Rough initial version of George Don's journal (volume 2 of 2)
Information
Title - Rough initial version of George Don's journal (volume 2 of 2)
Record type - Archive
Original Reference - RHS/Col/2/1/2
Date - 20 Oct 1822-7 Feb 1823
Scope & content - Rough initial version (volume 2 of 2) of George Don's travel journal, describing the journey from Jamaica to England
Overview of contents:
Pages 1-31: Narrative of travel, 20 Oct 1822-7 Feb 1823
Pages 34-92: Blank
Physical description: Bound in soft paper covers marbled in red/brown shell pattern with blue veins. Labelled 'Memorandum, Journal (Duplicate, G Don)'. Dimensions: 32 (h) x 20.5 (w) cm. Conserved in 2018: the binding and pages were cleaned and repairs were carried out to both
This volume is the second of two volumes of the rough first copy of George Don's journal. For the first volume of the rough first copy, 13 Nov 1821-19 Oct 1822, see RHS/Col/2/1/1. For the second rough copy, 13 Nov 1821-27 Feb 1823, see RHS/Col/2/1/3-4. For the fair copy of the journal, 13 Nov 1821-13 Jan 1823, see RHS/Col/2/1/5
The volume is written in George Don's hand, primarily on rectos only, occasionally versos only. There are occasional annotations and additions in Don's hand on the blank verso pages, in the margins and between the lines. Substantial annotations are included in the description and identified as such
The volume was paginated on the upper right-hand corner of rectos during cataloguing
Summary of contents:
(20 Oct 1822) Wet day. Not going on shore
(21 Oct 1822) Going to Kingston [Jamaica], intending to see Dr West [Stewart West, physician and botanist in Jamaica] at Bath [Jamaica]. Being informed that the distance would be 50 miles during the wet season and transport would cost four dubloons or £16: 'at this rate I did not think right to go, even to go on horseback'. Staying in Kingston proving too expensive and there being nowhere else to stay without being acquainted with the plantation owners: 'at this rate the expenses would be beyond anything which I could get here'
Going six miles out of Kingston in the afternoon. Seeing hedges of Bromelias and a Ceris [?Cereus] ('with 12 angles'), scattered trees of Tamarindus, Laurus persia, Bombax and pasco [?mata-passo, Pentadesma butyracea]. Fields and roadsides covered with a species of flower 'resembling at a little distance fields of Ranunculus in England'. Returning to Kingston after dark. Sleeping at a tavern
(22 Oct 1822) Going to Port Royal [Jamaica] after breakfast in a passage boat, finding it too expensive to live in Kingston without an acquaintance
(23 Oct 1822) Not feeling well. Staying on board
(24 Oct 1822) Going on shore with Edward Sabine [Edward Sabine, geophysicist, naturalist and astronomer, brother of Joseph Sabine, secretary of Horticultural Society of London]. Taking a boat to Port Henderson [Jamaica] and landing at Green Bay [Jamaica]
Seeing by the seashore various species of cactus [Guiacum officinale [Guaiacum officinale], crossed out], including beautiful Cactus nobilis [Ferocactus recurvus] and a related species, two species of Ceris [?Cereus] ('with ten or twelve angles'), Opuntia, Guiacum officinale [Guaiacum officinale], Cissus acida [Cissus trifoliata] and Zylophylla angustifolia [Phyllanthus angustifolius]. Beyond Port Henderson on the road to Spanish Town [Jamaica] seeing valleys covered with mimosa, Desmanthus, Ruellia tuberosa and some small succulent plants, 'and among all the plants here there is none equal in beauty to Tribulus maximus [Kallstroemia maxima] which covered the road edges and also low sandy places, it is a complete sheet of yellow'. Returning on board the ship in the evening
(25 Oct 1822) Not being able to find accommodation within 30 miles, and not knowing any of the local planters [to stay with]. Considering it too expensive to travel, it being the wrong time of year for seeds and plants, 'and to go on would be the throwing away of money' [annotated: 'went to Spanish Town']
(27 Oct 1822) 'Near Port Henderson'
(29 Oct 1822) Going to Port Henderson to procure specimens of Cactus nobilis [Ferocactus recurvus], the low lands covered with them, including some very large ones. Seeing a very beautiful species of Bauhinia with white flowers. The majority of the plants being familiar, from English gardens
(30 Oct 1822) Preparing for a journey to the highest peak of the Port Royal Mountains [Jamaica] with Edward Sabine
(31 Oct 1822) Setting out at 6am via Kingston for the Port Royal Mountains. The roadsides covered with various species of mimosa in flower. Near the top among the coffee plantations seeing 'many of our English weeds (they no doubt have been introduced)'. Stopping at a plantation 1,000 feet below the peak. Seeing plenty of Blakea trinervia [identification unresolved as at Jun 2018], and a beautiful species of Clethra
(1 Nov 1822) The temperature 45° at 5am: 'we found it very cold'. Setting out for the peak at 6am, reaching the top after an hour. Edward Sabine ascertaining the height to be about 4,600 feet. Gathering many very curious Epidendrum. Thinking they would suit greenhouse growing well as they were used to cold temperatures. Seeing many English plants, including strawberries, a beautiful Blakea trinervia [identification unresolved as at Jun 2018] and another plant [annotated: Meriania purpurea]. Collecting seeds, but seeing no flowers
Returning for breakfast at a nearby planter's house. Sabine and the rest of the company returning to Newton [Jamaica] [annotated: 'at the top of this peak I met in with a Dr Gordon [Joseph Gordon, slave holder and attorney in Jamaica], who had come to meet us and is very fond of plants and is likely to do something for us in this island']. Going with Gordon to Coldspring [Cold Spring, Jamaica], 'where he intends making a garden'. Seeing the ruins of an old garden, with Magnolia, tulip, plenty of Amaryllis belladonna and some Epidendrum. Heavy rain in the afternoon. Going to Gordon's house six or eight miles away
(2 Nov 1822) Going to Mr Wiles' [James Wiles, slave holder and botanist in Jamaica], 'once superintendent of the old Jamaica Botanic Garden and who is the person who went with Captain Bligh to bring the breadfruit [James Wiles accompanied Captain William Bligh as a botanist on an expedition to the South Seas]'. Wiles saying that visiting Stewart West at the Botanic Garden at Bath [Jamaica] was not worth the trouble. Botanising for some time. Seeing Limidorum and some curious Epidendrum. Staying the night at Joseph Gordon's
(3 Nov 1822) James Wiles coming to Joseph Gordon's in the morning. Going to see the old Botanic Garden after breakfast. Seeing on the rocks along the way a beautiful Cyrella pulchella [Achimenes erecta], Epidendron fragrans [Prosthechea fragrans], ensifolium [Cymbidium ensifolium] and cordatum [Epidendrum cordatum]. In the garden, seeing two large mangosteen trees, '?Pandanus odoratissimus', Sterculia acuminata [Cola acuminata], tamarind, a beautiful palm also seen at Maranham [Maranhao, Brazil] and many other curious plants. On the return journey, his horse stumbling on the bad road, Don falling off and bruising his hand. Staying the night at Wiles'
(4 Nov 1822) Unable to do anything with a swollen and painful hand. Returning to Kingston. Hiring a canoe. Boarding the ship
(5 Nov 1822) Turning specimens. Packing Epidendrum for a safe journey. Sailing 'down to the fore way to be ready for the breeze in the morning, but received orders to stop another day'
(6 Nov 1822) Sailing in the morning with a convoy of eight merchant vessels
(11 Nov 1822) Anchoring off Grand Cayman Island [Cayman Islands] to wait for the convoy, 'which we had lost in leaving Jamaica'. Going on shore. The island low and covered with bush. Seeing a few curious plants by the seashore near George Town [Cayman Islands] ('a few scattered houses'), but due to mosquitoes 'it is hardly possible for a person to stop even for a few minutes'. Seeing plenty of coconut trees, the largest trees a species of fig related to nitida [Ficus benjamina] and Chrysobalanus icaco
(12 Nov 1822) Going on shore in the morning, 'as we understood the mosquitoes were not so prevalent in the middle of the day'. Seeing a small fan palm not in fruit, used for thatching houses. Seeing an Amaryllis not in flower, but being told the flower was white. Seeing a beautiful cream coloured Plumieria [Plumaria] and old trees covered with Ceris grandiflorus [Selenicereus grandiflorus] with 'an immense quantity of flowers'. Sailing in the afternoon without the convoy
(21 Nov 1822) Anchoring at Havanah [Havana, Cuba]
(22 Nov 1822) Going on shore in the morning. Hiring a 'volante or coach' to visit Don Antonius [Don Jose Antonio de la Ossa, Cuban director of the Havana Botanic Gardens]. Getting lost on the way to the Botanic Garden, 'although the man that belonged to the coach spoke both English and French'. Not finding Don Antonio at home at first, and when he returned, 'I was very little better of it, as he could neither read nor speak English'
Being shown around the gardens. Seeing 'nothing particular'. Seeing Pereskia portulaceafolia [Pereskia portulacifolia] and Jatropha. Don Antonio writing a note in French asking Don to visit next morning. Returning to town. Sleeping at an inn
(23 Nov 1822) Going out in the morning to visit Don Jose Antonio de la Ossa. Don Antonio writing a note in French to say they would go to find an interpreter to translate [Edward Sabine's] letter [of introduction], saying it had been 'on account of illness that he did not write to the Society'. Don being given permission to choose seeds and specimens from the collection. Selecting four or five kinds of seeds, 'which will be very acceptable with many very rare specimens'. Boarding the ship in the evening, 'as lodgings were very high'
(24 Nov 1822) Going to the house of Don Jose Antonio de la Ossa. Selecting specimens from his collection. Returning on board in the evening
(25 Nov 1822) Going to the house of Don Jose Antonio de la Ossa in the morning. Collecting several seeds and plants from the garden. 'The most particular things I got' including Omphalia diandria [Omphalea diandra], and Pereskia portulaceafolia [Pereskia portulacifolia] cuttings. Having belongings brought to the wharf. Hiring a boat and boarding the ship
(26 Nov 1822) Going on shore. Looking around the town, but seeing nothing new. Seeing a beautiful species of Convolvulus with yellow flowers in close corymbs in a hedge outside the town. Returning on board in the evening
(27 Nov 1822) Sailing in the morning with a convoy of two merchant ships
(29 Nov 1822) Packing a box of Epidendrum from Jamaica and bulbs from Brasill [Brazil] and the West Indies to send on the Vittoria, 'a vessel now under our convoy' on its way to England
(30 Nov 1822) Putting the box on board the Vittoria at sea in the Gulf of Florida [United States of America]. The northerly wind feeling cold. Heavy sea
(1 Dec 1822) The northerly wind and heavy sea continuing. Removing boxes of living plants from the chains and placing them on the lower deck. Worrying about their survival, but other parts of the ship being too cold and damp
(9 Dec 1822) Anchoring in the quarantine grounds in New York [United States of America]. Very cold
(11 Dec 1822) Going in a steam boat to New York: 'had a view through the greater part of this city'
(12 Dec 1822) Going to see Dr Hosack [David Hosack, American physician and botanist in New York]. Being told where to find Mr Hogg [Thomas Hogg, American nursery owner in New York]. Visiting Hogg's small garden in the suburbs with esculent plants and a greenhouse with some common flowering plants: 'he is in the course of a few years to make a very fine collection but his affairs will not permit of that at present'
(13 Dec 1822) Going out with Thomas Hogg to the neighbouring fields. Not seeing much due to the season. Seeing plenty of Pothos fatida [Symplocarpus foetidus] and Orontium aquaticum: 'if they had not been immersed in water I would not have seen them'
(14 Dec 1822) Cold day with frost. Not going out of town. Being invited to David Hosack's in the evening 'where there is a meeting once a week on Saturday evening'. Being introduced to Dr Torrey [John Torrey, American physician and botanist in New York], who had published a catalogue of plants growing within 30 miles of New York and was in the process of publishing an American Flora: 'he is no doubt the best botanist in this town'. Being informed by Torrey that Mr Nuttel [Thomas Nuttall, English botanist and zoologist in the United States of America] had left New York two days before
(15 Dec 1822) Going out to see Thomas Hogg. Going together to the Botanic Garden: 'it is a piece of ground containing 20 acres without walls'. A greenhouse with slated roof and vinery on one side, a stove on the other side. The glass broken, and the garden having 'the appearance of a common field'. Collecting seeds of Triosteum perfoliatum and 'a Lonicera I was not acquainted with'. The garden a 'miserable place'
Going farther to some uncultivated land where the majority of the plants on the island grew. Seeing and collecting Pyrola umbellata [Chimaphila umbellata], Aquilegia canadensis, Anemone thalictroides [Anemonella thalictroides] and pensylvania [Anemone dichotoma] and Goodyera pubescens [here the journal includes a list of 4 more plants]. The only shrubs being Hamamellis virginica [Hamamelis virginiana], Kalmia latifolia and azalias. Trying to dig roots of Erythronium americanum and Hypoxis graminea [Hypoxis hirsuta], but failing due to frozen ground. Returning in the evening
(16 Dec 1822) With Thomas Hogg. Severe frost continuing
(17 Dec 1822) Going to see John Torrey's herbarium and library, 'which is but small, but the herbarium contains specimens of the most [majority] of the American plants'
(18 Dec 1822) Looking through a collection of specimens collected in Georgia [United States of America] by Le Conte [John Eatton Le Conte, American naturalist]. Seeing many fine Polygalla and 'also two phloxes with new names although they do not appear to me to be different to pubescens which is under the name of linearis [Phlox linearis, identification unresolved as at Jun 2018] and the other subulata [Phlox subulata var. setacea] which is under the name of floribunda'
(19 Dec 1822) Going to Flushing, Long Island [New York] with John Torrey to see Mr Prince's [William Prince, American horticulturist in New York] garden. Arriving after dark
(20 Dec 1822) Looking through the extensive gardens of William Prince, including fruit trees and some American shrubs: 'not to be compared with the London nurseries'. Being unable to say much more, seeing nothing green
Going to a small plantation nearby. Collecting plants including Rhamnus pubescens [Frangula sphaerosperma], Asclepias obtusifolia [Asclepias latifolia], Lespedeza capitata, Pyrola maculata [Chimaphila maculata] and Silene pensylvanica [here the journal includes a list of 5 more plants]. Seeing asters, Solidago, Hibiscus palustris, Iva frutescens and Kalmia latifolia. Plantations composed of Quercus obtusifolia [Quercus gambelii]. Receiving Prince's list of American plants, 'marked off what I wished, so as he might pack them up with what I had collected'. In Prince's small greenhouse 'he has nothing particular in it except a fine plant of Ilex aquifolium but he would not part with it'. Snowing a little in the afternoon
(21 Dec 1822) Returning to New York. Heavy snowfall
(22 Dec 1822) Severe frost
(23 Dec 1822) Going out in the fields with Thomas Hogg to dig up roots of Erythronum americanum and Hypoxis graminea in the snow. Attempting to find a Pothos fotida [Symplocarpus foetidus] but not succeeding. Severe frost in the afternoon
(24 Dec 1822) Severe frost. 'The winter is now set in and nothing more will be got or seen'
(25 Dec 1822) Going with Thomas Hogg to see small greenhouses belonging to local merchants. Seeing only a few common flowering plants. Severe frost
(26 Dec 1822) Receiving the box from William Prince at Flushing. Ordering a box to be made for the plants collected with Thomas Hogg
(27 Dec 1822) Packing the plants from Thomas Hogg
(28 Dec 1822) Attending David Hosack's meeting in the evening
(30 Dec 1822) Hiring a man to carry boxes to the Staten Island steamboat. Hiring a boat at Staten Island [New York]. Boarding the ship
(31 Dec 1822) Intense frost. Worrying if he would be able to keep the tropical plants alive. Noting that the boxes on the lower deck seemed to be feeling the effects of the frost: 'there is not a place in the ship but water will freeze in a few minutes'
(2 Jan 1823) Going to New York in the afternoon. Hoping to acquire seeds of Xylosteum villosum [Lonicera caerulea], the yellow honeysuckle, but not succeeding. John Torrey receiving a parcel of seeds
(3 Jan 1823) Selecting a few seeds from John Torrey's parcel
(5 Jan 1823) Sailing in the afternoon with a strong breeze
(6 Feb 1823) Anchoring at Spithead in the afternoon
(7 Feb 1823) Arriving in London in the evening
Extent - 1 volume
Repository - Royal Horticultural Society Lindley Library
Copyright - © Royal Horticultural Society
Credit Line - RHS Lindley Collections
Usage terms - Non-commercial use with attribution permitted (CC BY-NC 4.0)