Letter from George Don to Joseph Sabine [secretary of the Horticultural Society of London], Horticultural Society, Regent Street, Pall Mall, London
Information
Title
Letter from George Don to Joseph Sabine [secretary of the Horticultural Society of London], Horticultural Society, Regent Street, Pall Mall, London
Record type
Archive
Original Reference
RHS/Col/2/4/7
Date
14 Jan 1822
Scope & content
Written from Funchal, Madeira [Portugal]
An opened seal is attached to the letter
For a copy of the letter, 13 Jan 1822, see RHS/Col/2/1/5
Annotated at the top of the page: 'Joseph Sabine recd [received] Feb 13 1822, ans [answered] June 2 1822'
They endured a 'long tossing about the Channel' on leaving England, and he was left behind in Torbay; they sailed from Plymouth on 4 Jan and arrived at Madeira [Portugal] on 11 Jan; he went on shore with Edward Sabine and Henry Veitch [British consul at Funchal, Madeira, who travelled on the ship], they had refreshments and saw Veitch's gardens about a mile from his house; he lists 'esculent vegetables' grown in the garden, including Maranta arundinacea, Curcuma longa, Arachis hypogaea, a species of Dioscorea native to the island, Arum esculentum [Colocasia esculenta], several varieties of capsicum and English vegetables; Bromelia ananas [Ananas comosus] does not appear to do well; he lists fruits in the garden, including Mangifera indica, Anona squamosa [Annona squamosa], Musa paradisiaca, Musa sapientum and Passiflora edulis [here the list includes seven more fruits], 'all of which are in great perfection'; he lists the 'most showy' trees in the garden, including Erythrina speciosa, Laurus indica, Nerium oleander, Bambusa arundinacea [Bambusa bambos] and Aloe arborea [Aloe arborescens] [here the letter includes a list of approximately 15 more trees and plants]; the following day he was invited to go and see Henry Blackburn's [British merchant in Madeira, Portugal] gardens at Palmara [Madeira, Portugal]; he thinks they are the best cultivated gardens in the island; he lists plants in the gardens, including lemon trees, coffee, Sempervivum glutinosum [Aeonium glutinosum], Cactus opuntia [Opuntia ficus-indica] and Davalia canariensis [Davallia canariensis] [here the list includes 12 more plants]; he has collected fern specimens; he climbed 'the Peak' [Pico Ruivo, Madeira, Portugal] on 13 Jan with Edward Sabine, Douglas Clavering [Douglas Charles Clavering, captain of HMS Pheasant], Henry Blackburn, Robert Whitelaw [surgeon on HMS Iphigenia], Robert Mends [captain of HMS Iphigenia] and Smith [John Smith, Edward Sabine's servant and assistant]; they saw fields of Arum esculentum or yams; he lists the most common trees, including Laurus indica, Laurus foetens [Ocotea foetens], Clethra arborea, Erica arborea, Phyllis nobla and sweet chestnut [here the list includes 3 more trees]; 'the scenery is beyond comparison'; he saw plants such as Sempervivum tabulare [Aeonium tabuliforme], Sempervivum urbicum [Aeonium urbicum] and Lycopodium denticulatum [Selaginella denticulata] at 4,000 feet; the forests at 5,000 feet were composed of Erica arborea, Laurus indica, Laurus foetens, Ilex perado and Clethra arborea; the snow was too deep for their horses to continue to the top; Edward Sabine, 'not being contented with his observations', climbed to the top with Robert Whitelaw, while the rest of the party rode down to rest under trees and wait for their return; they had to find their way after dark 'among rocky and dangerous places' to Henry Veitch's house, returning at midnight; he apologises for not being able to 'do much for the Society' in Madeira; he has been informed that the ship will not stop at Teneriffe [Tenerife, Spain] as Mends is anxious to get to the Coast [of Africa]; he hopes there he will be able to make amends for the time lost at sea; he apologises for his 'scrawl' as he is preparing to go on board for sailing early the following morning; he promises a more detailed account from Sierra Leone