60 



I have often been surprised that with all you do, 

 and all you have to do, you can so regularly, so 

 amply elucidate every object I send. My work (if 

 my health will at last permit me to get through it) 

 will derive every merit it may have from your ge- 

 nerous information. I have moreover the ambition 

 to possess in time a rich herbarium, and one more 

 correct than any who have plants from the gardens 

 of Gottingen, Tubingen, Kursberchtolfgaxen, &c. 

 &c. By-the-by, what a terrible number of oides 

 have fallen on the fine Austral plants ! 



I am quite delighted with English Botany. What 

 is above all precious to me, are the maritime plants; 

 they are quite new to me. 



Amonir all the excellent things in English Bota- 



o CO 



ny, nothing intrigues me more than Galium pusil- 

 lum. The Swiss Galia are by no means clear. 



The Orchidea delight me, especially Ophrys Loe- 

 seiii and Malaxis paludosa! as strangers to me. 



E. Davall. 



J. E. Smith to Mr. Davall. 



My dear Friend, London, Sept. 24, 1793. 



Where in the name of wonder is Hortus Kurs- 

 bcrchtolfgaxcnsis * P 



Afzelius and Francois are safe returned, thank 



* "I laughed heartily," says Mr. Davall in reply, "at your 

 astonishment concerning Kursberchtolfgaxen. It is a mere ima- 

 ginary specimen of German soft names. If you know some little 

 French poems of M. de Florian, you will find this pretty word in 

 his Poulc de Caux." 



