Letter 3217

Richardson did not write to Sloane after his visit to Scotland because of the poor weather. He observed birds and plants throughout his journey. Richardson was going to plant the specimens he studied in his garden, but Mr Wood, Mr Preston’s successor at the Edinburgh Physic Garden, could not get them together before he had to depart. He lists the plants he requested and describes his experiences in Edinburgh. He sent ‘a pott of Woodcocks’ to Sloane by Sam. Haggers. Richardson was a physician and botanist who traveled widely in England, Wales, and Scotland in search of rare specimens. He corresponded and exchanged plants with many well-known botanists and naturalists (W. P. Courtney, Richardson, Richard (16631741), rev. Peter Davis, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, May 2010 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/23576, accessed 31 May 2011]).