J. CASH : EARLY EOTAXICAL WORK OF AV_M. WILSOX. 1 85 



one of the earliest recorded, ' on the moors above Buxton, on the 

 Manchester Road." He gathered also specimens of Draha i?icana 

 and FoU/no7iiinn ccEruIeuni. M?iium serratum and M. rest rat inn were 

 observed, both in fruiting condition. ]\Ir. AVilson also gathered on 

 this journey (for the first time in Britain] the rare Seligcria acutifolia. 

 This species was detected some time afterwards by Professor 

 Lindberg among specimens sent to him by ^Ir. Wilson of Seligeria 

 pusilla. 



As Mr. Bowman's is a distinguished local name* I may mention, 

 at this stage, that he introduced himself to ]\Ir. AMlson, in 2\Iay 1830, 

 by letter, as one who had long been devoted to Botany, and who 

 had lately taken up the study of the Cryptogamia. 2\Ir. Bowman 

 said that ]\Ir. Wilson had long been known to him by name, and 

 when he (Mr. Bowman ) was in Glasgow in November of the pre- 

 ceding year Dr. Hooker spoke in such flattering terms of his cor- 

 respondent that he determined to avail himself of the first opportunity 

 that presented itself for an introduction, and to request the favour 

 of Mr. Wilson calling upon him the first time that he visited North 

 Wales. Mr. Bowman intended to have a week's botanising among 

 the Snowdon mountains, and nothing, he said, would give him more 

 pleasure than to be favoured with Mr. Wilson's company. Mr. 

 Bowman offered to accompany Mr. Wilson to several good stations 

 for cryptogamic plants in the immediate neighbourhood of his 

 residence. 



Mr. Wilson reciprocated Mr. Bowman's friendly disposition, and 

 in replying, sent him specimens of Dalt07iia sp/achnoides, gathered in 

 the previous autumn at Kiliarney, and took occasion at the same 

 time to inquire respecting the true Cistopteris (or Cystea) dentata of 

 the English Flora, reported to grow at Dinas Bran. He also ottered 

 to supply ]Vlr. Bowman with duplicates from his own collection. 



Mr. Bowman's reply is rather lengthy, but as it is of some 

 interest, I make no apology for reproducing it : — 



The Court, near Wrexham, 



ig/// Jioit, 1S30. 



My Dear Sir, — Your friendly letter of the 7th inst. gave me the greatest 

 pleasure, as it assured me I should not have been deemed an intruder had I been 

 able to make my proposed call on my way through Warrington. I was somewhat 

 annoyed by being compelled to remain in Chester till after the race was over, as 

 in such sports I could never taJKe the slightest interest, particularly as it was part 

 of my plan to return out of Derbyshire, through Birmingham, to see my boys at 

 Hazlewood School. 



*At the date of this letter he v>-as living at Wrexham ; subsequently, upon 

 retiring from business, he removed to Alanchester, and became a member of the 

 Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, and a frequent contributor to its 

 proceedings. He was also one of the founders of the Manchester Geological 

 Society. 



June 18S7. 



