Manasseh Cutler Papers

Ipsw. Aug 10th - 91 My Dear Sir, [written in pencil] memorandum of letter sent to Dr. H. Muhlenberg [end written in pencil] I have had ye pleasure of receiving your kind favor of ye 11th of Apr. with Matrelled Amer. and Species for which I most sincerely thank you. [crossed out] A variety of interrupt prevented me from writing immediately [end crossed out] My avocation in the first part of ye Summer were such as rendered it impracticable for me to attend at all to botany, and wishing to furnish [inserted] you [end inserted] with a greater number of species of our go after than I had by me. I delayed putting [inserted] a [end inserted] very species untill some of our grapes were in bloom. Nov is it now in my power to send you so many as I could wish - Such have been my engagements that I have had time only to give some of the species a cursory view, scarcely sufficient to form an opinion myself to what genus they belonged. Approved of ye Book he sent me - acknowledge that I had not examined his [?species?] - but would do it - wished him to give some act- about them promise to write to him and find [indecipherable] [indecipherable] 7 classes - Mentioned letters coming [?W.?] [indecipherable] but packets to come by water - ye Amount of ye [indecipherable] of his last - Asked him to inform me how he ascertained ye qualitites of plants Mentioned my going to Philad- in Nov - Sent him [?Lowel?] [underlined] [?Eulogriun?] [end underlined]

Letter to Dr. Muhlerberg Aug 10 791

18. To Sunday Accts 21e 520 13an 11n 9 28. To ditto 21e 521 1n 5w Oct. 1 To Benja. Bagnall 522 5u 4. To Sunday Accts. 21e 528 31u 7. To ditto 31e 524 19n 6a6 14. To Benja. Bagnall 525 1n1Au

Ipswich July 18th 89 Ipswich Sept 28. 89 Dear Sir { copied }

This morning your package containing Bot. [indecipherable] & letters from 30 Aug. 88 to 10 March 89, was sent me - the same gentleman who has been kind eno, to take them in his carriage from Boston, informs me that Capt Davis, on board whose ship I had put a package for you about ye 10th of June, had been unexpectedly, detained, but wd sail tomorrow - I feel anxious to acknowledge ye rect and of your favors by sane ships an learn of wh. was the package, & letters in wh. I had told you

[illegible] you a [crossed out] plant [end crossed out] free of [illegible]. I have found to be an Hudsonia [illegible]. I suppose is [illegible] play you [illegilbe] [crossed out] no do you [illegible] whether I was to have from my house [end crossed out] [crossed out] described from other way [end crossed out]. I have carefully examined the [?hem. W?].

The Hudsonia of [illegible]. I shall [crossed out] enclose [end crossed out] send you some in [?valles?] Sand bind, from the circumstance of it is being found only on seashore in a loose sand, subject to be blown about by the wind but was found by the plant. (Vide [?Sechme?] Loft. 10 March 93)

Not find the general [?CW?] to accord with any of the genera of dodecane monog[crossed out]y[end crossed out] in the Gen. plant. I minuted its [illegible] as follows

Dodecaneria monogynia

Cal. Perianthium 3 phyllum cylindarium, foliolis oblongis erechis, (apies oblongo, bi-vel-bri-dentuto) marginaltero obvalvens marginem alterius, [illegilbe], persitem.

Cor--Petala quinque, oblongives cula, integra? longitudine calycis, [?receptaeulo?] floris inserta.

Stam. Filamenta heduim ad [illegible], filisormia, vise longitudine calycis, Anth. sebrotanda.

Pett. Germen superum, ovathem, [?subnigoreem?], [?brisaleathem?], Stylis cylindrius longitudine staminum. Stigma obtusum.

Per. Capsula oblongus-ovala, brigona, unilocularis [?brivasuris?]

Sem. deco, fria,[? subrotunds?]

Some time after [crossed out] happening to see [end crossed out] looking over the [?Menlifsa?], in the Library of the University at Cambridge, I happened to find, in page 11 of the following [illegible] [?Audsonia with Textraeted?].

Cal. Periaxthium triphyllum cylindrioum, orepatulo [?foliohis?] lanecola = tin, [illegible] obtufis.

Cor. Mella.

Stam. Filamenta 15 capillaria calyce breviore. Anther & [illegible].

Pett. Germens ovathem . Stylus [?filisormis?] longitudine ealycis. stigma obtusum.

Per. Capsula cylindrica calyce dimidio brevior, [?unilocularis?] [?trivaluis?]

Sem. tria, hine [illegible] inde angulata. In [illegible] P. Lin. [?quies?] of Species -- Hudsoniaver [?oricorides?].

Hab. [illegible]--Frutest faeie [illegible]. Ramuli [?siliforme?] [?sparsi?], inbrieats foleis [?scelulato?] [?acerosin?], suirsatis, tenallis [illegible] = = bui incanis, [?unde gnafi?] [illegible] germmis foliaceis, [?quavltirm?] [illegible]. Perunials (egemmis [?foliosin?]) solitaris [?filisormes?]; folius longiores. [?Calyse?] erutus [illegible].

the [illegible] [?CW?] seem to be in the 3 leaves [illegible]--& 3 [illegible] [?unico cular?] capsule.

Ipswich Oct 21st 1785 Sir, By the newspapers last spring, I was informed that the [indecipherable] Society at Philadelphia had done me the honour [crossed out] of [end crossed out] to elect me a member [crossed out] of their Society [end crossed out]. And my much respected friend, the Reverend [?Mr. Belknap?], not long after, informed me to whom I was indebted for procuring this mark of attention from so respectable a literary society. The honor conferred is too flattering not to be highly pleasing, and demands my warmest acknowledgements to you, Sir, for the kind part you have taken in procurring it, as well as to Mr. Belknap for the obliging manner, in which his friendly partiality has led him to mention me to you. Please to accept my most hearty thanks for the favor you have done me, and excuse my long delay in making my acknowledgements, which has been occasioned by my expecting an Official letter from one of [indecipherable] of the Society. _ I most sincerely wish the two literary Societies established in America may cultivate the warmest friendship for each other, and by their united excertions, promote the important ends of their Institutions. The printing of the Vol. of Memoirs of the American Academy will be completed in a few weeks, and the Comm- concerned in this publication would be much obliged by recieving a list of the Members of the Society at Philadelphia, as they wish, in the list of Members of the Academy [crossed out] that is to be [end crossed out] and will be published in this Vol. to [crossed out] [indecipherable] who are likewise [end crossed out] mention those as members of [crossed out] the [end crossed out] Society at Philadelphia who are members of both Societies. If it would not be inconvenient for you, would solicit the favor of procuring such a list, and transmiting it to me as early as may be. For several years past I have [crossed out] employed my [end crossed out] [crossed out] [indecipherable] [end crossed out] paid some attention to botancical enquires, I have made some advances in exploring the vegetable production in this part of the county. And should be extremely happy to correspond with some gentlement in the southern states, who are acquainted with the Linnean System, with a view of ascertaining what vegetable productions are [indecipherable]

My Dear Sir [crossed out] Enclosed [end crossed out] The improbability of your Sailing before the arrival of this day's post induces me to write to you at ?Portsco? rather ?ym? hazard [crossed out] an approximate off [end crossed out] of chance of your getting a letter at Liverpool. In closed is an introductory letter to Dr. Stokes - [crossed out] be to mind as to f [end crossed out] who ?Shopuwile? be agreeable. Please to seal it before delivery. He will be able to give every ?informa? respect Litery provider. Whether you intend to furnish yourself with a large assortment of them or not it may not be a miss to make particular inquiries. I to take his direct or I wish you to purchase me the latest Edition of ?Lineas Spec. Rank?. His ?Suplima Natura? in Eng if there is [indecipherable] published - also Curhiss Flora [crossed out] [indecipherable] [end crossed out] [indecipherable] ?remit? [indecipherable] be made to your order at any time [crossed out] Should you [end crossed out] [crossed out] find in London some good man who would procur me the [indecipherable], [indecipherable] as I may want, and on whom [indecipherable] deposits, with confidence [indecipherable] not [indecipherable] I wish you to [indecipherable] [indecipherable] his correspondence [end crossed out] Beg you to exept me to ?D Y? for not writing him more particularly. I have expected ?Pennants'? [indecipherable] Zoology from Dr. Stokes - if he ?Pennant? has forwarded it to me with you to procure [indecipherable] of ?Stoky? and purchase it I shall probably want several other books for [indecipherable] with you, when [indecipherable] times to

My D. S.

[crossed out] Enclosed [end crossed out] The improbability of your [?Sailing?] before the arrival of this day is post [?indeed?] me to write to you at Port. rather the changed [crossed out] on approval [?of?] [end crossed out] the chance of your getting a letter at Liverpool. In lofted in an introductory letter to Dr. Stohers--with. I hope well be [illegible]. Please to seal it before delivery. He will be able to give every informal respect. Literary [illegible]. Whether you intend to furnish your self with a large [illegible] of them or not A [?very?] not be a [illegible] to [illegible] particular in [illegible]. I [illegible] Sir [illegible] with you to [illegilbe] me [illegible]

Ipswich, State of Massachusetts, Nov. 24 1787 Sir Botany and zoology, which have been much neglected in this part of America, have employed my leisure hours for several years [?past?]. From the little progress I have made, I am convinved that many of our plants and animals have been imperfectly described, and that others are entirely unknown to European naturalists. The vastly [?extended?] tracts of uncultivated land here open an extensive field for the researches of the [?Colonies?], and still afford a favourable opportunity for distinguishing the exotic plants which have been introduced, from those which are indigenous. It has been a particular object of my inquiry to ascertain the vegetables used by the Aborigines for medical and economical purposes. As few books on natural history have found the way into this part of America and being almost entirely alone in these pursuits, I have been induced to wish for the advantages of a correspondence in Europe; and especially to be honored with information from a gentleman of your extensive knowledge. [indecipherable] proposal which my friend Mr. Vaughan is so obliging as to make to you, should meet your appreciation, I shall be happy in making you any communications in my power, which you may request [crossed out] wish to [indecipherable] [end crossed out] [crossed out] to receive [end crossed out] from this country, [crossed out] [indecipherable] [end crossed out] I shall wish to be favoured with information respecting several natural productions in Europe, and other matters in natural history, which, with your leave, will be the subject of another letter. The Botanical paper you will recieve from Mr. Vaughan was published in the first Vol. of the Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. It was an hasty [?production?], which I was induced to communicate to that Society, rather from the solicitations of my friends than my own inclination. Certain local [crossed out] [indecipherable] [end crossed out] circumstances led me to adopt a method, [crossed out] [indecipherable] [end crossed out] that should, otherwise not have chosen; particularly with respect to those plants which are not arranged under any of the genera of Linneus, and with regard to trivial names. But my principal intention was to give some general idea of the native vegetables of this part of America, and to convince my country-men, among whom this science has been much neglected, that botanical inquiries are not useless speculations. I am, with sentiments of the greatest respect, Sir, your most obedient, humble Servant Manasseh Cutler

Professor Foster Wilna

Ipswich Feb 10th 1786 My dear sir: you have involved me in a prodigious debt by your repeated favors - and you must lose it, for I have nothing to pay. I have had the pleasure of receiving three letters from you since I have had opportunity of writing to you. Yours of the 18th Nov., in which you have been so kind as to give me the history of your tour to Philadelphia has afforded me and many of my friends much entertainment. Mr. [?Peale? Peck's?] exhibitions must exceed anything of the kind I ever heard of in Europe and were it possible to admit a doubt would almost exceed credibility. To what perfection the art of Painting is arrived! America, too, seems to have the honor of producing the greatest artists now on the stage. You are sensible that the present portrait and historic painters to the British King, Copley and West, are our own countrymen. A certain combination of light and shade on good paintings. I have no doubt, may produce surprising effects, and must be highly pleasing to the beholder. The list of the members of the Philosophical Society at Philadelphia, I sent on to Cambridge, but I believe it did not arrive in season for I find several members of it are not noticed, as such, in the list printed in the volume of the Memoirs. The volume is yet in the [underlined] [indecipherable] [end underlined] and when it will be got out, I cannot say. The printers have once supposed that they had completed their work, but upon a careful revision of the sheets, it was found necessary that they should do some of their work over again. The errors that have escaped the notice of those who were to inspect the press

Vienna. So much for botany. Dr. Stokes wishes me to inform him "whether any of the swallow genus been ever discovered during the winter in a torpid state, and in particular under water." "The hypothesis of migration, he says, has been much weakened in Europe by the doubts which have been raised respecting the assertion of M. [?Adouson?], of his having seen the European swallow at Senegal." If you are acquainted with any facts respecting this matter, I shall be much obliged to you for them. I have pretty good evidence of their having been found here in the mud in the winter, and of their being seen to come out of it in the spring; but I wish for further information. The Transactions of the R. S. for 1784, and the first part for 1785, have lately come to hand. No small part of these volumes are taken up with disquisitions on the several kinds of air.- Among others, is a very ingenious paper by a Mr. White, who asserts from a course of accurate and very curious experiments, which he gives at large, "that [?dephlogisticated?] or pure air is entirely composed of water deprived of its phlogiston, and united to [?elimentary?] heat and light." We then must be animals of the watery element. Philosophers are certainly making [underlined] us [end underlined] a kind of fish, swimming about, lobster-like, with the aid of our two sitting poles. Mr. Herschel has several very interesting papers. This great Astronomer has made discoveries in the heavens, that are truly astonishing. By his improvement of telescopes, he has been able to penetrate the immense fields of the starry regions far beyond what any human eye (unless