‘By a singular coincidence’
9th August 1810, On This Day, 215 years ago, Dawson Turner wrote to Ellen Hutchins with news that the Pinguicula which Ellen had been describing in her letter of 24th July was figured in the July number of English Botany. The figure / plate / drawing of it is above.
Read the letter from 9th August HERE.
‘A complete list’
Dawson Turner offered to send specimens to Ellen of all of Britain and Ireland’s native plants that are not already in her herbarium / collection. A personal collection or herbarium was a very significant resource for an individual botanist, especially as most botany books were not illustrated. Having access to a plant, albeit a dried version of it, was important for identification.
English Botany, which began publishing in 1790, was among the very first botany books to include a drawing of every species it covered. Turner’s Fuci and Hooker’s British Jungermanniae were both doing the same, but at a larger size and significantly higher price.
‘Hills still peep o’er hills & alps on alps arise’
Here Dawson Turner was quoting from A Little Learning by Alexander Pope (1688 – 1744). A poem guide by Hilary Bernard on the website Poemanalysis.com reads:
A Little Learning by Alexander Pope cautions against the dangers of superficial knowledge. Through vivid imagery and metaphor, Pope portrays the perils of having only a shallow understanding of a subject. He compares incomplete knowledge to intoxication, warning that it can cloud judgment and lead to arrogance. Pope emphasizes the necessity of delving deeply into learning or abstaining altogether, using the metaphor of drinking from the Pierian spring. He also highlights the transformative nature of learning, depicting the journey as one marked by continual discovery and expanding horizons. Overall, the poem serves as a reminder to approach knowledge with humility and a willingness to pursue deep understanding.
The poem is available on the poemanalysis.com link above.
‘One who really esteems and values you’
Dawson Turner’s language shows a real appreciation for Ellen, their friendship and their correspondence. Also, he opens up to her about his problems with organising the Fuci in a way that I have not seen in his letters to other botanists.
Read the letter from 9th August HERE.
The next letter in the correspondence of 1810 is on 13th September and a post will be here about it on 13th September 2025.
Madeline Hutchins
Researcher on Ellen and her great-great-grandniece
9th August 2025