I said that scientifically
speaking a catalogue could not have any descriptions of species already known and published; but that, on another
side, as Sullivant's manual was till now the only American book on mosses,
descriptions of yet undescribed species might afford a true help and
encouragement for the study of mosses. But then, it is necessary to describe
all the species, not yet in the manual and this without exception. Now, I
believe that the number is somewhat large and nobody can know better than
yourself if the descriptions which might be and ought to be short should not
enlarge too much your paper. Mr. Peck wants me to make these descriptions and
I will do it readily and also review the mss of the catalogue to suggest any
alteration or correction which might prove advisable. I consider that your
catalogue will prove a work of real utility and advantage and will be
generally considered as such. I would like you to write me what are your
ideas on the subject. My bachelor life is still in
full bloom. My wife is still at my daughter's and I enjoy my loneliness
plentifully. I hope nevertheless that there soon will be an end of it. Sincerely and respectfully
your friend, L. Lesquereux Hon. G. W. Clinton Recd Jan. 10 Again, as mentioned in the
notes of 1865, "the manual" of Sullivant refers to Sullivant's
treatment of mosses and liverworts in ed 2nd edition of Gray's Manual of
botany (1856). William Starling Sullivant also published and distributed with
Leo Lesquereux the first edition of the "Musci Boreali-americani, sive
specimina exsiccata muscorum in Americae Rebuspublicis Foederatis
detectorum" in 1857 (1856) from Columbus, Ohio. Lesquereux was, in 1866,
working on the Editio Secunda, numbers 1-536 which was published and
distributed that year in April. Asa Gray wrote a review of it in the American
Journal of Science and Arts , May 1866, 91: pp. 417-418. On the labels it is
printed Musci Boreali-Americani quorum specimina exsiccata W. S. Sullivant et
L. Lesquereux ediderunt, Editio
secunda. There were 96 pages and the schedae were published in 1865. The
Buffalo Museum of Science has specimens from this exsiccat. "Gray, in his review,
estimated that each set cost Sullivant $100; it sold for $35 a copy, paid to Lesquereux."
Sayre, G. 1971. Cryptogamae Exsiccatae - An Annotated Bibliography of Published Exsiccatae of
Algae, Lichenes, Hepaticae, and Musci. Memoirs of the N. Y. Bot. Garden Vol.
19, No. 2. In the introduction to
Peck's list (see below) he wrote "The following list is intended to
contain the names of all the Mosses hitherto detected in the State of New
York. The habitat, and time of maturing the fruit are given, and, of the
rarer species, the station also. It
has been thought advisable to reproduce brief descriptions of those species
not described in Sullivant's Mosses of the United States, and to add
occasional remarks concerning the peculiarities of certain species and the
distinguishing characters of such as are closely related." Vol. 2. No. 156 [D 68] Columbus O. 19th Jany
[18]/66 Hon. G. W. Clinton Dear kind friend Now, I have got it at last
and I thank you most sincerely for what you call your ugly Phiz. I pleases me
very much indeed. It is not quite or does not look quite as young as I supposed
you to be, but otherwise, it answers perfectly to the idea which I had of
you. It shows a broad high forehead or upper story. I already know how well
it is stocked. It has a pleasant, attractive look and though the mouth is
somewhat sharply and severely cut, there is about the corners a kind of
lurking smile which seems to say that you can enjoy a good joke and perhaps
even make one. Do I mistake in my diagnosis. May be I shall never see you but
through your picture. Well I tell you again that I like it very much and
value it highly. The whole of your physiognomy shows a good true most
intelligent, hard working and tried man. I have received yesterday
from Mr. Peck the Mss. of his list of New York mosses but I have not yet read
it through. I have seen only from the introductory remarks that he give me
too much credit for it. As I have often worked for people who never gave me
the slightest acknowledgement for my trouble, I can afford to get a
compensation in the contrary way. Mr. Peck appears to be a very honorable man
as he is a reliable and indeed clever observer of mosses. His determinations
are generally correct and remarkably so for a young man who has not yet a
long experience in the difficult task of botanical anatomy and who has not a
great deal of books at his disposal. His catalogue which he modestly names a
list is a very good and interesting one. Your friend L. Lesquereux Recd. Jan 21. In April 2, 1866, the 19th
Annual Report of the Regents of the University of the State of New York, on
the Condition of the State Cabinet of Natural History and the Historical and
Antiquarian Collection Annexed Thereto. Senate document no 89, Charles Peck
published (pp. 42-70) his "List of Mosses of the State of New
York", mosses here to include the Musci as well as the Hepaticae. Peck
wrote "Grateful acknowledgments are rendered to that distinguished and
experienced bryologist, Leo Lesquereux, Esq., of Columbus, Ohio, for much
kind assistance in the preparation of this List. He has freely communicated
the names, habitat, etc., of numerous species collected by him on the
Adirondack Mountains and in other parts of the State; and has authenticated a
large number of the other species herein recorded." Clinton was also mentioned:
"Much aid has also been received from our own indefatigable botanist,
the Hon. George W. Clinton, of Buffalo, at whose suggestion this work was
undertaken, and form whom contributions of many species from Western New-York
and the vicinity of Niagara Falls have been received."
The "phiz" or
physiognomy of George W. Clinton, his carte de visite, from the photograph
album in the Research Library of the Buffalo Museum of Science, Buffalo, New
York. Vol. 3. No. 18 [M 211] Columbus, March 27th [18]/66 My honorable and dear
friend, You must be very kind and
indulgent to excuse me for not answering you so good before before last
letter [sic]. When I received it, I was deep in the last stage of preparation
of the Musci and promised myself to have a long talk with you as soon as they
are quite finished. Now the setts are all ready but not packed. Five setts
only have been given out and I was every moment expecting an answer from Gray
to write you about your own sett (for the Museum of Buffalo). For Sullivant
when he got his sett, admitting the high value of the work remarked that it
would sell better if I sold it only $30 and I referred the matter to Gray.
The more I think to it, the more I am satisfied that the price is not too
high. Should I count my work at only one Dollar per day, each sett cost me
& Mr. Sullivant more than $100 each. From a letter of Mr. Peck and
especially from your's, I decide to let the price stay as I fixed it, $35 in
currency and for Europe 150 francs. Both the Museums of London and of Paris
as also the Museum of Strasbourg have ordered one sett. And I think that the
50 copies prepared will not be on my hands for a long time. For I have
already about twenty promised, and ten given away as present. As you wrote me
that you had to get the money per subscription and as I do not wish to put
you to any trouble or expenses, I will send the sett to morrow to your
address, for you do not say to whom I shall address it, and you may send me
the money either per express or by a check on some bank, just when you find
it convenient. I am extremely rejoiced of the judgement passed by Mr. Peck on
my worth. Nobody is more competent than him to give a reliable opinion. He
says that when he mentioned the price to Dr. Woolworth this gentm. said that
he did not see how these mosses could be put up for that amt! Well. That is
not a work for money but a true work of love though like my good old wife, it
teased me some times wonderfully. I hope that our intercourse
will not cease with the end of the Musci and that I will be rejoiced still to
receive your good kind letters and the communication of your specimens. Now I will have more leisure
and can attend with more care to the determination of any specimens that may
be sent to me. Let me know what I could offer you in exchange for your kindness
and for the communication of specimens. Will you have a series of
Orthotrichum or California mosses or what? From this letter, you
understand that your note of the 25th is just received with true gratitude. Your sincere friend, Leo Lesquereux Mr. Sullivant paid part of
expenses, printing of labels table &c. I paid paper binding, express
expenses. &c.: and did all the work, Mr. Sullivant having never examined
the specimens. But he does not share the money profits! Hence
he gives his share entirely grati..ously [sic: graciously, gratuitously]. Hon. G. W. Clinton Buffalo, N.Y. Recd. March 29. In Paris, the letter
probably refers to the Museum National D'Histoire Naturelle (P) ; more than
one "museum" in London would doubtless include the Linnean Society
of London as well as the Natural History Museum (BM). In Saltzburg, Austria,
today perhaps it is the Haus der Natur (SZB) that holds this exsiccat. The apparent (and actual) resentment of
Lesquereux toward Sullivant was most likely only based on the large economic
distance between the two men, primarily in the scope of the privileges money
can bring, a distinction of great sensitivity to Lesquereux but which in no
way seems to have impaired his deep gratitude for access to Sullivan'ts named
collections and for Sullivant's willingness to collaborate with him on major
contributions to American bryology. Sullivant was the first American
bryologist of note and gave Lesquereux access to Asa Gray and the
institutional status for which Gray was a gateway. Vol. 3. No. 22 [M 207] Columbus O. March 28th
[18]/66 Hon: G. W. Clinton My dear Sir. I wrote you
(not a pretty letter) but a pretty long one yesterday. This morning I have a
letter from Gray concerning the price of the Musci and he says that at $35.00
currency it is rediculously too low. He wants us to sell at
$50.00. But we agree with Mr. Sullivant that $35.00 in gold will be just
right. I do not write this to change the price for you. I owe you
contributions and many kindnesses which I would be happy to acknowledge. but
I will charge the Albany Cabinet the price in gold and wish you to mark it
thus if you mention it to some of your acquaintances. I have just sent your
sets to the express. Very respectfully your
friend L. Lesquereux Received March 30 and wrote
to him to draw on Mr. Sweeney, for $35.00 gold. Mr. Sweeney is not mentioned as an officer of the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences (Goodyear, G. F. 1994. Society and Museum, a history of the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences. Bull. Buff. Soc. Nat. Sci. Vol. 34). Sweeney was doubtless an official associated with New York State government and the State Cabinet of Natural History in Albany, the state capitol where Charles Peck was working on the vascular and cryptogamic flora of the State. Vol. 3 (35) [M194] Columbus O. April 6th
[18]/66 Hon. G. W. Clinton Buffalo My dear friend Do not fear. He's all right
with that Seligeria pusilla. I have had so much trouble in
getting acquainted with it that this acquaintance can not be repudiated now.
I wrote you, I think, that I had found this S. pusilla only in one or two of
your last packages of Seligeria and this in very small quantity. As I have
also a letter of Mr. Peck on the subject, I will write him the characters and
send him separated specimens. I kept some for me, though very few and he can
have them if I should not find any more in your packages. But I think that
there are some left yet. I can not come to that examination till after to
morrow. As soon as it is made, I will report and return specimens. Many many thanks for your
very kind and very good letter of March 30th. As you say, I will never be
rich but happily I can afford to live poor and die poor also. Yours very affectionately L. Lesquereux April 8 In Lesquereux and T. P. James' Manual of the Mosses of North America of 1884, Seligeria pusilla Bruch & Schimp. is reported as growing on "Shaded limestone rockes, St. Louis, Missouri (Drummond); Devil's Hole, near Niagara Falls (G. W. Clinton); New Jersey (Austin); Kelly's Island, Lake Erie (Lesquereux)." Seligeria recurvata Bruch & Schimp. var. arcuata is known from "Devil's Hole, Niagara (Clinton, Mrs. Roy) …." Vol. 3 (47) [M182] Columbus O. April 15th 66 Judge Clinton Buffalo Hon. friend, Say that I merit a good
scolding for having kept you waiting the separation of those specimens of
Seligeria. But do not scold too hard. I wrote you that, for a while at least,
I would give only part of my Sunday to the dear mosses. And as one of my sons
who lives at New York came here with his wife to pay us a visit, I had to
spend with him the whole part of my leisure time of Sunday
past. I have separated today as many specimens as I could find of Seligeria
calcarea. It was found especially in two packages which I mark No.1 &
No.2. The others have none of it or little if any. I have closely compared it
with Schimper's specimens and it agrees exactly with it. Schimper himself
says that it is distinguishable from Seligeria recurvata, only by its shorter
leaves scarcely shorter more open capsules and straight pedicel. I have had
much trouble to find this species and to admit that there were two, as well
you know. And if you had not insisted on a reexamination of some small
specimens which you sent me separately I would have passed this species
unnoticed. It is to your sharp eyes and admirable perspicacity that we owe
its discovery. If you find opportunity to collect it again, try to get some
scarcely ripe, with operculum and calyptra. As both species grow together it
is useless to look for one separately. I sent bill according to
your direction but it has not been returned yet. It will come in good time.
The setts of the Musci are going out much quicker than I supposed. Your friend most
respectfully L. Lesquereux Received April 18 Vol. 3. No. 51 [M 178] Columbus O. April 24th
[18]/66 Hon. G. W. Clinton My dear friend, Acknowledging your very kind
letter of yesterday, I am indeed most thankfull for your commendation of the
Musci. We must wait what Gray will say of them in the Silliman's Journal. His
opinion which can not be but favourable will, I think take out of my hands
the setts which I have still for sale. I do not understand well what may be
your plan and your desire concerning the setting up of the musci for the
Museum. Though I most sincerely approve of your desire to have for your
society the finest possible specimens and collection. 1st all the specimens
of the musci have been selected, examined, prepared and half of them perhaps
collected by myself. Nobody but myself has done anything of the manual
labor except the printing. I have cut the labels, glued them, cut the paper,
glued the specimens, made the paper bags &c: &c. the work of a true
fool. Call that a work of love!! 2d Now it may be that for a
museum like yours where the appearance is often more considered than the
scientific value, for very few persons at Buffalo will have oportunity to
study your specimens. It may be, as I say, that you would prefer to have all
the specimens glued and in full view, well arranged in a peculiar way. Well!
say so; give me directions for doing the work just as you would like it, or
just as you would do it yourself, return me your sett and I will arrange it
just as you wish. For a Bryologist, glued specimens are worth very little, at
least now a days. For a museum, specimens put in paper bags and loose are liable
to be stolen. I took a medium line and from what I see I have succeeded
pretty well to meet the expectation of the scientific friends who have seen
the musci. The setts contain specimens valuable as collected by celebrities
like Agassiz, Torrey &c. Agassiz collected around Lake Superior for me
and gave me all his specimens. If you think that any work of mine could
render the sett or collection more appreciable, let me know your views and
please tell me freely as to a friend all your remarks and directions. The
very small specimens like Phascaceae can scarcely be glued. It was a reason
why I glued only large specimens and this only to make a little pleasant
show. In such a collection, entire uniformity is not possible. Prof. Blytt is
a good Norwegian Botanist I do not know his address in any other way than as
you write it. Christiania Norway. Schimper named a few mosses from him. Bryum
Blyttii, &c. I suppose that any American species of mosses would be
acceptable to him. Well! I expect to be
astonished and indeed I wish I was. For you will by and by send novelties and
put to shame the young eyes of the new generation of botanists. The forests
on your swamps along the lake have plenty of Orthotrichs please look for
them. My remembrance of Buffalo is truly remarkable. I passed your place in
Nov. 1848 and after going to Niagara took a boat
(steamboat) at Buffalo village for Cleveland. Storm all the time, nine
days from Buffalo to Cleveland!! Of course we stopped at some harbors along
the shores and there I left the boat and went into the woods after mosses. My
first experience with your Orthotrichum was then. But they were all too old
specimens. Now is the good time to look for them. I have not got yet the
money of the sett but the Express will bring it all right I suppose. Perhaps
if you wish to change the arrangement of the sett you had better wait to pay
it till the work is done. Very sincerely your friend L. Lesquereux Recd Ap. 26 As mentioned above, Asa Gray wrote a review of the exsiccat in the American Journal of Science and Arts , May 1866, 91: pp. 417-418. Axel Gudbrand Blytt (1843-1862), noted Norwegian
botanist for his theories of post-glacial plant migration into the
Scandinavian regions and for laying the foundation of taxonomic mycology in
Norway. Selected publications (from URL http://home.no.net/tbaugen/Botanikere.htm)
include: (1870) Christiani omegns phanerogamer og bregner : med angivelse
af deres udbredelse samt en indledning om vegetationens afhængighed af
underlaget ; Axel Gudbrand Blytt (1902 - 1906) Haandbog i Norges flora
876 pp.; Axel Gudbrand Blytt (1902) Haandbog i Norges flora Axel
Gudbrand Blytt & Frederic Georg Emil Rostrup (1905) "Norges
hymenomyceter" (Norway's hymenomycetes) in Norske
Videnskaps-Akademi, Mathematisk-Naturvidenskabelig Klasse (Norwegian
Academy of Science, Mathematical and Natural History series) 6 pp. 1 - 164.
He was the son of Mathias Numsen Blytt (1789-1862) who died before completing
the Norges Flora, part of which was published in 1861. Specimens of both men
are curated at the Botanical Museum, University of Oslo (O). Buffalo (BUF)
has numerous specimens of "Blytt," probably all those of Axel.
Peck, in his Report of the Botanist (25th Annual Report on the State Museum
of Natural History; Senate document no. 83, 1872, indicated he had by
exchange received 22 specimens from the University of Norway, Christiana
(Oslo), Norway, all lichens for the New York State Cabinet, probably Blytt
specimens. Vol. 3. No. 62 [M 167] Columbus May 11th [18]/66 Hon. G. W. Clinton My dear friend, No news, good news, it is
what the Frenchman says and I hope that in this case the proverb is right. I
owe you without doubt the compliment sent to me in the form of a letter of election
as a corresponding member of the Society of Natural history of Buffalo. I
sent my acknowledgement to the Secretary and my thanks to you. I hope to be
able to do something to help building or rather forming your botanical
museum. As soon as I have taken to my winter quarters, I will begin the
preparation of your byological collection just in the way you most like it.
We will discuss the matter in time. Now, I am going in two weeks to Penna. on
Geological business and do not think that I will have much time for mosses
except for microscopical examination. For this I must find time. I wish I
could have time to go to Buffalo to make your personal acquaintance and to go
with you for exploring those fine places where you find new things. But that
will not do. The R. R. Companies pass me free from here to Philadelphia and
then I profit of the advantage to make explorations which do not pay me
anything but which cost nothing. But my hat is not chalked anywhere in New
York State. I would like to spend one week with Mr. Peck in the Catskill.
There are many species to detect there still. Well ! I write for nothing
as you may see except to recall me to your remembrance. I hope that you are
quite well. Your friend L. Lesquereux Recd May 13 ansd 15th Vol. 3 (68) [M162] Columbus O. May 14th, 1866 Hon. G. W. Clinton. My dear Judge No. 1 Pleuridium
alternifolium Br. Eur. var. fol: brevioribus 2 Same with longer leaves 3 a few leaves of Desmatodon
arenaceus Sull. & Lesq. 4 Bryum caespiticium male flowers 5 Same as No. 1 Very glad to see you're
writing again but very sorry indeed that you are not quite well. I worked for
you the whole of yesterday (Tuesday) morning. Hope you were at church praying
for me. You would have much to do in that line if you would undertake my
case. The chinese praying machine would not ever be sufficient. Send more
mosses. But if you do not hear immediately from me do not believe me
careless. I must go to Pennsylvania next Monday for a week or so. Faithfully yours, L. Lesquereux Received May 16 Vol. 3. No. 73 [M 157] Columbus O. May 17th [18]/66
My dear Juge [= the French
spelling for "Judge"]: This is indeed H. aduncum,
N. 466 of the Musci. I can see no difference except in the leaves being somewhat
longer pointed. I would like to see a ripe capsule and examine the annulus.
May be you can get this species now or two weeks later. If you get it please
send a ripe operculate capsule. Your letter pains me much. I
wish you were quite well. That kind of depression saddens our life far more
than any sickness of the body. It is a [consequence] but where to begin the
cure. I can not help you for I am most of the time suffering in the same way
and can not help myself. They say a true strong faith in something gives the
strength which takes ... to happiness. Yes! or to a lunatic asylum also.
Nothing will do but mens sana in corpore sano and here is the rule. But! me.
I could preach a long time on the subject but that could not help. Nothing
can help. My friend Lesley is low, very low of the same kindness [sic]. He is
going to spend the summer among our Jurassic mountains and our Swiss friends.
But there also he may carry the distemper with him. Who told you that I was
going to [Tennessee] &c. I will go for one week or so, in the way of
relaxation, to Penn. to examine some interesting sections of the the coal
measures; but I do not know that I will go elsewhere. I am better at home
than anywhere else for here at least I can live quite alone and by myself. If
you come this way, do not forget me and pay me a visit. I will give you the
best I have and it is not much. Your friend L. Lesquereux What is your microscope
worth? Do you want any direction for anatomy of the mosses. Shall I send you
two sharpened needles with handles as I use them? I never use anything else
in the way of tools except small ... for cross sections. Recd May 19. Hypnum aduncum Hedw. = Drepanocladus aduncus (Hedw.) Warnst. Vol. 3. No. 80 [M 150] Columbus, May 24th, [18]/66 Hon. G. W. Clinton My dear friend. Your variety of Ceratodon
purpureus is fine indeed and remarkable for its slender growth. But there are
so many, many of these varieties that it is useless attempting to separate
them. Yours nevertheless should be named, say [T.?] gracilis. If you do not
want the specimen, I will preserve it. I do not know if you get Silliman's
journal of Science and Arts. I send you per mail a copy of Gray's mention of
our Musci exsiccati. You may cut it out, glue both half pages and preserve it
in your copy of the Musci. I hope that you will not be mad against me for
having mentioned your name among those of the contributors of the Musci. Gray
desired me to give him some materials for his review and of course I named
the contributors to the work. Are you well now, mind and
body? The more I try to leave Columbus, the more I stay here. I have still a
deal to do for the musci, in packing copies for Europe and getting out
specimens for Schimper, Hampe and other friends for exchange. And my garden
is so green and the trees so shady and the vines want binding and! and! to
tell the truth I am becoming old and lazy. Don't you come this way and see
me? Your friend, L. Lesquereux. Recd May 27 Hampe, Ernst Georg Ludwig (1795-1880) specialized in pharmacy, became well known as an expert in the flora of the Harz region of central Germany only in the 1870's. Before that he had published extensively in bryology, stimulated as early as 1832 by an association with Carl Mueller in the Hercynian Natural History Society (Naturwissenschaftlichen Verein des Harzes) . Mueller was a prodigious describer of new bryophyte genera. Hampe collected mosses from all over the world, some of which derived from the collections of Lesquereux, as noted above. In 1865 Hampe published the Musci in the Prodromus Florae Novo-Granatensis, and new mosses from Peru, continuing the New Granada series in 1866. Hampe shared, with Lesquereux and his friends a "liberaler Weltanschauung" (Frahm, J-P. & Jens Eggers 2001. Lexikon Destschsprachiger Bryologen. Druck der Neubearbeitung: Norderstedt). Vol. 3 (85) [M 145] Columbus O., May 31, [18]/66
My dear Judge, Here is a box of fine
tools. 1st. Two sharpened needles
with cutting point at a convenient angle for working. 2. Large glasses for
dissection [small rectangle drawn = a microscope slide] 3. Thin ones for putting on
the object [= cover slip] 4. A dissecting eye glass.
Without these I could do nothing hence with them you will do anything. Is not
this lawyer's logic. This splendid glass with gold
ring and feet of precious wood, is quite necessary for
dissecting small objects or looking for flowers of mosses &c: 1st. Put
the feet in the ring to stand the glass at a short distance. Find exactly the
best enlarging distance for your eyes. Cut the feet accordingly. Put under
the glass a white paper, upon it a large square glass with one drop of water.
In this a branch of moss &c. If then you place both your eyes (do
not shut one) at a distance form the eyeglass in such a manner that you can
see easily through it, you can work under it with your needles with double or
triple advantage than with naked eyes. It is only when your object is
prepared under the eye glass that you put on it one of the thin glasses. If
there is not water enough for covering the object put a drop on the border of
the glass and it will be absorbed immediately through capillarity. Thus the
object is fixed, transparent and prepared for the microscope. May be you will
not understand me. If I was with you only a few hours I would put you through
in the best way and spare you the trouble of experimenting. Well I am not at
Buffalo and glad am I of it, as you have there only rain and rain all the
time. You must then try, and write every thing you wish to know and I will
answer you immediately if I have time. To day I have no time. Hence I give
you only the description of the tools and will in a next letter begin the
instrutions for dissecting mosses, searching for flowers, making cross
sections &c. &c. If you know all about these matters or do not like
to learn them from anybody else but your own experiences, I will write
nothing. Do not laugh at the tools. Poor man's tools are often the best.
There is not any show on them but they do as well. Your friend L. Lesquereux. Recd. June 2 Vol. 3 (95) [M 134] Columbus O June 21th [18]66 My dear Judge, Just returned from Penna
where I had a splendid time among the fossil plants of the Anthracithe [sp.] I
had very good luck and collected many splendid specimens. Now that the mosses
(Musci) are out I have to finish a great work, begun long time ago, the
fossil flora of the coal of America, and I wish to finish it as my last
scientific work on this earth. This said to excuse me for not answering
immediately your favor of the 9th inst. which I find here. No Bryum can be
determined from barren or sterile specimens. Your paper contains two species
as you see, and indeed one is Bryum atropurpureum which to me is out
of its place at Buffalo. Probably it has gone so far northe only of purpose
of being discovered by you. The species is always a rare one. I kept a few
specimens for my own collection and if you find more please send me some. When I wrote you my last
letter it was my intention of writing for you some directions for the study
of the mosses. Of course I have no time to day. I find here a heap of letters
to answer. But I will try to write you in some length soon. Moreover you may
work at your splendid tools and become clever without my instructions. The meeting of the U. S.
Natl. Academy is at Northampton on the 10th Augt. I must be there. But
afterward there is or may be a meeting of the Society for the Advancement of
Natural Science at Buffalo. I may go there perhaps. If I go it will be only
on purpose of making your personal acquaintance and explaining you some
matters concerning the anatomy of the mosses. Your friend very sincerely L. Lesquereux I can not examine the Hypnum
before I have large specimens. This does not appear to same as the one sent
formerly. In any case the distinction between H. fluitans and H. aduncum is
only in the inflorescence & it is very difficult to find it the male
flowers being rare. Recd June 23. Hypnum aduncum Hedw. =
Drepanocladus aduncus (Hedw.) Warnst. Hypnum
fluitans L. ex Hedw. = Drepanocladus fluitans (Hedw.) Warnst. Vol. 3 (100) [M 129] Columbus O June 26th [18]/66
Hon. G. W. Clinton My dear friend, I return both specimens of that
Hypnum. The one, first sent, is Hypnum curvifolium, Hedw. It had only one fruit which was destroyed
for examination. I doubt that you found it at the same place asthe other. It
may have been mixed with it perhaps. The second is Hypnum aduncum [beta] gracilescens
Bryol. Eur. Which is also a different form though the same species as the one
you sent first and unripe a few weeks ago. Excuse me if I can not write
any more to day. My good times are mostly still coming Yours very appectionately L. Lesquereux Recd. June 28 Hypnum aduncum Hedw. = Drepanocladus aduncus (Hedw.) Warnst. Vol. 3 No. 158 [M 71] Columbus O. Octb 8th [18]66 My honorable friend What has become of you? I know
by a letter from Mr. Peck that you are not sick and I am indeed rejoiced to
know that you are well. But I see nothing coming from you neither mosses, nor
letters, and I am afraid that you have put aside your botanical researches
for some other pursuits. I have heard from you by the news papers, knew that
you were president of the meeting of the association; that every body was
happy to have you presiding such an honorable scientific body &c. But all
this comes to me through various ways far less interesting than would be a
line from you. I should have liked to go to Buffalo. But I had more than
enough with the meeting of Northampton. For one who can not hear any,
attending for a few days to continual scientific descussion is something like
the torment of Tantalus. Perhaps you recollect that I
promised you a specimen of Vesicaria? Lescurii Gray. I put my hand on it last
week and sent it to you herewith. Let me know if you get it safely. I
promised you also a series of directions for the anatomy of mosses. That
would be a long paper indeed and I feel more and more that all written
directions are not worth a single hour of teaching or of experience. If you
use your microscope and if you find obstacles on the way please let me know
and rest assured that I would be very glad to help you in any way. Though the musci are out, I
continue to get specimens from friends and to examine them and report on
them. Sincerely your friend L. Lesquereux Hon. G. W. Clinton Buffalo. Recd Oct. 11 & ansd
ditto |
