140 EDMUND DAVALL-ADDENDUM

EDMUND DAVALL, F.L.S., AN UNWRITTEN ENGLISH CHAPTER

By G. R. DE BEER, F.R.S., Pres.L.S. Since the publication of the paper on p. 42 of this volume, I have found a

further document relating to Davall in the form of a letter from him to William Curtis, extracts from which were published by Mr. W. Hugh Curtis, F.S.A., in his delightful biography of William Curtis *. Through the kindness of Mr. W. Hugh Curtis, who has transcribed it, I now give this letter in full, for it supplies important information relating to the earlier period of Davall's life, before the start of his correspondence with Sir James Edward Smith.

IN THE HISTORY OF SWISS BOTANY.-ADDENDUM.

' M* Curtis a t his Botanic Garden, Iiear the Magdalen Hospital,

St George's Fields, London. ' With a parcel

of seeds. 'A lover of Botany unknown to Mr Curtis, yet who looks to him as his

Preceptor, who owes what little progress he may have made in that delightful Study, in a very retired situation, First to his very perspicuous illustration of Linnaeus's Classes & Orders,-and afterwards to his charming demonstrations of Plants in the Flora Londinensis, returns him his most cordial thanks for his Instruction.-The seat of this Botanophilus's application has been hitherto a retired corner of Switzerland-the Contemplation of its rich Vegetation has been his chief delight & employment, & altho' his progress is retarded by extreme tenderness of sight, the reward of his solitary application has been the discovery of 5 species either not at all mentioned in Hallers great work or considered as doubtful Natives.

' Before he says anything more on that head he must observe that no other Motive can have led him to this Communication than an heart felt gratitude & the idea (judging from his own feeling) of its not being unwelcome :

2. Tordylium maximum. 4. Tragopogon majus.

' The Plants are the following - 1. Selinum Chabraei. 3. Geranium pyrenaicum.

5. Sonchus palustris. 3 & 5 are determined without any possibility of doubt by the Flora Londinensis & by culture-the others by the Flora Austriaca. Yet the seeds of 2 & 4 accompany this letter-those of 1. are not yet ripe.

' Others-but more especially the Professor de la Chenal of Basil-have discovered many other plants not in Haller which will be made known in the work which that Author prepares under the title of Flora Helvetzca where the Swiss Plants will present themselves in an intelligible manner disposed according to the Linnaean System. The following are some of the new discovered inhabitants of Switzerland & not to be found in the Hist: Stirp.

' Scirpus Holoschoenus. Poa rigida. Athamenta pyrenaica Jacq: Ferula nodiflora. Laserpitium silaifolium. Oenanthe . , . nova. Seseli montanum & glaucum. Alisma ranunculoides. Euphorbia falcata. Potentilla alba. Lindernia pyxidaria. Draba pyrenajca. Ulex europaeus. Trifolium glomeratum. Trif: striatum.

' The Communicator is* one of Mr Curtis's most devoted admirers-had he been less the sport of Fortune he might have declared himself his best Friend.

12th September, 1787.' [The letter is endorsed ' Davall 87 '. ' Switzerland 87 '.

* Wzllzam Ciirtzs, 1746-1799. . . IYinchester. 1911.

It has a seal : Hand clasping a fleur-de-lys.]