No summary available.
No summary available.
Thanks for Smith's permission to consult the Linnaean herbarium in his absence, which he will use to examine 'Fucus' specimens. Reassures Smith he will be too busy for any "gallantry" with the maids, who were not chosen, "as single men's maids sometimes are for their superior beauty". Sends paper he has drawn up on genus 'Ulva', including description of new species 'U. decorticata', for Smith's opinion; notes on its contents.
As Smith now a "great collector of coins" asks him to acquire Sheffield coins from Dr [William] Younge. If Smith's brother goes to America wishes him success; discusses coins from the north of England. Asks after Smith's publications "[Specimen of the botany of ] New Holland", "Spicilegium botanicum", and "Flora Britannica". Asks if he could acquire remaining Bulliard plates ["Histoire des champignons"] through [Edmund] Davall. Asks after specimen of 'Atriplex laciniata'. Mr Windham requests visit from Smith.
Recently met Smith's German friends [Caspar von] Voght, Wattenbach, and Smeisser; disappointed that the latter has already claimed discovery of new species of earth in the spar from Strontian in two publications; long statement of his own claims to its discovery. Informed that [William] Withering is to publish new edition of his "Botanical arrangement", will supply him with Scottish plants. Need for a new and enlarged edition of "Flora Scotia", now that Lightfoot's is becoming scarce, and [James[ Dickson has enabled a cryptogamic addition. Asks Smith's opinion of [Joseph] Trapp's proposed translation of [Dietrich Heinrich] Stoever's "Life of Linnaeus".
Sent books to Smith [Fabricius' "Entomologia systematica emendata et aucta"]; expects final volume in 1795, payment details. Dr [Godfry Christian] Reich is sending German translation of botanical part of "Linnean Transactions" vol 1 and paper on 'Tringa hypochondriara', he intends to propose Smith as member of Society of Ratisbone, he has also requested anything on the "English sweating sickness".
Sends copy of his work, intended to "encourage the study of botany" in Ireland; believes is the first systematic account of any branch of natural history in Ireland [probably of his "Catalogus systematicus plantarum [...] Dublinensi" (1794)]; desires Smith's opinion. Delighted by Smith's various publications; hopes Smith long lives "to gratify the botanic amateur"; asks best way to obtain new numbers.
Hopes Smith has seen Andrew Caldwell and presumes he has told Smith of the plans for establishing a botanic garden at Dublin, for which Parliament have already granted £1,700 and £500 per annum, hopes of being superintendent. Collecting material for a "Flora Hibernica"; dreads the cryptogams, though assisted by Dillenius, Michelieux, Schaeffer, and Hedwig; [William] Withering's work a "great labour", but much confusion, and [James] Bolton's "Filices" and "Fungi" good but descriptions do not always correspond with common ferns and mushrooms of this country.
Sending cryptogamic specimens of plants described in Rohmer's "Botanical Diary" ["Botanical Magazine", part 1, June 1794] and two other commentaries. Asks permission to send paper for Linnean Society on new cryptogams. Engaged in researching synonyms of fungi; requests specimens of fungi described by Linnaeus, including: 'Agaricus betulinus', 'Boletus favus', 'B. tuberosus', 'B. fomentarius', 'B. igniarius', and 'B. subsquamosus', 'Hydrum parasiticum', 'H. imbricatum', 'Clavaria digitata', 'Helvella pineti', 'Clathrus delicatus', 'Lycoperdon truncatum', 'L. variolosum', 'L. radiatum', 'L. aurantium', 'Mucor sphaerocephalus', 'M. embolus', 'M. fulvus', 'M. furfuraceus', and 'M. clavatus'.
Thanks for parcel of books, just received, though disappointed it did not include two copies of third part of "Icones pictae"; requests that English and Latin versions be added with part 5 of "Botany and Zoology of New Holland". Will return spare copy of Smith's ["Sketch of a Tour on the Continent"]; so many copies have been imported into Holland there is no one to give it to. Received from Sir Joseph Banks not only a letter but also a human skull from New Holland. Requests second and third volumes of "Asiatick Researches".
Lady de Clifford [Sophia Southwell] and herself are anxious for Smith to repeat last year's visit to Northaw as promised. Asks for Smith's assistance in recommending Lady de Clifford's gardener, Duncan Mucheson, to a new situation.
Dedicated his "Phytographia" to Smith, apologises for its deficiencies. Desirous to establish a correspondence and exchange of plants, as few plants grow in Germany in the fields or gardens.
Note by Davall letter received 24 October [1794]._x000D_
Lectured in Norwich for three months "to a crowded & admiring audience [...] diffusing a taste for our beloved study". Returned to London to work on "English Botany" before seeing off family in Norwich returning to India [the Kindersleys]. Thanks Davall for packet, glad he likes his "Tour". Requests seeds of the 'Verbascum' and 'Digitalis', latter appears to be that described from Tournefort's oriental herbarium. News of botanists: letter from [Adam] Afzelius in Sierra Leone, François [Borone] in the Archipeligo with [John] Sibthorp, and Broussonet has taken refuge in Spain and is coming to England. Joseph Trapp's translation of "Life of Linnaeus" "odd, amusing, ridiculous, quackish, bombastic, [and] German".