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June 3 1799
Sir Joseph,
Being on board and finding no signs of sailing, together with the ship being over and above crowded, with what is customary while lying at Spithead, induced me to obtain leave of Gov. King for to go into the Isle of Wight; but I have to regret that my time would not admit of a close examination, therefore I can only consider it as a cursory tour. I cannot say that I met with any plant that appeared strange to me, except the enclosed specimen, and what it is I am totally ignorant of. I have never seen the like before, neither wild nor cultivated. But all that I have at the present to trust to is memory as I cannot get to any of my books. Knowing that I should not have an opportunity of closely examining it, I make the following remark, upon it when I first found it. Pentandria Monogynia. Cal. 5 phyllus. Cor. monopitaha, 5 laciniis [laciniae]. pist. Germen inperum, Stigmata 3 - pertrilocularis, trivalris. I found it upon the summit of the cliff, within a few roods to the west, opposite to Mirables. I looked for it in other such like places but did not prove successful. If it should prove to be in any measure new to the British Flora, I am afraid few Botanists will be able to meet with it, as it grows in a place that may appear dreadful to look at by many persons, though the situation is by far from being dangerous to come at. I could not