BRADBURY, John (1768-1825). Botanist and explorer of America.
Highly important Autograph Letter Signed to (Sir) James E. Smith (1759-1828, founder of the Linnean Society), 3 pages 4to with address (name only), St Louis, 22 August 1811. Giving a detailed account of his activites during his celebrated travels into the American interior, his relations with Indians, sending botanical specimens, announcing a future excursion with the Indians etc. etc.
Letters of Bradbury are extremely rare. We have been unable to locate another example in any collection. Smith endorses the letter as having been answered on 14 December [1811], i.e. almost four months after it was written, which suggests that it travelled a considerable distance. There is no address, only Smith's name ('James E. Smith Esqr F.L.S.'), which would point to the letter having been enclosed in a packet, probably of the botanical specimens discussed throughout the letter. A few clarifications in the text are written in another hand, probably Smith's.
Bradbury starts by explaining that on his return 'from the Missouri a few Days ago' he had found that he was no longer under an exclusive contract to the 'Committee of the Liverpool Garden' and felt free to communicate with a wider audience. He discusses specimens he had sent to Smith and to [Thomas] Roscoe after his return from the Mahas Nation, and expresses regret that he may have made misattributions, perhaps as a result of having only one work of reference. He also owns up to a mistake of identification in the case a species of Cheek Pouched Rat on the upper Missouri.

'... I did not ascent the Missouri to the distance I expected being governed by the dispositions of others, but so far as I went I found the Country to increase in interest at the Gros Ventre Villages 1650 miles from hence the farthest point of my route. I collected more than at any other place [there follow some details of specimens he is sending]. From the report of the Hunters who are very intelligent in their own way the country about the head of the Missouri & in particular the Rocky Mountains is vastly more interesting. ...'

Bradbury gives an account of the herbs used to cure venereal disease, which 'is extremely prevalent amongst these Indians'. He gives an account of the diet of the upper and lower Indians, in particular the root vegetables for which they foraged, gives an account of further plants, animals and birds.

'... It is much my wish to collect the materials for the natural History of this country, an extent of which larger than China remains as yet unexplored: as I am now known to the Indians, am seasoned to the woods and purpose to reside for some years here or on the Arkansas River I shall have a good opportunity. I shall trust the arrangements of those materials to some abler hand in the choice of which my own country shall have the preference. I have made arrangements with the Osage Indians to accompany them next spring in their annual excursion for Salt betwixt the Arkansas & Red River should I be able ...'

Bradbury's account of his explorations and adventures Travels in the Interior of America, in the Years 1809, 1810 & 1811 ... was published at the author's own expense in Liverpool in 1817. It sold badly and brought Bradbury to near penury, from which he eventually escaped to become superintendent of the botanical gardens of St Louis. First editions of the work are now very rare and valuable.

£750 [No: 23352]