Sends specimen of 'Phormium hyacinthoides', a new genus. Smith to thank [Edmund] Davall for the coloured plate he sent of his intended work.
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Sends specimen of 'Phormium hyacinthoides', a new genus. Smith to thank [Edmund] Davall for the coloured plate he sent of his intended work.
Sends specimen of 'Catesbaea [spinosa]' specimen with three flowers dropping together, to be drawn by [James] Sowerby for Smith's book ["Icones pictae plantarum rariorum"]; requests copy of the same size as the two other plants Sowerby copied at Hillingdon. Will find out which year William Wallens of Jamaica sent the 'Euphorbia wallinia' to Wimbledon, [Surrey].
Thanks for drawing of ['Smithia sensitivia']. Requests copies of [James] Sowerby's drawings of 'Portlandia' and 'Catesbaea', on vellum if possible. Argues for inclusion of her specimen of 'Catesbaea' in Smith's ["Icones pictae plantarum rariorum.."] as although it is only for plants never figured in colour before, the one in [Mark] Catesby's [(1683-1749)] work is badly done. Smith has not mentioned 'Euphorbia wallinea'; she is most interested in it as her husband was its first possessor. 'Aralia capitata' coming into flower for what she believes is the first time in England; hopes Smith will consider it for inclusion. Complimented by Smith's intention to dedicate book to her, which she hopes refers to her collection of plants "once amongst the earliest & choicest, of this country, & would have been carried on to perfection" but for her want of skill and opportunity.
Encloses unknown species of lily from [William] Curtis [Smith annotation: "'Lilium philadelphium'"]
Sorry that Smith could not view the gardens, conservatory, and greenhouses at Wentworth [Woodhouse, Yorkshire] on account of royal visit expected there, especially as she would have liked Smith's account of the plants there, which were all duplicates of the collection at Wimbledon, [Surrey]; the finest were always sent to Wentworth.
[James] Sowerby visited to draw 'Aralia [capitata]', he also drew life sized 'Pancratium amboinense', sends one of its eight flowers formed like an umbrella, fragrance like 'Cactus grandiflora'. Sends small part of 'Aralia' in full flower; invites Smith and [Richard] Salisbury to see it in person, presumes Salisbury's collection large enough for the plants Smith took for her not to be noticed. Her 'Portlandia' and 'Catesbaea' flowering a second time. [Jonas] Dryander took as yet only flower on the 'Martinia', expects it to be renamed.
Circumference of the umbrella of flowers of the 'Pancratium' is a yard and three-quarters and the bulb is 12 1/2 inches [Salisbury has annotated "probably a variety of 'P. caribaeum'].
Sends flower of 'Martinia' . Asks Smith to visit to view the 'Aralia [capitata]' to decide on its status. Several of the plants received from [Richard] Salisbury's garden are dying; fears it was the wrong time of year for transplanting such tender plants.
Asks that Smith check the botanical books she gave him for any memoranda between the pages, for she is "very choice of anything in that handwriting". Has many copies of ["Hortus Kewensis"] for friends; disappointed to find [Edmund] Davall already has one.
Requests Smith's medical advice for her gardener's bad cough, for which Smith initially prescribed a blister on the chest; he has been taking mutton suet boiled in milk every morning and night which has cured the cough but his voice is hoarse and he has lost much weight.
Sorry to hear of Smith's bad cold though but glad she unwittingly provided a remedy in her last letter [mutton suet boiled in milk taken morning and night]. Her gardener recovered in last three days, he does not think he has had night sweats, shocked to see "a strong healthy person so shrunk in the space of a week" and feared terminal decline. Smith correct that the powders "certainly tend to cure those sorts of fatal sweats".
Glad the recipe she sent [mutton suet boiled in milk] has almost cured his cough. Her gardener, Grieg, is almost better; his lungs had a narrow escape. She has had a stomach complaint but did not seek medical attention, it being rare to meet with physicians with Smith's "sentiments of the imperfection of human knowledge".
Invites Smith and [Joseph von] Jacquin to visit next week; warns Jacquin not to expect her present collection of plants to be the "celebrated" one he heard of as there have been so many new plants since then that she does not think he will see anything new to him.
Looking forward to Smith and [Richard] Salisbury's visit tomorrow morning and hope they will stay for dinner or even the night.
Replies to Smith's letters of 23 January [1789] and 8 February [1789]; thanks for parcel of plants, including 'Ecinophora spinosa', no longer considered a British plant, and the 'Cryptogamia'. Requests 'Ligusticum cornubiense' lately found in Cornwall. Thanks for [Dillenius] transcript from "Catalogus [plantarum sponte circa] Gissam"; has not made further progress with his 'Lycoperdon' but sends another paper on 'Fucus subsuscus' [see RelatedMaterial below] inspired by letter from [Samuel] Goodenough. Comments on new paper, which includes additional notes on 'Ulva plumosa', but not a new 'Ulva'; observations on this. Discusses 'Fucus setaceus', a possible new species, and other marine plants.
Will send Linnean Society specimens of 'Polypodium phegopteris', 'P. dryopteris', 'Galium boreale', and 'Carex strigosa'. Approves of Smith's plan and reasons for an "Observationes botanicae" instead of a "Flora Anglica". Offers to write account of 'Fucus hypoglossum', after acquiring permission of Sir Joseph Banks. The unexpected recovery of the King [George III (1738-1820)] "transfer'd his disorder to the nation, such universal uproar is occasion'd by it"; illuminations in Norwich; describes Bungay's alternative more muted celebrations. Discusses doubts over 'Carex caespitosa' and 'C. gracilis'.
Thanks Smith for parcel containing letters patent of Linnean Society and drawing of 'Smithia sensitiva'. Honoured to be accepted as an FMLS. Thanks Smith for his promise of helping to increase his herbarium and his garden. Asks again for advice on plants of an uncertain origin so he can finish work on a book of rare plants. Believes that Linnaeus has attributed the same kind of seed to 'Anthoscanthus' and 'Festuca', Bellardi convinced they belong to 'Festuca'. Explains doubts over Smith's claim that 'Phalaris savilianensis' of Linnaeus' herbarium will be identical to 'Phalaris bulbosa' with comparison of plates from [Jacques] Barrelier. [Dominique] Villars doubts his 'Arenaria saxatilis' is the same as described by Linnaeus. Has identified a 'Silene saxifraga' Smith sent as 'Cucubalus rupestris' of [Carlo] Allioni's "Auctarium ad Flora Pedemontana". Discussion of 'Saxifraga cespitosa', 'Saxifraga cotyledon', 'Saxifraga caesia', 'Saxifraga aizoon'. Has specimens of 'Agrostemma flos-jovis', 'Salix reticulata' and 'Dryas octopetala' to send to Smith when desired. Details of the publishing schedule for his fasciculi. Has received package from Mr Viborg of Copenhagen, asks Smith to send regards. Publication of Italian version of Smith's dissertation delayed.
Sending specimens of 'Trifolium alpinum', 'Salix reticulata', 'Dryas octopetala' and 'Agrostemma flos-jovis' via Mr Boroni. Has included "Phisico-Medica" dissertation by Mr Botta, seeds, and his list of desiderata [extant, see RelatedMaterial below]. Enquires price of Hudson's "Flora Anglica" and Dillenius "Historia muscorum".
Sent to Smith via Mr Boroni. Four columns of plants per page, some marked by Smith.
Intends to winter in Nice; also considered Florence and Pisa. His indisposition prevents him from settling at a university. Requests introductions and advice.
[Smith has noted his reply on verso of second folio]: comments climates of Nice, Florence, and Pisa, notes names of friends and accomodation recommendations.
Sends drawings by Miss Applethwaite of some of his hothouse plants. Thanks for specimens; still pursuing a large collection.
Unable to supply specimen of newly found crystalised mineral for [William] Thomson [(c 1760-1806), mineralogist and physician], as he only has one specimen himself. Pleased to hear Smith is composing his botanical lectures and undertaking new edition of "Systema [naturae]".
Introduces Dr Millar, with whom he is sending his "inestimable, invaluable, inaugural performance". Note on 'Cerastium tetrandrium'.
Sends enclosed from Dr [John] Berkenhout [(1730-1791), physician and writer] [presumably copy of Berkenhout's "Clavis Anglica linguae botanicae" (1789)], for Smith to respond to as he sees fit.
Draft of Smith's review John Berkenhout's [(1730-1791), physician and writer] to "Clavis Anglica linguae botanicae" (1789), which appeared in the "Analytical Review" of March or April 1791.
Comments on 'Ophrys paludos' of "Flora Danica", which resembles 'O. loeslii' Linnaeus; and 'Equisetum sylvaticum', which he discovered to be 'E. fluviatile'. Sends specimens of 'Carex gracilis' Curtis and 'C. caespitosa'; observations, including remarks by [Samuel] Goodenough. Requests 'Dianthus glaucus'.