Letter from Theodor Hartweg to the secretary of Horticultural Society [George Bentham], 21 Regent Street, London

Information

Title: Letter from Theodor Hartweg to the secretary of Horticultural Society [George Bentham], 21 Regent Street, London

Scope & content: Written from Aguas Calientes [Aguascalientes, Mexico]

Postmarked [illegible]. The letter includes an impression of an opened seal. Annotated on the reverse: 'Tampico [Mexico] 7th September 1837. Forwarded by HM pkt [packet] Goldfinch by your mo ob servts [most obedient servants] McCalmont & Lyall & Co [merchants in Mexico]'

Letter No 9

He has had his most successful month so far, and his collections of seeds and specimens are growing; the most beautiful plants he has collected include Penstemon, Oenothera, Castilleia [Castilleja], Sisyrinchium and Bartonia; of the latter he sent some seeds in Box HS3 under the name 'pegajosa', collected at Guanaxuato [Guanajuato, Mexico], but as it was not in flower he failed to identify it; he now has 3,200 specimens, which he will forward to Zacatecas [Mexico] where he will 'make them up in sets'; he is planning to go from here to Bolanos [Mexico] and then to Zacatecas

Hartweg's accounts for 17 Jul-16 Aug 1837 comprise 'monthly allowance' $50, 'wages of the mozo [servant]' $16, 'horse keeping' $19.3 and 'shoeing of horses' $1.7, and $100 received in cash from Fred. Staines [Frederick Staines, merchant and botanist in Mexico]