274
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
the letters bearing later dates in the Society's collection which,
although written and signed by T. F. Forster, yet show marked
deterioration in calligraphy from his more youthful script.
One of the six extra plants given above, Mentha gentilis,
is recorded as having been found "by the side of a mill stream
in Mr. Thomas Williams's grounds, the Grove at Westham."
Now Thomas Williams was father of the lady (Susanna Williams),
whom T. F. Forster married in 1788, and one is tempted to sur-
mise that the latter's no doubt frequent visits to Stratford inst
before that interesting time approximately date the finding
of this Mint as being only very shortly before the actual publica-
tion of the "Additions" in 1784.
We may note also that G. S. Gibson, in his "Flora of Essex,"
1862, credits Thomas Furly Forster with being the first recorded
discoverer of Ranunculus parviflorus, Corydalis claviculata, Sedum
album (with a note of interrogation), Ophrys apifera and Cystop-
teris alpina, all in 1778. In recording Cystopteris alpina he says :
"A MS. note, apparently written by T. F. Forster, about 1778,
in the Plantae Woodfordienses, is the earliest known notice of
it." This statement suggests that Gibson must have seen, or
actually had in his possession, the annotated copy of Warner's
book now under discussion.
I suggest that Gibson came into possession of this, T. F.
Forster's own annotated copy of the "Plantae," probably by gift
or purchase from Pamplin, and that he made use of it in con-
nection with the preparation of his "Flora of Essex" ; hence
his knowledge of the earliest local records of the several plants
mentioned and of the date of such records.
Since the above was written, confirmation of the suggestion
made has unexpectedly come to hand. In a MS. biography
of Richard Warner, written by the late Professor G. S. Boulger,
and presented to the Club by his executor, reference is made
to a copy of the Plantae "that apparently belonged originally
to Thomas Furly Forster and subsequently to Mr. Pamplin and to
the late G. S. Gibson, Esq., author of the 'Flora of Essex.' "
There can be little doubt that the copy mentioned by Prof.
Boulger is identifiable with the volume now being described.
Each interleaved blank page which happens to bear an annota-
tion has had the top corner carefully turned down to mark it ;