Letter received by Banks from George Caley, 12 March 1799 (Series 18.019) - No. 0001

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March 12  99

Sir Joseph,

By being still detained I am at a loss how to pass away my time. I have botanized the places adjacent here, but have not been able to discover any thing worthy of notice, except what I take to be Dr Smith's Ruseus Laxus, which I have met with in two different places. The Dr. makes his description from a plant cultivated in Chelsea Garden, which is by far different from what is called these aculeatus. But this that I have lately met with subject to a graduation from one yard to six or eight inches; in its larger state it seems to be ​laxus; in its dwarfer, ​aculeatus; but whether these originate from one pound root, I have not yet determined. Not having here a specimen on description of the Chelsea plant, it is not in my power to make up my mind about it. I have preserved you some specimens of it, and shall get you some better, as it is not yet in full bloom. I do not doubt, but those Botanists that may have met with it in its wild state, have considered it as ​aculeatus, but the latter I have found on Hampstead Heath, and always of dwarfish growth. If the specimens that are subject to this graduation originate from one root, they form a chain that I am not able to break for those in Chelsea Gardens, I look upon it, were there in the time of Milller, and are still distinct to this day; probably I may be deceived in my opinion, which is a thing I cannot yet admit of.

I have a specimen of a Rubus which I forgot to give you while I was in London, which is very distinct from ​fruticosus to the eye when growing.

March 13-15