Photocopy of letter sent by John Abercromby, Secretary of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland to Isaac Bayley Balfour, dated 21 June 1903; Asks if Balfour knows of any person or society wanting a collector of botanical specimens abroad. Recommends ‘a young fellow of the name of Forrest’ who looks ‘the right sort of man.’

Letter from George Forrest, Linden Cottage, Loanhead, to Isaac Bayley Balfour at RBGE, dated 17 August 1903, asking if there has been ‘something definite regarding the situation we spoke of when I called on you’.

Copy letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour to George Forrest dated 01 September 1903 offering Forrest temporary work in the Herbarium at RBGE.

Letter from George Forrest, Linden Cottage, Loanhead, to Isaac Bayley Balfour at RBGE, dated 02 September 1903 accepting offer of employment.

Copy letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour to George Forrest dated 03 September 1903 inviting Forrest to come to the Garden on 7 September. Assistant in the Herbarium will give him instructions as to work.

Memo from Isaac Bayley Balfour to Mr John F. Jeffrey, Keeper of the RBGE Herbarium dated 03 September 1903 advising that George Forrest will begin work on Monday [7 September] between 9 and 10 am; note has been annotated by J.F. Jeffrey to acknowledge contents, and again on 7 September 1903 by Henry Hastings to confirm that Forrest had started work.

Letter from George Forrest, Linden Cottage, Loanhead, to Isaac Bayley Balfour at RBGE, dated 19 February 1904 warning that, despite his interest in the work, it will be impossible to continue at the present rate of payment.

Copy letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour at RBGE to Arthur Kilpin Bulley, Ness, Neston, Cheshire, dated 28 April 1904, recommending George Forrest as a plant collector; 'Dear Mr Bulley, There is a man, Forrest, here who is on the look out for a billet such as you describe. I have given your letter to him and he will write to you. He was recommended to my notice by John Abercrombie [sic], the Naturalist, as a man who was collecting plants for some Society on Scotland and who wished to go abroad as a collector. I could find nothing for him in that line but took him on my staff in the Herbarium so that, whilst of use to us, he might gain a wider knowledge of plants. He has been working here for about six months and I have found him an excellent industrious and steady man. He has had opportunity here of getting to know a good deal about the plants of the world and he seems to have profitted by it. The head of the Herbarium speaks very highly of him. He is a strongly built fellow and seems to me to be of the right grit for a collector.'

Copy letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour, RBGE,to Arthur Kilpin Bulley, Ness, Neston, Cheshire, dated 30 April 1904, in which Balfour states that 'Forrest should be all right in the way of health, honesty, steadiness, devotion to work, general knowledge of plants. Of his gardening powers I know nothing; he has not been on our gardening staff. I should say that if he knew what you want he would do well for you...’

Letter from George Forrest to Isaac Bayley Balfour,RBGE, undated, but received in June 1904. The letter was written on route to Mumbai on the S.S. Australia. Forrest writes to let Balfour know that he has met a steward on board who was a collector and has a man in Australia collecting plants for him; Forrest requested that he makes a collection for Balfour and the Edinburgh Herbarium.

Copy letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour at RBGE to George Forrest, Ta-li-fu [Dali], Yunnan, dated 29 June 1904, in which Balfour thanks Forrest for his arrangements regarding the transmission of Australian seeds and plants to Edinburgh. Hopes he will write from time to time and looks forward to the results of his explorations.

Letter from George Forrest, the 'Dak Bungalow', Bhamo, Upper Burmah [Myanmar], to Isaac Bayley Balfour, RBGE, dated 5 July 1904, in which Forrest gives an account of his journey from Rangoon to Mandalay by train and thence by river to Bhamo; he describes hibiscus in Rangoon and plants and vegetation growing along the river banks; preparations for journey to Teng Yueh [Tengchong] and Talifu [Dali]; difficulties in obtaining mules and interpreter; cholera in villages; intends to make a plant collection in his spare time which ‘shall be placed at your disposal on my arrival home’.

Letter from George Forrest, Sung Kwei, Yunnan, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, RBGE, dated 06 September 1904, in which Forrest describes the difficult journey from Bhamo to Teng Yueh [Tengchong], owing to atrocious weather; hospitable reception by Mr Litton, the consul. Travelled to Tali [Dali] with Mr Litton but has not yet found the plants required by Mr Bulley. Continuing to Tseku [Cigu] on the borders of Tibet where mountains are higher. Describes primula, saxifrage and gentian, some of the specimens already collected but regrets the loss of others owing to mildew. Promises to send a copy of his journal and do all in his power to add to the Herbarium collection.

Copy letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour, RBGE, to George Forrest, Tali-fu [Dali], dated 12 September 1904, in which Balfour thanks Forrest for his Bhamo letter and hopes there will be no trouble in the districts he is going to visit; offers to send paper for drying plants. Hopes to obtain a new Herbarium building this year.

Letter from J.W. Besant, Bees Ltd., Neston, Cheshire, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, RBGE, dated 02 October 1904, advising that they have forwarded several plants raised by them from seeds sent home by ‘our Mr Forrest’ and requesting assistance in identifying these.

Letter from George Forrest, Talifu [Dali], Yunnan, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, RBGE, dated 28 October 1904, in which he states he has been to Tzekou [Tsekou; Cigu] in Tibet, on the Mekong; gives itinerary of journey and details of seeds collected, about 100 species, including primulas, three species of androsace but only one gentian. Consignment has gone to Mr Bulley and also 150 or 200 specimens to Prof Balfour. Asks him not to tell Bulley about the specimens which ‘I am collecting for my own pleasure and in my spare time and they are a free gift to you.’

Letter from George Forrest, Talifu [Dali], to Isaac Bayley Balfour, RBGE, dated 08 November 1904, in which Forrest confirms the despatch of 380 plant specimens collected on his recent journey to Tzekou [Cigu]. Next trip will be to the north of the Lichiang [Lijiang] valley, working the range of mountains which cause the Yangtze bend and along the base of an immense glacier on the eastern slope of the Lichiang peak. If this proves unproductive he will go on again to the Chung Tien plateau which he and Litton were the first Europeans to visit. Believes the range forming the Mekong and Salween divide to be exceptionally rich in rhododendrons, azaleas, gentians, primulas and a five foot tall lilium with immense white bloom marked in red and highly perfumed. Specimens have been collected by the missionary fathers at Tzekou who will send bulbs to Balfour and Bulley via consul Litton. Describes journey north into Tibet with Litton, leaving Talifu [Dali] on 29 August, returning 53 days later, having covered around 1000 miles. On being mobbed at the horse fair at Sung Kwei they had to draw their revolvers in defence but had some horses and mules stolen. Gives details of their route to and from Tibet, describing plants and vegetation and a river crossing by sling bridge, illustrated by a sketch. Has felt depressed since returning to Tali, probably a reaction to so much travel and constant exposure to wet conditions and extremes of heat and cold. Regrets that all his photographs were spoiled by dampness and intends to ask Bulley for a supply of photographic plates. Confirms that there is a pine belt in Yunnan and part of Tibet, generally starting at about 9,500 feet and continuing to about 15,000 feet.

Letter from Grace Forrest, Linden Cottage, Loanhead, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, RBGE, dated 18 November 1904, sending a copy of her brother’s diary of his journey from Bhamo to Tali [Dali]. Her last news was from Tibet where ‘Mr Litton and he were suffering greatly from the changes of atmosphere’.

Letter from George Forrest, China Inland Mission, Talifu [Dali], to Isaac Bayley Balfour, 'Regius Keeper', Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 5 January 1905.Forrest describes sending Balfour 213 specimens via Cook and Son, Rangoon. He returned to Dali 10 days ago from second trip north. He is unable to go further than Chung Tien as the Atunze [Atuntze, now Tehtsin] pass is blocked by snow. Has taken notes on his journey from Chung Tien down the plateau to the Yangtze, to be incorporated into Mr Litton’s report to the Government. Asks again for names of three saxifrage specimens sent with his letter of 7 September. Leaves for Yunnanfu on Tuesday 10 [January] with Consul General Wilkinson to travel south to Mengtzu. On return, Forrest will go straight to Tsekou [Cigu] and work north and east from there for rest of the year. Mr Bulley wishes him to go into Lolo country which he will do if he can get two reliable Tibetans to act as guide and servant. Intends to work across from Atunze into an area blank on the map, intersected by rivers Yangtze, Li-tang and Ya-lung. ‘The great difficulty of course is the keeping clear of the lamasseries. This is Lolo country and it would …be no use taking Chinese …The hatred between them is intense. I would only be able to manage with Tibetans and these again are entirely under the thumb of the lamas.’Plants referenced: Rhododendron; SaxifrageThe letter is fire damaged with some loss of text.

Letter from George Forrest, Talifu [Dali] to Isaac Bayley Balfour, 'Regius Keeper', Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 7 January 1905.Forrest writes to say he has added a further 8 specimens to the consignment referred to in his previous letter.The letter is slightly fire damaged and marked with red ink.

Letter from George Forrest, China Inland Mission, Talifu [Dali], to Isaac Bayley Balfour, 'Regius Keeper', Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 09 January 1905.Forrest writes to say he has despatched a parcel with specimens and looks forward to having a fine collection from Tsekou [Cigu] and the ranges north, if Mr Bulley sanctions the trip. Weather gloriously clear. ‘During this season of the year Tali is an ideal place for a health resort and is utterly lost on such people as the Chinese. I mean the valley of course not the city.’Letter is fire damaged.

Letter from George Forrest, The Consulate General, Yunnan-fu [Kunming], S.W. China, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, 'Regius Keeper' Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 21 February 1905.Forrest writes to say he has returned disappointed from his trip south as it was the wrong time of year for seeds and plants. He asks Professor Balfour to send out seeds of flowers requested by Consul-General Wilkinson for the garden of the new consulate outside Yunnanfu. Thanks Balfour for his letter of 26 October 1904 naming the saxifrages. Forrest leaves for Dali tomorrow.Plants referenced: Gentian; SaxifrageLetter is very slightly fire damaged and marked with red ink.

Letter from A.K. Bulley, Ness, Neston, Cheshire, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, RBGE, dated 21 February 1905.Bulley is searching for a head of the Nursery at Ness. Refers to Forrest’s difficulties with heat and cold. ‘Next year he should have a very good time of it. I like him.’

Letter from George Forrest, China Inland Mission, Talifu [Dali] to Professor Isaac Bayley Balfour, Regius Keeper, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 10 March 1905.Forrest writes to say he has collected about 200 specimens during his trip to Yunnanfu [Kunming]. Asks if Professor Balfour received two packages despatched on November 14 (380 specimens) and January 10 (220 specimens). Advises him to pay no heed to Mr Wilkinson’s request for flower seeds if it means bother and expense.Letter is scorched.

Letter from George Forrest, China Inland Mission, Talifu [Dali], to Isaac Bayley Balfour, 'Regius Keeper', Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 22 March 1905.Forrest writes to give details of his disappointing journey south. He never reached Mengtze as Mr Wilkinson preferred Forrest to assist him in laying out ground at the new consulate outside Yunnanfu [Kunming]. Regrets small number of seeds and specimens. Reports that a letter thrown over the mission gate warns of a plot to burn down the mission and murder the missionaries; the attack to take place during the great spring fair on the 15th of the 3rd Chinese moon, i.e. 19th April. ‘Missionaries are going to take no steps in the matter … and say that if anything does take place they forbid me to shoot, but -.’Plants referenced: Camellia; Rhododendron; SaxifrageThe letter is fire damaged with some loss.

Letter from George Forrest, China Inland Mission, Talifu [Dali], to Isaac Bayley Balfour, 'Regius Keeper', Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 26 March 1905.Forrest writes that he is pleased that the first batch of specimens has arrived and proved to be of such interest. Forrest hopes to send thousands from next season’s collecting, north and west of Tsekou [Cigu]. Forrest thanks Balfour for sending him photographic plates and books (which he has not yet received).Letter is fire damaged with a small amount of loss.

Letter from George Forrest, China Inland Mission, Talifu [Dali], Yunnan, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, 'Regius Keeper', Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 04 April 1905.Forrest writes that he has received the photographic plates and thanks Balfour for the present of books; he was greatly cheered by his letter as he was beginning to lose heart. Forrest discusses provenance and identification of primulas and cassiope and asks for hints on the packing of bulbs of lilies and orchids. Forrest hopes to leave Talifu [Dali] on 10 April but he is having trouble hiring transport as the Wei Hsi pass at an elevation of 14,000 feet, the only way to Tsekou [Cigu], is infested by robbers, a tribe of aborigines called Lisaws [Lissoos], dispossessed of their lands by the Chinese. ‘Occasionally they make a raid on the caravans crossing from Chu Tien on the Yangtze to Wei Hsi. They have no firearms, but use powerful crossbows and small poisoned arrows which the Chinese are mortally afraid of.’ Longer delay would mean losing many of the spring flowers. Forrest is pleased that Balfour knows of his engagement to Miss Clementina Traill and asks if one of the new species could be named after her. Has received way bill from Cook & Son for the second batch of plants numbering 220 which he sent off on 13 January. Warns that Balfour will hear nothing further for the next ten months as he will not return to Tali until January or February next year [1906]. Mr Bulley wishes him to remain out until at least 1907. Forrest reports that all over Yunnan and the west of China, the locals use the beans and pods of Gleditschia [Gleditsia] sinensis, Lamb. and Sapindus Mukorossi, Gaertn. to wash their clothes.Plants referenced: Cassiope; Cypripedium; Gleditsia; Lily; Pine; Primula; Sapindus; SaxifrageLetter has been burnt and there has been some loss.

Letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, to George Forrest in Yunnan dated 13 February 1905.Balfour apologises for not writing earlier. "Today I am happy in being able to tell you that your case of plants has arrived - and what a treat you have given me! I know something of the difficulties of collecting but my experience of obstacles pales before your description of the conditions under which you have had to work. Yet what a result! Yous specimens are splendid and their interest botanically intense."Balfour goes on to discuss some Primulas, including Primula japonica and Primula muscarioides (new to Balfour); Rhododendrons, including Rhododendron campylocarpum, and others unknown to Balfour. Saxifraga, Cassiope, Gentians, Corydalis, Clematis, Viburnum, Lonicera, Eukianthes, Pieris, Plumbago, Fritillaria, Lilium, Berberis, Polygonum, Trollius, Cornus, and Orchids including Cypripedium.Balfour reassures Forrest that his collecting and accounts are all excellent, and finishes with a small update from Edinburgh: Tagg has just returned from a trip to Australia and the Treasury is appointing a committee to go into the whole question of our Herbarium and the necessary accomodation there and this I hope will result in immediate action. Mr. Jeffrey, Miss Traill and others continue to work there as heretofore.

Letter from George Forrest, China Inland Mission, Talifu [Dali], Yunnan, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, 'Regius Keeper', Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 07 April 1905.Forrest writes to apologise that he can only muster 105 specimens but promises he will have done better by his return to Talifu next January [1906]. By next mail will send two photographs of plants, one a primula and one a fumaria.Plants referenced: Fumaria; Primula

Letter from George Forrest, China Inland Mission, Talifu [Dali], Yunnan, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, 'Regius Keeper', Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 08 April 1905.Forrest writes that he has despatched a parcel of 105 specimens. He apologises for haste but is joining a caravan of unladen mules which will take him to Tzekou [Cigu]. There is a brief description of a mixture of seeds, collected for him by a Tibetan soldier acting as his servant who ‘returned to camp in the evening with all the seeds he had collected stuck inside his tunic, and a hopeless mixture.’ He encloses two photographs, one of primula, the other of fumaria, with description of their provenance. The photographs are no longer with the letter.Plants referenced: Acacia; Fumaria; Gentian; Orchid; PrimulaThe letter has been burnt, with some loss, but not affecting the text.

Letter from George Forrest, The Mission, Tsekou [Cigu], Tibet, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, Regius Keeper, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 28 April 1905.Forrest writes briefly to let Balfour know he has arrived safely in Tsekou after a 'terribly trying' journey during which he rowed with the people at Chien Chuan cho and then lost a mule in crossing the Wei Hsi; baggage carried by coolies (Lisaws) [Lissoos] through deep snow. Forrest reports news of a revolt by lamas who had raided Batang and Atunze, killing three French missionaries and a number of local Christian converts. Forrest found Tsekou to be practically in a state of siege with daily expectation of attack, there being around 3000 lamas at Atunze and 5000 at Batang. Forrest had secured over 100 species on the way but lost many more through damp.There is slight burning at the base of the letter.

Letter from George Litton, H.M. Consul, Tengyueh, to Isaac Bayley Balfour at RBGE, dated 17 May 1905.Litton writes that he is sending a case of botanical specimens at the request of Mr Forrest. Litton asks Balfour to forward a small packet of seeds to A.K. Bulley of Ness.Letter has been scorched with very minor loss.

Transcribed copy of George Litton's, H.M. Consul, Tengyueh, letter to Isaac Bayley Balfour, dated 17 May 1905, alongside the copy of a letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, to A.K. Bulley at Ness, dated 21 June 1905, and written when Balfour sent Litton's letter to Bulley.Copy has been made by Balfour's assistant Henry Hastings.Letter has been scorched with some loss, although not of text.

Letter from George Forrest, Tsekou [Cigu], SE Tibet, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, M.D., 'Regius Keeper', Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, dated 27 May 1905.Forrest writes to say he left Tali [Dali] on 11 April; he provides details of an arduous journey to Tsekou, having his first row with the Chinese in Chien Chuan and an uncomfortable evening conversing with the Yamen. There are difficulties with muleteers at Wei Hsi pass and the loss of a mule which fell 90 or 100 feet, breaking its back and smashing its load of two cases; Forrest was rescued by Lissoos who helped him continue his journey to Wei Hsi Ting. Forrest meets with Pere Bourdonnec of the Catholic Tibetan Mission who warned him that rebel lamas were only three days north of Tsekou. Against his advice Forrest continued to Tsekou, arriving on 28 [April] to news of ‘over 10,000 lamas on the warpath. Of these, 5,000 are at Batang where they have murdered the Chinese amban and a great number of Chinese soldiers. Also the French missionary stationed there, Pere Mussot by name. They destroyed the mission and killed a great number of native Christians, driving the remainder into the hills, where many have perished of exposure and hunger.’ Forrest describes raids on Atuntze, Yarragong and Yerkolo, the death of Pere Soulie and anticipates a battle between the lamas and Chinese troops. Lack of food is the main difficulty in Tsekou; there is a description of the rations, including a curious dish of stewed ferns using the species of common bracken Pteris aquilina:'One curious dish they have here, and one of which I was very dubious at first, but which now I have got to like immensely is 'stewed ferns'. These are cooked in water with the addition of a little fat. The species used is the common bracken 'Pteris aquilina' which grows abundantly on all the mountains here above a certain elevation. The part used is the young stem and frond just as they are expanding when they are 3-6 inches high. These are boiled for some time in water to extract the bitter principle of the plant and then cooked as I have described. Another dish, but one which I have not yet partaken of, but which I am informed is equally good is composed of the male inflorescence of 'Pinus sylvestris' prepared in a similar manner.'Forrest is making slow progress with his collecting owing to bad weather, but almost 300 species have already been collected; there are descriptions of forests of rhododendrons and a fine example of Magnolia campbellii.Plants referenced: Magnolia; Pine; Pteris aquilina; RhododendronLetter has been scorched with some loss. Letter has been damaged, particularly page 1, apparently by a plant specimen enclosed in the envelope with the letter.

Letter from Arthur Kilpin Bulley, Ness, Neston, Cheshire, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, RBGE, dated 25 June 1905.Bulley writes to report that many of Forrest’s seeds and those of Pere Monbeig have germinated already, including ‘a very pretty little Convolvulus in various colours, which surely must be a Chinese Garden Escape, but wh. is to my thinking much prettier than any annual Convolvulus I know of here …’ Though unwilling to interfere in the matter of Forrest and Miss Traill, he has written to Mrs Traill expressing his high opinion of Forrest, continuing that 'A man sh' win his wife by himself' but he would find work for Miss Traill in his nursery if she ‘is being unendurably persecuted ..’ Bulley offers to send Balfour plants for identification and mentions that he is about to visit Cork-Waterford to look for ideal conditions for raising plants.Plants referenced: Convolvulus; Cypripedium

Copy letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, to Arthur Kilpin Bulley [Ness, Neston, Cheshire] dated 28 June 1905.'...I should much like to take in hand identifications of the new things you raise. I shall be working up his dried plants and of course anything you may send will be held in trust by us as are the dried specimens from him. He will, I am sure, do great things for you. His last letter to me glowed with enthusiasm in the prospect of his northern migration.'Mrs Traill is I am afraid rather foolish, and should have learned by now that no other reply than that you have given is possible from those who know Forrest. I do not think Miss Traill is now so unhappy – the subject is become ‘taboo’ at home.” Hopes that Bulley’s kind offer of work for Miss Traill will not be necessary.‘If you can carry out your proposal, and have all these nurseries controlled from one centre, you will have made a great stride towards securing uniformity in garden names and safeguarding plant lovers from their present tax in buying over again one plant under a variety of names...’Copy has been made by Balfour's assistant Henry Hastings.Letter has been scorched with some loss, but not of text.

Letter from George Forrest, Tsekou [Cigu], S.E. Tibet, to Isaac Bayley Balfour M.D., 'Regius Keeper', Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, dated 03 July 1905.Forrest writes to thank Balfour for the twenty volumes of the Linnaean Journal and for the seeds for the Consul General at Yunnanfu. Collecting has been hampered by trouble with the lamas and bad weather, but Forrest hopes to make up for lost time and secure twelve or fifteen hundred species. Forrest intends to leave for the U.K. around the end of December, subject to Mr Bulley’s approval: ‘I gather that he wishes me to remain out here for another year or so, but I do not think I shall consent, at least not at the present rate of payment.’ Although Forrest likes the work he would prefer collecting botanical specimens alone, rather than seeds.The situation with the lamas remains dangerous: ‘Owing to the stupidity of the official who was sent north to Atuntze, the lamas of that place, and Yarragong in Yangtze valley have been allowed to escape and scatter in all directions. They have great influence over the people and as they are inciting them to rebellion we fear much trouble in the near future.’Forrest describes an orchid growing on cliffs in the valley around Tsekou and two species of rubus, of which he encloses small scraps.Forrest warns that Pere Monbeig is intending to write to Balfour to see if Balfour will buy specimens from him, reassuring Balfour that he has nothing to do with this.Plants referenced: Gentian; Orchid; Rubus; SaxifrageLetter has been scorched and there is slight damage, likely from a plant specimen inserted in the letter.

Letter from the Co-operative Bees Ltd. Nurseries (J.H.), Ness, Neston, Cheshire, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, Edinboro' Botanic Garden, dated 06 July 1905.Letter accompanying plants sent for identification by 'our collector, G. Forrest', including convolvulus.Plants referenced: ConvolvulusLetter has been scorched with some loss (though not text)

Letter from George Forrest, Tsekou, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, M.D., 'Regius Keeper', Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, dated 13 July 1905.Forrest writes to say he is pleased to learn that he has discovered one or two new species. Forrest describes where he collected new species of parnassia. He has just returned from a week in the valleys of the Mekong-Salween divide, with favourable results, although the higher peaks and passes were inaccessible owing to heavy snow. There were a surprising number of species in flower, some forcing their way through the snow. Forrest describes plants and habitats of meconopsis integrifolia, corydalis, rhododendrons, primulas and lilium: ‘If I am not the first to send home seed of this species [meconopsis integrifolia], I hope to be the first to send home photos of it taken in situ…’Regarding the trouble with the lamas, Forrest states: ‘… we have had bad news this week again. The report is that the Chinese have been defeated once more but I cannot vouch for the truth of this.’ ... ‘I am now well on in my sixth hundred of species over six hundred sheets. Got a big rise last week. Three more species of orchidaceae.’Forrest describes and sketches a peculiar kind of fern [p.12] and sketches a new primula with pendulous flowers [p.8].Plants referenced: Aspideum; Fern; Fritillaria; Corydalis; Lilium; Meconopsis; Nephrodium; Orchidaceae; Parnassia; Pine; Primula; Prunus; Rhododendron; SaxifrageLetter has been fire damaged with some loss, including text. The letter has also been damaged, presumably by a plant specimen inserted in the envelope.

Copy letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, to Bees & Co. Ltd., Ness, Neston, Cheshire, dated 19 July 1905.Balfour provides Bees with identifications of 5 plants, expressing his view that Forrest must have been collecting in some Chinese Garden... 'the anomalous source of the four plants has been rather perplexing'.Plants referenced: Geum; Ipomaea; Moltkia; Oenothera; VerbascumLetter is slightly charred.

Letter from the Co-operative Bees Ltd. Nurseries (E.H.?), Ness, Neston, Cheshire, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, F.R.S., Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 24(?) July 1905.Bees Ltd write to acknowledge receipt of Balfour's letter identifying plants and seeks his opinion on a plant received under the name of Geum virginianum. Sending fresh specimen of Geum and also of a species of Verbascum raised from seeds received from M. [Walter] Siehe.Plants referenced: Geum; VerbascumLetter slightly charred with slight loss, though not text.

Letter from George Litton, H.M. Consulate, Tengyueh, via Bhamo, Burma, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 15 August 1905.Litton writes to inform Balfour of the murder of George Forrest at Tsekou as a result of attack by Tibetan lamas on 20 July. He will do all in his power to secure an inquiry.Letter has been fire damaged with some loss.

Letter from Sir Eldon Gorst, Foreign Office, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 17 August 1905.Gorst is directed by the Marquess of Lansdowne 'to state that he has been requested by Mr. Litton, His Majesty's Consul at Tengyueh, in the provinces of Yunnan, to inform you that there seems unfortunately little doubt that an Englishman named Forest [sic] was murdered on July 21, in the course of the disturbances which have lately occurred in the region of the Upper Mekong.’...Letter has been charred with some loss, though not of text.

Copy letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, to A.K. Bulley, Ness, Neston, Cheshire, dated 17 August 1905.Balfour writes to express his grief at the death of George Forrest and regret at the loss of ‘a born collector’. ... 'We have lost a really good man from whom I had looked for great horticultural prizes.'

Letter from William James Embery, China Inland Mission, Tali-fu [Dali], Tengyueh via Bhamo, Upper Burma, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 17 August 1905.Embery, the Missionary based at the China Inland Mission at Dali writes to report that George Forrest is alive and hopes to reach the mission on 21st [August]."Dear Sir, It is a very great joy to me to have to communicate to you the news I have to tell, rather than the news we feared would have to be sent to you. Doubtless you are aware that the district of Tsekou in which Mr. George Forrest has been "collecting" lately, has been in a disturbed state for some time. Things have reached a crisis and reports (reckoned upon as reliable) have been current here for several days that our friend Mr. Forrest, with the French Catholic priests, had all been massacred. Our hearts have indeed been sad, but today we received a letter from Mr. Forrest telling us that he was on his way to us here and hopes to arrive about the 21st inst. He says he escaped after a fearful struggle and experience lasting for 21 days, being hunted like a mad dog for 9 days on the hills, suffering terrible privation, then fell in with some friendly people who brought him on his way for quite a distance. Two of the French priests he says have been massacred, and it is indeed a marvel that he himself escaped. He wished me to communicate the news to you by first mail. Rest assured we will look after him well when he gets here and we thank God for thus marvellously delivering him. Mr. Forrest will be writing you himself later, but in the meantime we rejoice with you over today's good news. Believe me, Yours sincerely W.J. EmberyLetter appears to be similar to a carbon copy and is on very thin paper which has crumpled along the left hand side, has water staining and also some charring, leading to loss of paper and some text.

Letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, to Sir E. Gorst, The Foreign Office, Downing Street, London S.W. dated 18 August 1905.Balfour, unaware at this point that Forrest has survived, writes to acknowledge Gorst's letter of 17 August and asks that Forrest’s mother or himself be informed of result of enquiry into Forrest’s death.Letter is fire damaged with some loss.

Telegram from Sir Eldon Gorst, Foreign Office, handed in at Parliament Street at 5:18pm, to Professor Balfour, Keeper of the Royal Gardens, Edinburgh, received at Goldenacre Post Office at 5:55p on 19 August 1905.'Further telegram received from Consul Gunnan [sic - Yunnan] stating Forrest is alive and safe. Gorst.'

Telegram from Traill; presumably Miss Clementina Traill, Forrest's fiancee, handed in at Portobello Post Office at 8:25pm, to Balfour, Inverleith House, received by Edinburgh Office at 8:28pm, 19 August 1905.'Many thanks for kindness letting me know good news. Traill.'

Telegram from Forrest family, likely Miss Grace R. Forrest, George's sister, handed in at Lasswade Post Office at 8:17pm, to Balfour, Inverleith House, Edinburgh, received at Edinburgh Office at 8:21pm[?], 19 August 1905.'Overjoyed to have good news many many thanks'

Letter from George Litton, H.M. Consul at Tengyueh, via Bhama, to Isaac Bayley Balfour [Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh], dated 19 August 1905.Litton writes to confirm that George Forrest is safe in the Chinese camp at Wei Hsi: 'Dear Sir, I write a line to confirm the news wh you will already have heard that Forrest by some miracle has escaped. We have definite news of him today, safe on the 13th in the Chines camp at Wei Hsi ‘…after horrible experiences’. Thank God for that. You will not think that I wrote the news of his death without good reason. It was confirmed from numerous official and unofficial sources and there were supposed to have been eye witnesses! I am more pleased than I can say. I expect he will have a wondrous tale to tell.'Letter has been damaged by fire with some loss, though not of text.

Letter from A.K. Bulley, Ness, Neston, Cheshire, to Isaac Bayley Balfour [Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh] dated 19 August 1905.Bulley writes to confirm he has just received the news of Forrest’s death and he feels sick that Forrest lost his life ‘in the endeavour to earn my beastly money’. Bulley encloses Forrest’s last letter and asks that it be passed to Miss Traill and the Forrest family.Letter has been fire damaged with some loss.

Typed copy letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour, [RBGE], to A.K. Bulley [Ness, Neston, Cheshire] dated 19 August 1905.Balfour writes briefly to let Bulley know that Forrest is alive and safe.Letter has been scorched with some loss, but not of text.

Postcard from Arthur Kilpin Bulley, Ness, Neston, Cheshire to Isaac Bayley Balfour, Regius Keeper, Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, dated 20 August 1905.Bulley reacts to hearing that Forrest is alive and safe:Hurrah! Hurrah! Glorious news. Thank you immensely for communicating with me so speedily. I have spent a miserable weekend.

Typed copy letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour, [Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh], to Sir Eldon Gorst, K.C.B., The Foreign Office, Downing Street, London S.W. dated 19 August 1905.Balfour writes to acknowledge with thanks and joy the receipt of Gorst’s telegram. (GB 235 FRG/1/1/1/1905/28) 'I am glad to think that a career which promised so much of value to science has not been prematurely closed, as seemed probable.'Letter is on fragile paper and has been scorched with some loss.

Copy letter from Sir Eldon Gorst, Foreign Office, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 21 August 1905.Gorst writes at the request of the Marquess of Lansdowne to report the official news that Forrest arrived in Wei Hsi on 13 August and would be escorted to Tali [Dali] on 14 August.Letter has been burned with some loss.

Telegram from Sir Eldon Gorst, Foreign Office, handed in at Whitehall, To A.K. Bulley, received at Neston, Cheshire on the 21 August 1905: 'Latest information states that Forrest has arrived safe at Weishi [sic] and was to have been sent under escort on the 14th inst. to Tali [Dali] Gorst' with annotations by A.K. Bulley: 'I don't know whether you have had this, Just return it, A.K.B.'

Copy letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, to A.K. Bulley, Ness, Neston, Cheshire, dated 21 August 1905.Balfour writes to Bulley to forward communications from the Foreign Office. Balfour adds that ‘Forrest is a capital letter-writer and his next one should be full of thrilling details.’Balfour urges Bulley to remember that Forrest’s work is ‘exploration contributing to scientific knowledge and that the life he is leading is that which he longed for, he revels in it, and we could not have realised his wish for it but for your enterprising kindness in employing him.’Letter has been scorched.

Letter from Grace R. Forrest, 'Springbank', Lasswade, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 21 August 1905.Forrest's sister writes to thank Balfour for his sympathy and support during the time when they thought George Forrest was dead; she is gratified that Forrest is so highly regarded by Balfour. She has just received Forrest’s letter of 19 June reporting a rumour that the lamas had fled from Atuntze.

Copy letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, to A.K. Bulley, Ness, Neston, Cheshire, dated 22 August 1905.Balfour writes to forward further communication from the Foreign Office to A.K. Bulley.

Copy letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, to Sir Eldon Gorst, K.C.B., The Foreign Office, Downing Street, London, dated 22 August 1905.Balfour writes to thank Gorst for his telegram [GB 235 FRG/1/1/1/1905/28], the terms of which he has communicated to Forrest's family.Letter has been scorched with some loss; there is also some staining which has adhered a fold in the paper

Letter from Grace R. Forrest, Springbank, Lasswade, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 24 August 1905.Forrest's sister writes to acknowledge Balfour's letter and looks forward to further news.Letter is charred with minor loss.

Letter from George Forrest, Talifu, Yunnan, S.W. China, to Isaac Bayley Balfour M.D., 'Regius Keeper', Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, Scotland, dated 29 August 1905.Forrest writes: 'At last I have reached Tali [Dali] in safety. I have just passed through the worst experience of my life and I sincerely hope I will never be called upon to suffer the like again.’Forrest gives a brief report of the attack on the Tsekou mission on 19 July, his escape with two of the mission fathers, the hunting down, capture and brutal murder of the two missionaries, Pere Dubernard and Pere Bourdonnec and his own subsequent experience of being hunted by lamas for seven or eight days on the ridges of the Mekong / Salween divide. Forrest laments the loss of everything, his specimens, photographs, equipment, money and papers: ‘Worst of all I have lost the greater part of the season and this grieves me more than anything. After all my recent success apparently I am to end in failure …At times I feel that it would almost have been better had I been killed …I will have to start all over again. As soon as I regain my strength I shall recommence work on the Tsan Shan range west of here and do my best to make up for lost time. I dare not go north this year but if Mr Bulley is agreeable shall do so next spring.’Forrest describes in a postscript the varieties of meconopsis and primula which he saw during his journey south down the heart of the range. ‘I would almost go through the same again to procure even dried specimens of them.’Plants referenced: Meconopsis; PrimulaLetter is slightly scorched with minimal loss. This letter has examples of acidic ink eating through the paper.

Letter from Grace R. Forrest, 'Springbank', Lasswade, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 04 September 1905.Forrest's sister writes to Balfour to report the receipt of two letters from Forrest dated 4 and 13 July from Tsekou. She thanks Balfour for letting the Forrest family see Bulley’s letter.Letter has some minor scorch damage.

Copy letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, to Arthur Kilpin Bulley, Ness, Neston, Cheshire, dated 05 September 1905.Balfour writes to Bulley to discuss the difficulty of naming plants sent by Forrest, as not all plants from the Chinese flora have been previously identified, including those in collections made by Wilson, Henry, Soulie, Ducloux and others. Balfour sends photographs of mounted specimens and requests approval for a proposed style of label.Plants referenced: Gentian; Primulaceae; Ranunculaceae.Letter has some minor scorch damage.

Postcard from A.K. Bulley, Ness, Neston, Cheshire, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 06 September 1905.Bulley writes a short to Balfour on a postcard approving the photographs and regretting that they are unlikely to get seeds of the Tsekou plants unless Forrest got them on his first trip there. Bulley requests that the label printed for Forrest's herbarium collections simply says ‘collected by George Forrest’, removing his own name from it.

Letter from Grace R. Forrest, 'Springbank', Lasswade, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 08 September 1905.Grace writes to Balfour to return Bulley's letters.

Letter from George Forrest, China Inland Mission, Talifu [Dali], to Isaac Bayley Balfour, 'Regius Keeper', Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 11 September 1905.Forrest writes to say that having recovered his strength he has decided to join Mr. Litton on a journey to the Salween-Irrawadi [Irrawaddy] Divide. He hopes to push as far north as 28 degrees, directly west of Tsekou - 'however there is no danger of our being disturbed by llamas [sic] as the valleys are wholly populated by Shans and Lissoos'. Forrest hopes to send many new things, but as the season is so far advanced, Forrest's mode of collecting seeds 'is bound to be what Mr. Bulley terms 'hocus pocus' i.e. gathering the seed without having seen the plant in flower wherever I go, so the best I can do is to get on to really new ground.'Letter has been scorched with a little loss.

Copy letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, to A.K. Bulley, Ness, Neston, Cheshire, dated 20 September 1905.Balfour promises to send copies of all the photographs relating to Forrest plants that RBGE produce. Balfour is finding it difficult to identify the rhododendrons sent by Forrest from descriptions only but hopes that Dr Henry [of the Paris Herbarium?] will be able to assist. ‘I have one twig from Forrest of a veritable “blue” Rhododendron. I hope you have seed of it.' Balfour states that he wishes Bulley would allow his name to appear on the herbarium labels as he is the sponsor of the collection. He reports receiving letters from Litton amplifying the news already received via telegram; they are with Forrest's family but Balfour will send them to Bulley when he can.Letter has been scorched with some loss, there is also some water damage.

Letter from Grace R. Forrest, 'Springbank', Lasswade, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 24 September 1905.Grace writes to Balfour returning letters that had been passed to her by Miss Traill. 'The news contained in the first one is terrible, and it is only the knowledge that he has escaped that enables us even now to read it without great heartbreak.'

Postcard from A.K. Bulley, Ness, Neston, Cheshire, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, The Regius Keeper, Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, dated 24 September 1905.Bulley writes to advise Balfour that he does not expect to receive any seeds of the plants from Tsekou this year, blue rhododendrons included.

Copy letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, to George Litton Esq., H.B.M. Consul, Teng Yueh [Tengchong], dated 25 September 1905.Balfour thanks Litton for his letters and his kindness to George Forrest. 'Truly his escape seems to have been miraculous and we are now anxiously looking forward to his letters giving us the story of his adventures'; ‘He is all you say of him and his collections are indeed marvellous for their perfection. What he has already done is great and gives promise of even greater things in the future - but what that will be we cannot judge until we hear what has really happened to him and what his present state is.’Letter has been scorched.

Copy letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, to George Forrest, c/o Messrs Cook & Son, Tourist Agency, Rangoon, Burmah [sic] [Yangon, Myanmar] dated 26 September 1905.Balfour writes sending the latest photographs of plants collected by Forrest and replies to his queries on species of clematis, thalictrum, delphinium, new aconites (nos. 270 and 280) and corydalis.Plants referenced: clematis; corydalis; thalictrum; delphinium; new aconitesForrest numbers referenced: F270, F280Last page of letter scorched with some loss and minor water damage.

Letter from George Forrest, The Consulate, Tengyueh, S.W. Yunnan, China, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, 'Regius Keeper', Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, Scotland, dated 01 October 1905.Forrest writes to Balfour to provide a very full account of events at Tsekou [Cigu] from 13 July and his subsequent flight with the two missionary fathers and many Christian Tibetans; [The content of this letter may be deemed especially distressing] Forrest describes delays and deception by the Besse [Headman] of Chamey; the despair of the missionaries and eventual decision by Forrest to strike off alone; the pursuit by lamas; arrival after eight days at a Lissoo village where he was fed tsampa cakes and tea, resulting in stomach problems; further hardships on journey to Yeh Chih but notes the magnificence of the flowers and his hope of returning to ‘the flower garden of the world’; kindness of the Besse of Yeh Chih; news of the brutal murder of Pere Bourdonnec and Pere Dubernard; the journey to Hsia Wei Hsi and of meeting up with Pere Monbeig; description of the Chinese clothing provided for him; eventual arrival in Talifu on 25 August.The full text of the letter is available at (right click, open link in new tab) https://stories.rbge.org.uk/archives/28455 .The letter has suffered fire damage, with some loss including text.

Sketch map in ink showing Forrest's escape route from Tsekou [Cigu] on the 19th July to ~4th August at Yeh Chih [Yezhi]. The map was drawn by Forrest, presumably some time after the event, but is stored alongside the letter of the 10th October 1905, to which it relates.

Sketch map in pencil showing Forrest's escape route from Tsekou [Cigu] on the 19th July to ~4th August at Yeh Chih [Yezhi]. The map was drawn by Forrest, presumably some time after the event, but is stored alongside the letter of the 10th October 1905, to which it relates. This may be an earlier version of the ink map (GB 235 FRG/1/1/1/1905/54).

Letter from Grace R. Forrest, 'Springbank', Lasswade, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 02 October 1905.Grace writes to express relief at confirmation of her brother’s safety but fears for his state of health.Letter has been scorched with some loss, but not of text.

Memorandum from A.K. Bulley on S. Marshall Bulley and Son Memorandum notepaper, to Isaac Bayley Balfour at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 02 October 1905, describing the communication of 17 August from Mr Embery, China Inland Mission, Talifu [Dali] [GB 235 FRG/1/1/1/1905/26]; that Forrest was expected there in four days and would be well cared for. ‘The 1st “nice” plant fr[om] F[orrest] has just been determined at Kew – Cyananthus incanus var. leiocalyx. Yellow fl[ower]s. In Robinson’s Eng[lish] Fl[ower] Garden C. incanus is described as having light blue fl[ower]s.’Plants referenced: Cyananthus incanus var leiocalyxThe memo is slightly charred.

Copy letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, to Messrs the Co-Operative Bees, Ltd., Ness, Neston, Cheshire, dated 03 October 1905.Balfour writes with identifications of five plants sent by George Forrest: M.18 – Malva verticillata, Linn; M.113 – Oxyria Digyna, Hill; F.B.20 Cyananthus; F.B.120 Datura stramonium, Linn; F.B.31 Lysimachia; Balfour believes the cyananthus deserves a special name but hopes to settle its identification during a visit to Paris in December.Plants referenced:- M.18 – Malva verticillata, Linn;- M.113 – Oxyria Digyna, Hill;- F.B.20 Cyananthus;- F.B.120 - Datura stramonium, Linn;- F.B.31 LysimachiaThe letter is slightly charred.

Copy letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, to Arthur Kilpin Bulley Esq., 8A Rumford Place, Liverpool, dated 04 October 1905.Balfour writes to acknowledge Bulley's previous letter and to discuss his identification of the Cyananthus sent by Forrest; Balfour's opinion is that revision of the nomenclature will ultimately be necessary.Plant referenced: CyananthusLetter is slightly charred.

Letter from J.W. Besant of The Co-Operative Bees Ltd. Nurseries, Ness, Neston, Cheshire, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 04 October 1905.Besant thanks Balfour for his reply to his enquiries about the Chinese plants and points out an error in description of the variety of Cyananthus. Besant gives the names he has received from Kew for the Cyananthus incanus leiocalyx (B.20), Oxyria digyna var. elatior (M.113), Lysimachia dubia (B.31) and Datura stramonium (B.120).Plants referenced: Cyananthus; Oxyria; Lysimachia; DaturaLetter has been scorched with some loss though not of text.

Letter from George Forrest, The Consulate, Tengyueh, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, 'Regius Keeper', Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 10 October 1905.Forrest writes to inform Balfour that he will leave the next day for a journey up the Salween-Irrawaddy divide and will be out of communication for 6-8 weeks. He has engaged a collector with whom he has left some specimens as they are not yet dry. Forrest encloses ‘the scraps of plants I secured during my flight from Tsekou' and thanks Balfour for his gift of photo plates, paper and material but regrets that the plates and paper have been spoiled owing to the fault of the packer, Mr McBean; 'They were most carelessly packed. Firstly they were packed in a box loosely with seams all open. Then the plates and paper were merely placed in open tobacco tins and to crown all, four pounds of ordinary salt was placed on top. The box was simply dripping inside when it reached me.'Forrest is sending seeds of meconopsis, corydalis and ?liquine; gives brief descriptions.Plants referenced: Corydalis; Liquine?; MeconopsisLetter has been damaged by fire with some loss of text; handle with care.

Letter from Arthur Kilpin Bulley, 8A Rumford Place, Liverpool, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 16 October 1905.Bulley writes to acknowledge receipt of Forrest’s Cyananthus photos and a brief letter from Forrest. ‘The first of his Gentians has just come into flower – not very showy – small purple fl[ower]s. It is 59 in the first consignment. You don’t appear to have any record of it under this number.’ Bulley invites Balfour to come and look over Forrest’s seedlings on his journey south.Plants referenced: Cyananthus; GentianLetter has been fire damaged with some loss of text; handle with care.

Letter from Grace R. Forrest, 'Springbank', Lasswade, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 18 October 1905.Grace writes to Balfour enclosing a letter she has received, presumably from her brother George Forrest who she states is in a weak state so may not have written to Balfour yet.Letter has been scorched with some loss, though not of text.

Receipt from Dulau and Co., Foreign and English Booksellers, 37 Soho Square, London, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 24 October 1905.Invoice for £12.6s for despatch of a seven volume set of Hooker’s Flora of British India that Balfour has ordered to be sent to George Forrest, c/o Thomas Cook & Sons, Rangoon, Burma.The invoice is slightly scorched with some loss, though not of text.

Report from Henry Hastings, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, Regius Keeper, dated 13 November 1905.Hastings, Balfour's Assistant, writes to provide a report from Mr. McBean regarding Forrest's charge of his careless packing of photographic material. McBean is adamant the material was packed carefully and that the box must have been opened by Customs Officials and that it must have been wholly immersed in water at some point. He admits with hindsight that a soldered tin-lined box would have been preferable and offers his apologies.The report has been charred with some loss, though not of text.

Letter from George Litton, Consulate, Tengyueh, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 13 December 1905.It should be noted that the catalogue descriptions, summaries and letters contain sensitive subjects and Litton’s language, spellings and attitudes which may be deemed offensive now.Litton writes to report that he and Forrest have just returned from exploration of the Upper Salween ‘a complete terra incognita; he is a bit done up with the somewhat severe fatigues of the journey and I have insisted on his taking a complete rest for some weeks…’ Owing to poor weather they had to keep mainly to lower levels, 4,000-5,000 feet but Forrest collected a good number of plants, though drying was almost impossible. ‘We found a most lovely mauve climbing gentian trailing over the hills in glorious clusters. Unluckily we were too early for seeds, but I have a wild man of those parts out to get them for me & Forrest…’ On Forrest’s wish to return to the Mekong divide and other plateaux at 10,000-13,000 feet near there, ‘In my opinion there is no reason why he should not try. The rebellion of the lamas has been most mercilessly drowned in blood by the Chinese and I do not think a single lama will show his shaven pate in those parts for some time to come. Ergo the country is likely to be more quiet now than it ever has been. But Chinese officials are obstructive and always like to keep foreigners out of a country if they can find any excuse to do so; while (between ourselves) many of H.M. officials are not very energetic about assisting travellers into the wilds. I would like to tell you that it would probably be of very great assistance to Forrest if you could write to the Foreign Office stating the interest which you as a man of science have in his work & asking that every support & assistance may be given to him by H.M. Consuls in carrying it out, now that you hear that the country has been pacified. But on no account mention my name in connection with what you say.’ Litton adds that he is trying to obtain some indemnity from the mandarins for Forrest’s losses and sufferings and that the French missionaries have returned to their missions on the Mekong.Plant referenced: GentianThe letter has been fire damaged with some loss, though not of text, and the pages are close to separating; handle with extreme care.

Letter from George Forrest, The Consulate, Tengyueh, Yunnan, S.W. China to Isaac Bayley Balfour, 'Regius Keeper', Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 30 December 1905.In the absence of Mr Litton on business connected with the proposed railway extension from Bhamo to Teng Yueh [Tengchong], Forrest has been left to entertain any passing travellers. These include Mr [Aleister] Crowley of the Alpine Club, his wife and child, and a Frenchman on his way north to buy musk and furs for a Paris firm. Forrest reports that he and Litton had reached latitude 27’ 15” and a quarter degrees covering new ground on their recent trip north along the Salween valley. Forrest has collected about 300 specimens, some of them new species. Of seeds he has only about 100 species and not those he wished most to secure meaning he thinks he will have to return to Tsekou [Cigu] next season ‘as I cannot bear the thought of anyone else, especially a Frenchman securing specimens and seeds of the plants I saw.’ He thanks Balfour for Hooker’s Flora and for numbers of the Linnaean Journal and for all his kindness. Forrest asks again for advice on drying and packing orchids as he now has a large number of pseudo bulbs of what he takes to be a new species and does not know how to deal with them.Plant referenced: OrchidLetter is very slightly charred.

Letter from George Forrest, The Consulate, Teng-yueh [Tengchong], S.W. China, to Professor Isaac Bayley Balfour M.D. 'Regius Keeper' Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, dated 06 February 1906.Forrest writes to say he is sending off 360 sheets of specimens and asks Balfour to name one of the new specimens after the late Mr Litton. The new consul, Mr Ottewill, has arrived from Ichang. Forrest will leave in a week for Tali en route for the north and will attempt to reach that part of the Mekong-Salwin divide west of Yeh-chi and then work north to the lat[itude] of Tsekou, to cover the old ground of his flight.Letter has been fire damaged with some loss of text.

Letter from George Forrest, The Consulate, Tengyueh [Tengchong], to Isaac Bayley Balfour, 'Regius Keeper', Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, dated 15 February 1906.Forrest writes to confirm despatch of 360 specimens and asks Balfour to open them at once to check on their condition.Letter badly fire damaged with some loss including text.

Letter from George Forrest, China Inland Mission, Talifu [Dali], to Isaac Bayley Balfour, 'Regius Keeper', Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, dated 20 March 1906.Forrest writes to enclose ‘a short account of our late journey up the Salwin; also 30 photos.’ Hopes consignments of plants arrive safely.Letter has been badly fire damaged with some loss, including to text.

Letter from George Forrest, China Inland Mission, Talifu [Dali], to Professor Isaac Bayley Balfour, 'Regius Keeper', Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, dated 27 March 1906.Forrest writes expressing worry at a lack of communication from Balfour and hopes he has not offended him. Forrest thanks Balfour for the camera and all his kindness and encloses more photographs. Asks if the plants which he sent before leaving Tsekou [Cigu], and those collected during his escape from the lamas, have arrived. Asks that additional items be sent via Lao Kai, Tonkin, as there is parcel post between Tonkin and China, but not between Burma and China. Forrest has not heard from Mr Bulley for nearly 4 months and needs to know if his seeds have been of value before risking his life again.Plants referenced: Meconopsis; RhododendronLetter has been badly fire damaged with some loss, including of text.

Letter from A. Cameron, The Co-operative Bees Ltd, Wapping Buildings, Cornhill, Liverpool, to Henry Hastings Esq., Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh, dated 09 April 1906.A. Cameron, the Manager at Bees Nursery, writes to regret that he is unable to supply so many of the items ordered as Bees Ltd. have been overwhelmed by the demands of collectors. He offers to establish a system of exchange with RBGE.Plants referenced: Meconopsis; PrimulaLetter has been fire damaged with some loss, including of text.

Letter from George Forrest, China Inland Mission, Talifu [Dali], to Professor Isaac Bayley Balfour, 'Regius Keeper', Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, dated 15 April 1906.Forrest writes to say he is about to go north to Lichiangfu [Lijiang] and the big bend of the Yangtze to scour the range there and work the peak up to the limit of the snow. If he can find species he saw on his way down from [Tse]kou [Cigu] in July-August he may spend the whole season there but more likely he will trek north to the [Chu]ng Tien plateau or around [Tse]kou. Means to run no risks but will do his best. Fears he has failed to satisfy Mr Bulley. Notes that Balfour has named a species of corydalis with yellow flowers after him.Plants referenced: Corydalis; RubusLetter badly fire damaged with some loss including of text.

Letter from George Forrest, China Inland Mission, Talifu [Dali], to Professor Isaac Bayley Balfour, 'Regius Keeper', Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, dated 17 April 1906.Forrest writes to request the identification of two species of rhododendron described in detail. He has engaged two indigenous collectors to work the Tsan Shan [Cang Shan] range west of Talifu during his absence in the north. He hopes they will obtain 2,000 species.Plants referenced: Orchid; RhododendronLetter has been fire damaged with some loss, including of text.

Letter from George Forrest, Lichiang fu [Lijiang], to Professor Isaac Bayley Balfour M.D., 'Regius Keeper', Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, dated 08 May 1906.Forrest writes enclosing a photograph of an orchid growing at 8-9,000 feet in the Tsan Shan [Cang Shan] range. He fears the north is closed to him for this year. Mandarin Li, prefect of Lichiangfu, who was in charge of operations in the Mekong valley has been ‘degraded’, his crime being pro-Europeanism and being too active in the execution of participants in the rebellion. Li has been recalled to Yunnanfu [Kunming] to answer charges and may lose his head. Since his withdrawal, Mekong valley has returned to its old state of chaos and reports of the quelling of disturbances in the north are false. The murderers of Pere Dubernard and Pere Bourdonnec remain unpunished, although in Chinese custody. ‘It is just the old story over again, the officials are at their usual game of “janging” and “squeezing” and, where a prisoner can pay for his life, no matter what his crime has been, he escapes.’ Forrest has received details of the deaths of Dubernard and Bourdonnec, too gruesome to relate. Missionaries have put in a claim for indemnity for their losses but it has not yet been paid. Forrest’s own claim has been partly paid, once he reduced the claim to avoid months of haggling. He deems it too risky to return to the Mekong-Salwin divide and has decided to spend the whole season in the [Yangtze] bend. He intends to travel south to Talifu [Dali] in October or November and spend two months arranging his collection before returning home in January or February 1907. Forrest asks if there is such a species as Primula Gibsoni and requests a description of Primula Wilsoni.Plants referenced: Jasmine; Orchid; PrimulaLetter badly fire damaged with some loss, including of text.

List of packages received from George Forrest, compiled from Packages Book by Henry Hastings:1905 February 13; Basket; Botanical Specimens1905 April 22; Package; Specimens1905 August 01; Case; Specimens1906 June 06; Package; Herbarium SpecimensList has been fire damaged with some loss, including of text.

Receipt letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour, Regius Keeper, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to the Co-operative Bees Ltd, Ness, Neston, dated 29 June 1906.Standard letter giving identification of seven plant specimens:No. 1, Spiraea UlmariaNo. 2, Asphodelus fistulosusNo. 3, Polygonum molleNo. 4, Spiraea HumboldtiiNo. 5, Lindelofia spectabilisNo. 6, Veronica TeucriumNo. 7, Potentilla chrysanthaPlants referenced: Asphodelus; Lindelofia; Polygonum; Potentilla; Spiraea; VeronicaLetter has been fire damaged with some loss.

Letter from A. Cameron, Bees Ltd, Wapping Buildings, Cornhill, Liverpool, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, The Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh, dated 03 August 1906.A Cameron, the Manager at Bees Ltd, [he's now scoring out 'The Co-operative' on the letterhead] writes to request Balfour's opinion on plants raised from seed supplied by George Forrest and sent to RBGE on 28 June 1906.Letter has been fire damaged with some loss.

Copy letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour, Edinburgh, to A.K. Bulley, Ness, dated 20 August 1906.Balfour writes to explain his reasons for rejecting a proposal by The Co-operative Bees Ltd. for a system of plant exchange. Balfour prefers that the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh be treated as a purchasing customer. He will send Meconopsis bella and Primula reidii once the former has flowered.Plants referenced: Meconopsis; PrimulaLetter fire damaged and paper is very brittle; handle with care.

Letter from A.K. Bulley, Ness, Neston, Cheshire, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 21 August 1906.Bulley writes to agree to Balfour’s request [to treat Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh as a customer rather than exchange partner] 'All right, good friend. It shall be as you wish'. Bulley expects George Forrest to return at beginning of the new year and to marry Miss Traill 'regardless of mother-in-law's tin cap views'. As to Forrest’s prospects: ‘I certainly shan't let F. sink into the ranks of the out of works, though it wont be too easy to find a job for him.’Letter has been fire damaged with some loss.

Letter from George Forrest, China Inland Misison, Talifu [Dali], to Professor Isaac Bayley Balfour M.D., 'Regius Keeper', Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, dated 01 September 1906.Forrest writes to thank Balfour for applying to the F:O [Foreign Office] for protection and travel facilities for him. Consuls Ottewill and Wilkinson and other officials have already offered help. Forrest has suffered a period of ill health culminating in high fever and loss of consciousness. He is now recovering and hopes to return to the Lichiang [Lijiang] range [Yulong Xue Shan] where his three best collectors have continued work in his absence. Hopes to bring home with him about 3,000 species, mostly plants from an altitude of 9-15,000 feet.Letter has been fire damaged with some loss, including of text; handle with care.

Receipt letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour, Regius Keeper, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh to Bees Ltd, dated 05 September 1906.Standard letter giving identification of seven specimen plants and 5 plants grown from seeds sent by Forrest from China:No. 1, Spiraea UlmariaNo. 2, Asphodelus fistulosusNo. 3, Polygonum molleNo. 4, Spiraea HumboldtiiNo. 5, Lindelofia spectabilisNo. 6, Veronica TeucriumNo. 7, Potentilla chrysanthaThe plants sent from seeds sent from China by Mr. Forrest are:1. Adenophora polymorpha2. Potentilla n.sp. near gelida3. Adenophora n.sp.4. Sedum asiaticum var.5. Silene apetalaPlants referenced: Adenophora; Asphodelus; Lindelofia; Polygonum; Potentilla; Sedum; Silene; Spiraea; Veronica

Letter from George Forrest, China Inland Mission, Talifu [Dali], to Professor Isaac Bayley Balfour M.D., 'Regius Keeper', Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, dated 25 September 1906.Forrest writes enclosing three prints of a species of primula discovered on the Lichiang [Lijiang] range [Yulong Xue Shan], with detailed description of the plant. Photograph IV is of a plant which he cannot place, and V is of a species of cypripedium. Gives detailed descriptions of both. Forrest also encloses some small specimens of primula, saxifrage and delphinium. This season he has secured from 20-30 species of both saxifrage and primula. ‘I could write much on the flowers I have seen and collected this season but I am so weak through my prolonged illness, that I have neither the heart nor the strength to do so. Besides it is such a long time since I received a letter from you, 10 months, that I am led to infer you have lost all interest in my wanderings and collecting, therefore you will pardon me if I make this my last communication before my departure for home.’Plants referenced: Cypripedium; Delphinium; Pine; Primula; SaxifragePhotographs referenced: I. Group of primula –Lichiang range; II. Flowering head of primula; III. Mass of primula plants in situ; IV. Unidentified plant; V. Cypripedium?Letter has been badly fire damaged with some loss, including of text; as it is a large folded letter, there is a photocopy in the binder alongside which should be used to enable reading the text inside.

Copy letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour, Edinburgh, to A.K. Bulley, Ness, dated 19 November 1906.Balfour writes to thank Bulley for his testimony in favour of Mr Besant [of Bees Ltd, see letter to Balfour dated 2nd October 1904, Forrest file. GB235 FRG/1/1/1/1904/9. L.P.]. Balfour will keep this in mind when filling vacant post. He is finding it difficult to work out Forrest’s plants because so many are new and for described plants from the region it is difficult to get at the type specimens. Balfour undertakes to employ Forrest on his return until he finds something better. ‘He is about the best collector I know of. His specimens are splendid and his notes excellent.’Plants referenced: Adenophora; Crawfurdia; Gentian; PotentillaLetter is fire damaged with some loss.