A full and frank exchange with Mr Prince

December 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th, 1823 – Finished packing and everything on board on the 5th

I went to Flushing [to Prince’s Nursery]: our words were not of the most amicable tenor, and I am sorry to say that I leave America without having good feeling towards every person; and the conduct towards the Society of Mr Prince is by no means laudable and towards myself most infamous.
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This is DD’s famous row with Mr Prince. He doesn’t go into details and it’s impossible to speculate with any certainty. But I suspect that Prince has promised certain items to Douglas and failed to deliver, or attempted a price rip-off beyond his original quote. He may also be threatening to blacken Douglas' name with the Society. Whatever, it would have been lovely to have been a fly on the wall.
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Mr Kennedy has through the whole of my stay here been very kind, and I have experienced every facility in his power. I need not say anything of Mr Hogg (his ability and willingness are well known to the Society), Mr Floy and Mr Wilson, and in fact every person except Prince: this gentleman is now such as becomes the Society to withhold the correspondence.

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This, about Prince, is strong stuff from Douglas, still only 24, remember.   Prince is an important corresponding member of the Society, and a valuable source of American plants for British members, and Douglas is recommending that the Society withdraw that Corresponding Member status.  Hmm, steady on, David.  Proceed with care.

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The feelings of Dr Hosack are already known. I cannot but say, at all times and in all cases, I found his very philanthropic mind unchanged, and his advice as to my own comfort. My feelings will never, I hope, in an instance speak but with gratefulness of Governor Clinton. I can say nothing more than that Dr Hosack is a Clinton, and Clinton a Hosack.

This is an interesting excerpt from Douglas' Journal. He is writing in full knowledge that it will be read by his employers, so is at pains to thank, in this public form, those who have been so helpful to him. Quite right too. But he also loses no opportunity to twist the knife with regard to Mr Prince. Is he getting his retaliation in first, I wonder? Prince is a corresponding member of the Society and, if he is feeling aggrieved at the outcome of his dealings with Douglas, may be inclined to cast aspersions on the character and abilities of the Society's man. Indeed, Lindsay and House tell us that "...Prince was displeased at this snub [DD buying plants elsewhere because Prince's were expensive and weren't up to Douglas' standards].  Not only did he complain to the Society in London, he also did his best to blacken Douglas' name in and around New York."

Let's not forget that this is Douglas' first expedition and, despite Hooker's recommendation and all his Scottish experience, he is still relatively untested as a plant collector in the Society's eyes. He may be feeling a tad vulnerable, hence "telling it as it was" with regard to Prince.

Packing up

12th [November, 1823] – Received a letter dated 5th October from Joseph Sabine Esq., [Secretary of the Horticultural Society] accompanied by additional lists; without delay wrote to Messrs Landreth and Smith; called on Mr Floy; Mr Hogg then went to Flushing [site of Mr Prince’s nursery] and returned in the evening. I must observe that Mr Prince Jun., did not receive us with kindness but the reverse. If I can but obtain all the plants for the Society, I shall leave him for some other person.

Thursday, November 13th, 1823 – Wrote to Mr Dick at Philadelphia a letter of thanks. Packed Mr Floy’s box and took up plants and packed Mr Wilson’s.
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Douglas is now really in the groove of packing all his material up for the voyage back to Britain. But he really does not hit it off with Mr Prince; there'll be another bust up before he leaves New York!

Planning a trip to New Jersey & Philadelphia

Saturday, October 25th, 1823 – Wrote to W Coxe, Esq., and to Mr Dick, Philadelphia. Putting to rights specimens and seeds in the forenoon. At Mr Floy’s raking up plants &c till midday when I went to Flatbush on Long Island and returned late at night.

Sunday 26th October 1823 – The fore part of the day I rectified some of the lists preparatory to going to Philadelphia. Today was cold and had much the appearance of winter. Mr Clinton was to dine at Dr Hosack’s; I was invited after dinner. I walked out to Mr Hogg’s and got to town after projecting a trip to Jersey in the morning.

Horticultural Society of New York

Friday, October 24th 1823 – Today was devoted with Mr Floy, who has all along manifested an unremitting desire to be useful to the [Horticultural] Society [of London, DD’s employers]. In the evening I attended a meeting of the Horticultural Society of New York. I cannot refrain from mentioning the great exertions which most of the efficient members have made in communicating anything worthy of notice. 

A great many prominent inhabitants of New York have become members: De Witt Clinton, Dr Hosack, General Lewis, the Mayor of the city &c. Being the first effort to establish a Society in America they labour under many great disadvantages in having no other establishments to co-operate with them in their laudable exertion. The President, Martin Hoffman, Esq., is a very worthy respectable gentleman.  His knowledge of gardening is but limited, but he takes a very spirited interest in promoting the science.

Mr Hogg, F M Floy and Mr Wilson are the chief of its practical members. Presented for their inspection some fine beet of very superior quality, indeed as fine as I ever saw; carrots, very fine; broccoli, very good, some fine specimens of Spanish tobacco; the gentleman kindly offered the Society some seeds before sailing.

I was much pleased with the form of the proceedings. Some bunches of European grapes were presented; they were considered good for America, but in my opinion were very inferior to what are to be seen in England.

Here we have Douglas, again, schmoozing the great and good of New York society and building relationships between the Hort Soc of New York and his employer, the Horticultural Society back in London. This small extract from Mark Laird's essay in Flora Illustrata gives a feel for the make-up and activities of the Hort Soc of New York. Reference is: Early American Horticultural Traditions: Gardening with Plants from the New World, Mark Laird, pp 179-207, Flora Illustrata, New York Botanical Garden. And of course any extra time he has in the USA is all good for additional collecting activities.