5. Some further Correspondence of 
Banks.* 
The correspondence of Banks remains to be gathered together, but 
the following, so far as they go, are both interesting and varied. 
1. He writes to John Ellis, Esq., the greatest authority on the 
Corallines, a distinguished scientific man in his day, and a great friend 
of Linnaeus. 
(Linnaeus introduced Solander to Ellis, who introduced him to Banks.) 
Burlington-street, 1st November, 177.3. 
I rejoice to hear that your eyes are in a mending state ; should 
be particularly hajipy if they would give you leave to instruct us a little, as in 
all matters of that nature even Solander is obliged to allow you the title of master. 
I am, your affectionate, humble servant, .Joseph Banks. (Vol. ii, p. 81.) 
2. To the younger Linnaeus : — 
Soho Square, Dee. 30, 17s2. 
I should have answered your favour long ago had I been certain how to have 
directed it. But rs I despaired of hitting you in the course of your flight through 
Germany, I resolved to wait till the time when I had reason to expect that you 
had returned to Upsala. 
Thank you for your information concerning Caligonum. It has rectified a 
mistake, which might have led me, at some time, into a real scrai)c. For Pimento 
I have many specimens, both cultivated and wild, every one of which has folia 
opposita, and they are quite like the figure in Hughes’ History of Barbadoes,” 
drawn by Eliret. 
The figure in Browne’s “.Jamaica ” (tab. 25, f. 2) is not referred to from the letter- 
press. It has clearly been constructed from a bad specimen ; but as that very 
specimen is, in all likelihood, to be met with in your herbarium, f you will do well 
to inquire whether, as I suspect, it is not taken from a different plant. Solander, 
who constituted a new genus under the name of Myrcin, very soon indeed after 
he came to England, meant that with opposite leaves, which flowers, you know, 
in our ganlens, and is highly aromatic. 
1 have been always inclined to think that the blunder which originated in 
Browne, from a bad specimen, has been followed since by every writer. I should 
like, therefore, to hear Mr. Ortega upon the subject, though, I confess, I esteem 
him but as a nettlej in the garden of botanic science. Be so good as to send me 
the title of his essay. 
Van Royen sent me a grass long ago as Bobartia, which proved quite unlike it, 
and so trifling that I really forget what it was. Pray send me some information 
about the Danish Bobartia. The generation of Eels may be seen at large in 
* All these letters, with the exception of those referring to Johnson, are taken from “ Selections 
of the Correspondence of Linnseus,’’ by Sir J. E. Smith. 2 vols. 1821. 
t It does not exist there. The leaves in the figure are alternate, which is the blunder adverted 
to in the subsequent part of this letter. (Smith’s note.) 
I Alluding to the meaning of his name in Spanish. 
