| Description | Undated letter to Davies Giddy of Tredrea near Penzance, Cornwall and postmarked Birmingham where Withering was living.
This letter was written while he was revising the text of his Botany for a third edition which was published in 1796 and has therefore been dated to the previous year. Withering refers in detail to others from whom he has asked or is intending to ask for help, namely Mr Thompson, Mr Fox the apothecary at Falmouth and Mr Stackhouse. He is asking for Giddy's help in obtaining specimens of specified plants, and answers to certain queries about them.
He also writes about his health and about his lack of interest in public affairs.
Davies Giddy (who subsequently took his wife's name, Gilbert, in 1817) was a noted antiquarian who was to become President of the Royal Society in 1817. |