| Collection | GB 0231 University of Aberdeen, Special Collections |
| Level | Item |
| Ref No | MS 38/82 |
| Alt Ref No | 96 |
| Title | Papers of David Skene: correspondence: Letter from John Ellis, Gray's Inn, London, to David Skene |
| Date | 22 October 1765 |
| Extent | 1 item |
| Creator Name | John Ellis (c.1710-1776), zoologist |
| Description | Letter from John Ellis, Gray's Inn, London, to David Skene in which he asks for good specimen of baderlocks and pepper dulse; he refers to controversy between Linnaeus and Baster over corallines and discusses the differences between corallines and confervas; he describes method of examining corallines in vinegar; has been confined to his chambers with a kind of scurvy or 'unfixed gout' and is attended by Dr Fothergill; he describes the collection of Fothergill; he remarks that he would like to know if anyone is writing 'the Natural History of Scotland' and expresses his surprise that Lord Bute is not encouraging it despite his attachment to Dr Hill; he comments adversely on Dr. Hill's system; he suggests that Skene find some 'agreeable person' to aid him in his natural history researches while he is too busy to continue them himself; he asks Skene to preserve any of the mollusca family of Linnaeus that are not well described and send them to him; he could not attend his sea expedition this year due to ill health; he has been finishing the conservatory of the Earl of Northington and recommends it to 'any noblemen of taste' as it is superior to common greenhouses, 22 October 1765. |
| Access Status | Open |
| Access Conditions | The records are available subject to the signed acceptance of the Department's access conditions. |