This box comprises mainly correspondence to and from Reginald Farrer and Sir Isaac Bayley Balfour, Regius Keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (1888-1922) but there is also correspondence to/from Sir/Colonel David Prain, Arthur W. Hill, W.R. Dykes, George Redman of the Craven Nursery, and Edward Arnold.
Sin títuloFarrer Correspondence (82 letters in 2 folders) relating to Farrer and Purdom's expedition to Kansu [Gansu] province in north China between 1914 and 1915.
folder 1, letters 1-40 includes correspondence to and from Reginald Farrer, Isaac Bayley Balfour, David Prain, Arthur W. Hill, W.R. Dykes (regarding Farrer's irises from China) and George Redman of Farrer's Craven nursery.
folder 2, letters 41-82 includes correspondence to and from Reginald Farrer, Isaac Bayley Balfour, George Redman, and Edward Arnold, publisher, regarding problems with an appendix to one of Farrer's books.
Photograph Album donated to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in 1984 by Miss Gwen Hall, Cumbria. It was bequeathed to her in 1976 by Elsie Purdom, William's sister. There should have been 2 albums but only one was transferred. [It looks as if the other one went to the Lakeland Horticultural Society, and is now at RBGE on permanent loan - RJF/3/1]
Sin títuloFlowery expressions of Celia's loveliness & friendship.
Sin títuloDescription of his time in mountains of Thibet, present of umbrella and food for Chief Mandarin's birthday, go to Badman's land, disguised as coolies at night to collect seed, hide in woods by day and creep back into China. ‘A grey day & a grey heart can only be lightened with the roseate vision of Celia.’
Sin títuloDescribes being happy living between a bamboo shack and a tent in the mountains. Returns to a hundred letters from Celia, his Mamma & others giving him a panoramic view of his life & people back home. Expresses disappointment that Celia & Cynthia not joining him but accepts he is coming straight home in January. Reads her letters little by little when falling asleep.
Sin títuloTelegram 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.'
Sin títuloLetter 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 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.'
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: Cyananthus
Letter is slightly charred.