Letter from Manasseh Cutler to Dr. Jackson, June 15, 1787

Ipswich June 15th 1787 Sir, Dr. Jackson Ipswich I had the honor of recieving yours of the 24th April inclosing the seed of the Foxglove. You have [crossed out rest of line] done me a very particular favour by your account of Dr. Witherings treatise on the Foxglove (a worth which I had not heard of before) and your own observations on the effects of this plant in the dropsy. The plant which I inserted in my botanical paper [inserted] under the Genus Digitalis [end inserted] appeared to me to approach nearer to that [crossed out] Digitalis [end crossed out] than any other Genus in [crossed out] the class to which it evidently belonged [end crossed out] Linnaeus's [underlined] Genera Plantarium [end underline], but I was doubtful of [crossed out] to being the d [end crossed out] whether it would prove the digitalis, as [crossed out] several [end crossed out] [inserted] some [end inserted] of the generic characters did not correspond with that Genus. In the specific characters there was an agreement with the [underlined] purpurea [end underline], which circumstances induced me the rather think it might be the Digitalis. Last summer I sent a specieman of this plant, with a number of others [crossed out] which I would not [illegible] myself where to arrange there [end crossed out] [inserted] with whom I have for some time hadthe honor of a correspondance [end inserted] of which I was doubtful , to Dr Stokes of Stoverbridge near Burmingham [inserted] a gentleman whose [illegible] an eminent [crossed out] a distinguished] end crossed out] botanist [end inserted] a particular friend of Dr. Witherings [inserted] who is [end inserted] [?son meeted?] with him in published new Edition of The "Botanical Arrangement of British plants." Dr. Stokes [inserted] [crossed out] who has favoured [illegible] [end crossed out] [end inserted] [crossed out]who has favoredme with a correspondence for this or 8 years past [end crossed out] has been so obliging as to examine my specimens with the greatest attention, and favoured me with his remarks. [crossed out] The Digitalis [illegible] see [illegible] the [end crossed out] The speciman of hte Digitalis purpose be [crossed out] suspects [end crossed out] [?James?] to be another plant, but [crossed out] is unable to [end crossed out] [inserted] am not [end inserted] determine what it is--and desires me to examine it further the present summer. [crossed out] It gives me great pleasure to [end crossed out] [inserted] I was much pleased with [end inserted]received the seeds of the British Foxgloves, for by raising the plants I should have an [?opyed?] [inserted] [crossed out] it of [end crossed out] them together [end inserted] of comparing [inserted] [crossed out] it with another plant [end crossed out] [end inserted] [crossed out] In these [end crossed out] That I might not fulfil of raising [illegible] put some of [illegible] into my hot bed [crossed out] and other I also plant them [end crossed out] other plants at different [crossed out] in [end crossed out] times, in different foils and sitiations in my garden--and gave some of them to several of my friends, who were curious in the garden way--equating the every alterations might be paid to them

Form of a certificate for a Ship that brings Pig or Bar Iron from the British Plantations, agreeable to teh 23d of Geo. II ch. 29.

but, to my great [illegible] not one of those I planted [inserted] my [illegible], or were planted by my [?friends?] [end inserted] has yet appeared [crossed out] nore defined that every have [end crossed out] Dr. [?Aoleyothe?] told me after days ago the Leech, your leent him be [illegible]had all [illegible] for he [illegible] no appearance of the plant==[illegible] not, however, in truly [?despare?], yet

Given under our hands and Seals of Office at the Day of in the Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord GEORGE the Third, King of Great-Britain, France, and Ireland, and so forth; and in the Year of our Lord, One thousand seven hundred and

as there are some hints of seed [illegible] do not vegetable until they have been for 3 [illegible] in the ground. The plant with the [illegible] to be the [illegible] in not yet come up, and Solo not recalled to have seen it until July. I shall be happy to know whether you [crossed out] have ben able to [end crossed out] raise the plant, or if you do to be favored with a specimen.

If you write to Dr. Withering, beg you will be so kind as express my obligations to him, with my most respectful compliments.

It gives me great pleasure to find that medical [illegible] of distinguished character are allending to the proper [illegible] of vegetables in the course of thier practice. It appears to me highly probable that the specific properties of the most active chemical preparations may be found in the vegetable kingdom are better avoided [illegible] of human systems. we have [?certainty?] a number of indigenous plants that [illegible] the old women by the have [illegible] upon [illegible] of all kinds of vegetables, (and indigenous applications have thrown upon them) is worn off, (will be considered a form of the most valuable article in the meteria medica), (or their properties better understood)

Have you made any experiments on the plant [illegible] called [illegible] cabbage in [illegible] make easier. A [illegible] [illegible] Many distinguished characters, Dr. [illegible] in particular, [illegible] remedies they have every applied. The properties I believe, are by no means [illegible] probable that it will be formed

Port of These are to certify, That Proof has been made to us by Affidavit, agreeable to the Act of the 23rd of George II. cap. 29. that the following Quantity of Pig or Bar Iron consigned to [crossed out] now shipped on board the [end crossed out]

[illegible] in many of the [illegible]. I should not have delayed so long the [illegible] to have seen the [illegible] purpos out of ground, the first appearance of [illegible] would probably have been [illegible] to have decided whether the plant I have called by the name of the fern or not, or should have had it in my power to have informed your

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