Accepts Smith's invitation to Norwich, [Norfolk], and will be happy to also see [William] Roscoe, depending on the date. They have lost a "much valued friend" in death of [Thomas] Woodward.
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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).
Accepts Smith's invitation to Norwich, [Norfolk], and will be happy to also see [William] Roscoe, depending on the date. They have lost a "much valued friend" in death of [Thomas] Woodward.
Regrets that he will no longer be able to visit Smith whilst [William] Roscoe is also visiting, and proposes next month instead.
His family "harrassed" by sickness. Regretted missing [William] Roscoe whilst he was in Norwich, and was unaware until Smith's letter of Roscoe's botany interests. Thinks that Dawson Turner would be "highly gratified" to examine Smith's two chests of "botanical treasures" from the East Indies. Looks forward to hope of visiting Smith in Norwich.
List of manuscripts and letters to be translated by Gurney.
Sends her translations of [Anders] Sparrman's [(1748-1820)] letters, which are written in a "very puzzling hand". Plans to visit Smith soon, and hopes she will be able to finish "little book" of Linnaeus' lent by Smith.
Sends translation of [Peter Hinrich] Tesdorpf's [(1712-1778), German merchant] letter [to Linnaeus]. Asks if Smith cares about Linnaeus' "little book" being translated before she goes to Northrepps, [Norfolk], on Wednesday.
Apologises for delay in replying to Lady Smith's note, which she had hoped to do at same time as returning [Carl Peter] Thunberg's letters to Sir James [Edward Smith], but they are taking longer than anticipated. Will call at Surrey Street soon.
Sending rough translations of [Clas] Alströmer's [(1736-1794), Swedish industrialist] letters [to Linnaeus]. Returning home soon, hopes to call on Lady [Pleasance] Smith then.
Sends her translations of Count [Carl Gustaf] Tessin's [(1695-1770), Swedish politician] letters; surprised Linnaeus maintained a corresondence with him, little in the letters. After assessing the remaining letters in her possession intends to translate Linnaeus' "little book". She has had to postpone her visit to Lady [Pleasance] Smith on account of bad colds.
Her cousin has given her an explanation of Swedish coins so can now insert the correct information into translations of [Daniel] Solander's letters. Sends translations of [Daniel] Scheidenburg's [(b 1720), Swedish clergyman] letters. She will return all the letters she is not taking with her, for safekeeping. Considers herself engaged to come to Smith's house to work on translation of Linnaeus' "little book".
Reassures Smith her maid is capable of carrying his parcel from Surrey Street to Keswick, [near Norwich], and she will then be able to get to work on the letters. They have been in London, including visit to Samuel Hoare's at Hampstead, where she met Mr [John] Bowring [(1792-1872), politician], who is just returned from Spain.
Returns papers, including: manuscript of [Pehr] Löfling's [(1729-1756), Swedish botanist] with note by [Daniel] Scheidenburg [(b 1720), Swedish clergyman]. Encloses list of her arrangement of [Carl Peter] Thunberg's letters; he has a "cramped & puzzling" hand
Returns letters, which "scarcely contained anything of interest enough for a regular translation".
Returns correspondence between [Lorenz] Spengler [(1720-1807), naturalist] and Linnaeus, along with other letters, including fragment of [Daniel] Solander letter, which Sir James [Edward] Smith had given her to look over.
Note on communication of diploma admitting Linnaeus as a member of the Scientific Society at Rotterdam.
Condolences to Smith and Lady Smith on death of their "very near & dear relatives", including Smith's mother, draws comparison to [John] Fraser's [(c 1750-1811), botanist] death and Smith's contribution to the science of botany.
Has been extending and examining his collection of 'Scitamineae' with use of Smith's remarks in Rees' "New Cyclopedia", and living plants of the whole Indian family sent by Dr [William] Carey [(1761-1834)] and [Nathaniel] Wallich, the latter has also sent large chests of plants for the [Liverpool] Botanic Garden, just arrived. Lists plants he is anxious about, with Latin characters: 'Hedychium gardnerianum', 'Roscoea purpurea', 'Canna napalensis'; further notes on his arrangement of 'Curcuma', 'Hedychium', and 'Roscoea'. His business arrangements almost finally arranged but has not been able to escape unjust attacks from people wishing to take advantage.
Visiting Lord Mountnorris [George Annesley], who is anxious to correspond with Roscoe and [John] Shepherd [(c 1764-1836, curator Liverpool Botanic Garden] and have them visit his botanic garden; Mountnorris has a large collection of hardy and other plants not at Liverpool, but lacks 'Scitamineae', so it could be a mutually beneficial correspondence, in addition he corresponds with [Nathaniel] Wallich and has excellent plants from Brazil, including 'Orchideae'. Mountnorris has sent, for Roscoe's examination and use, drawings made for him by Indian artists on banks of the Gogra in Lucknow, on the frontiers of Nepal, including 'Zingiber', 'Alpinia' and 'Matonia'. Wishes that a new 'Scitamineae' genus could be found to be named 'Anneslaea'.
Apologises for not being able to spend more time with Smith and Lady [Pleasance] Smith during their recent stay in Liverpool. About to move to St James's Mount and unsure what course his life will take but hopes it will be removed from "mercantile speculations or the squabbles & quibbles of lawyers". Comments on remarks made by the Chancellor respecting an incident involving his business troubles and an imminent change in law.
Responds to Smith's letter of from Arley Hall [28 July 1820] and thanks for introduction to Lord Mountnorris [George Annesley], whom he first met in London when they helped establish the African Institution. Comments on the curiousness of Mountnorris' East India 'Scitamineae' drawings of, particularly 'Zingiber'. Reminds Smith of a letter he previously wrote on genus 'Thalia', which is still in need of elucidation. Since Smith's departure 'Hedychium angustifolium' has flowered and 'Hedychium excelsum' is about to, and 'Alpinia mutica' for the first time in Britain. Tormented with rheumatism but intends to visit Norwich before winter.
Cataloguing the Holkham manuscripts [home of Thomas William Coke] taking longer than expected but has revealed the collection's importance; believes a published catalogue would be well received. Lady [Anne Margaret (1779-1843), née Coke] is making copies of some illuminations. Constant use of Codington's balsam has improved his rheumatism from when Smith was here. Duke of Gloucester [Prince William Frederick (1776-1834)] and Duke of Sussex [Prince Augustus Frederick (1773-1843)] expected, current visitors include Sir Ronald Ferguson [(1773-1841), army officer and politician].
Postscript in margin of verso of first folio: beauty of the Coke ladies.
Pleased to hear of Roscoe's work at Holkham [cataloguing Thomas William Coke's manuscript collection] and his plan to visit them in Norwich; proposes date so that he can meet the Fountaines and will also invite the Bishop [of Norwich, Henry Bathurst (c 1744-1837)] and the Southwells. Asks whether the Duke of Sussex [Prince Augustus Frederick (1773-1843)] is visiting Holkham and if they will attend the Fox dinner at Norwich. Busy with [Albrecht von] Haller's [(1708-1777), botanist] "very curious" letters to Linnaeus [for "A selection of the correspondence of Linnaeus.." (1821)]. Received "chests upon chests" of dried plants from [Nathaniel] Wallich, he speaks highly of Roscoe. Regards to Coke's family.