Introduces [George Wilson] Meadley [(1774-1818)] of Bishop's Wearmouth, [Sunderland], friend of Thomas [Furly] Forster and author of a life of Algernon Sidney, and a life of Paley. Congratulates Turner on birth of another son.
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The Linnean Society of London Collection
The scientific and personal correspondence of James Edward Smith (1759-1828), purchaser of the collections of Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) and founder of the Linnean Society of London in 1788, was presented to the Linnean Society between 1857 and 1872 by his widow Pleasance Smith (1773-1877). Since then, it has been complemented by additional series. The collection was catalogued, conserved, and digitised from 2010 to 2013, thanks to the generous support of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Letters can be searched through Ɛpsilon, with links to images and summaries available on the Linnean Society’s Online Collections (http://linnean-online.org/smith_correspondence.html).
Introduces [George Wilson] Meadley [(1774-1818)] of Bishop's Wearmouth, [Sunderland], friend of Thomas [Furly] Forster and author of a life of Algernon Sidney, and a life of Paley. Congratulates Turner on birth of another son.
Received kind letters from Norwich [on death of his brother, Francis], and [Thomas William] Coke has arranged for him to spend a week in Liverpool with Fanny [Smith's sister], to then meet Coke at Lord Derby's, Allerton [Hall, home of William Roscoe], and returning to Shugborough [home of Thomas Anson, 1st Viscount Anson (1767-1818)] to meet the Duke of Gloucester [Prince William (1776-1834), chancellor of Cambridge University]. Arrangements for his return to Norwich and their visit to [Dawson] Turner. Account of his brother's funeral.
Account of his time here: visited Mr Tollit, whose wife is a great botanist; the Duke of Bedford [John Russell, 6th Duke] requested to become a FLS; the guests. [Francis] Buchanan[-Hamilton] returned from the East Indies and is to live in Scotland; they hope to meet occasionally in London.
[First two folios letter of 7 September from Holkham]: Thanks Robert [Pleasance's brother] and all concerned for the ring. Encloses copy of what [William] Roscoe has written in his "Leo"; the manuscripts "admirably restored & bound" and to fill a room next to present library and dedicated to Roscoe, with a specially commissioned portrait of him the only picture. Account of his journey to Holkham [home of Thomas William Coke] and its guests, including Dr [Martin] Davy, and Coke's heir, Sidney.
He and Coke leaving tomorrow for the Marquis of Tavistock's [Francis Russell, 7th Duke of Bedford (1788-1861)], Lord Bradford's [Orlando Bridgeman, 1st Earl of Bradford (1762-1825)], Wynnstay [estate of the Wynns, Denbighshire] for the Agricultural Meeting of 13 September, Hafod, [Cardiganshire, home of Thomas Johnes], Shrugborough [home of Thomas Anson, 1st Viscount Anson (1767-1818)], and Liverpool.
[Next two folios continuation of 9 September from Oakley]: Account of their journey from Holkham; [Charles] Abbot here, opinion of Lord and Lady Tavistock. Account of Sidney's illness.
Spent an agreeable day at Oakley, [near Bedford, home of Lord Tavistock, Francis Russell, 7th Duke of Bedford (1788-1861)] with Lady Tavistock and [Charles] Abbot, whilst the rest of the party were farming. Account of their journey from Oakley to Weston, [home of Orlando Bridgeman, 1st Earl of Bradford (1762-1825)], via Woburn [Abbey, home of John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford], Ampthill, Northampton, Coventry, and Birmingham. Account of dinners at Weston. [Thomas William] Coke's indisposition. Kindness of the Duke of Bedford and Lord Tavistock, who spoke well of his Cambridge concerns; considers their acquaintance a "great acquisition". Impossibility of getting to Hafod [home of Thomas Johnes], Lord Grey's, or Rose Castle [home of Samuel Goodenough]. Their future movements. Indebted to Coke. Expects Sir Watkin's agricultural meeting to be "much fun", will also visit Llangollen and other celebrated scenes; badness of the roads for reaching Hafod.
Shock at "miserable news" of death of "poor dear Francis" [Smith's brother], received in letter from Mr Martineau. Kindness of [Thomas William] Coke in delivering the letter, comforting him, cancelling their planned excursion to Wynnestay, [Denbighshire, for an agricultural meeting], and coming straight here [home of Thomas Anson, 1st Viscount Anson (1767-1818)]. Resolved to see Fanny [Smith's sister] in Liverpool; his grief.
He has written to his mother and sister-in-law Francis [following death of Smith's brother, Francis]; anxious to hear news from Norwich. Describes the party and scenes at Shugborough [home of Thomas Anson, 1st Viscount Anson (1767-1818)]; George Blackwell is his constant companion. His grief. Intends to go to Liverpool to see [William] Roscoe and Fanny [Smith's sister].
[Letter incomplete: lower half of second folio cropped, presumed destroyed]
Irregular post. Their future movements, including trips to Liverpool to visit [William] Roscoe and return to Shugborough [home of Thomas Anson, 1st Viscount Anson (1767-1818)] to meet the Duke of Gloucester [Prince William (1776-1834), chancellor of Cambridge University]. Grief [at death of his brother, Francis], hopes to console himself with Fanny [Smith's sister]. Charms of Shugborough and its inhabitants.
[Letter incomplete: final lines of second folio cropped, presumed destroyed]
Sends paper from [Erik] Acharius to be read at Linnean Society in due course. "Grieves [...] deeply" to hear that "it is all over" with his "old & valued friend", [Thomas] Marsham; but takes consolation that "the warning afforded by losing elderly friends is rather soothing than dreadful", in comparison to sudden sorrow of losing younger friends.
He is setting of on a 6 week tour tomorrow with [Thomas William] Coke, one of his "best-loved friends", to Staffordshire, Wales, Lancashire, Cumberland, and Northumberland; looking forward to seeing [William] Roscoe, [Thomas] Johnes, and Bishop of Carlisle [Samuel Goodenough].
Sorry to hear that Marsham has disappointed [James] Sowerby as to money, fears "all is not right".