Dear Sir

I will answer your queries & explain the Divisions of the Hypnum ^<1> as well as I am able, tho’ I hardly know how to express D^r Smiths ^<2> meaning better than by the terms which he has used – The first comprises those Species which have the Capsules erect & the Shoots rounded like packthread – cylindrical would not be a proper word because the shoots generally become gradually narrower towards their apices, & conical would therefore perhaps answer better, but I believe rounded is the English word used to express teres. In the next section the Leaves are pinnated, & issue only from the two opposite sides of the shoots instead of tiling them all over – The shoots therefore instead of being shaped like packthread are flat like a piece of tape. The direction of the Leaves in the 3^rd section is similar & the Species differ only in having the Capsules nodding instead of erect. In the 4^th section the Leaves are not two ranked as in the preceeding [sic] ones, but issue indiscriminately from every side, tho’ from their being more expanded laterally than in the other directions the shoot has a flattened form – The 5^th Section differs principally from the 1^st in having the Capsules drooping – In the 6^th Division the Leaves issue from the four opposite sides of the stem, & in the 7^th the distinguishing character consists in their being rolled backwards – Hypnum triquetrum & H. cupressiforme are two extremely common species, & will afford you good samples of the 6^th & 7^th Sections. You are correct in supposing that Funaria muhlenbergsii was discovered since the Flora Brittanica ^<3> came out. – Every time that I have seen D^r Smith during the last ten years he has assured me that the 4^th Vol would be ready in the course of twelve Months, so that I now begin to doubt whether it will ever appear at all – I expect the Talbots will be here next week. I much wish you could have been of the party.

I remain Yrs sincerely
L W Dillwyn

Willows^<4>
Dec. 21. 1814

W. H. F. Talbot Esq
^at The Marquis of Lansdownes ^<5>
Bowood
Calne
Wilts.
Dec. 21. 1814. ^<6>

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Notes:

1. See Doc. No: 00629.

2. Sir James Edward Smith (1759–1828), botanist.

3. Smith, Flora Britannica (London: J. Taylor, J. Davis, and J. White, 1800–1804).

4. Dillwyn's Swansea town house.

5. Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3^rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780–1863), MP, WHFT’s uncle.

6. Written in another hand at the back of address panel.