44 



Nymph&a Nelumbo has been in flower at Bulstrode 

 lately (the first time in Europe). It is a new genus, 

 and is to be called Portlandia, as I must make the 

 old one a Catesbaca. 



Adieu, my kind and excellent friend ! 

 Believe me ever yours most truly, 



J. E. Smith. 



Mr. D avail to J. E. Smith. 



Orbe, July 22, 1791. 



Flaction delivered to me your parcel containing 

 your very charming Spicilegium Botanicum ; and 

 just now your letter, and parcel of plants with true 

 Arenaria saxatilis ! and Acrostichum Mar ant <b ! 

 But, my best friend, all these precious and most ex- 

 cellent gifts have found me and the incomparable 

 (I may well say) partner of my cares in the most 

 cruel and heartfelt affliction. We had just then 

 been separated from our beloved child, to whom 

 we were dotingly attached. She had enjoyed bet- 

 ter health than the greater number of us experi- 

 ence at so tender an age ; had successively (per- 

 haps too precipitately) cut six teeth, without any 

 convulsions. She was to all appearance so well, so 

 strong, that we began to hope she might pass safely 

 over the critical period of teething. It is true, we 

 were frequently alarmed, perhaps from a sort of 

 superstitious terror, at what was surely unnatural 

 intelligence in a child who had not completed the 



