No summary available.
No summary available.
Hopeful over the procurement of ptarmigan eggs for Smith's friend although there is conflicting advice on how to keep the suitable for incubation. Assured of British success in Egypt [to end French occupation] through information from the Russian Minister in Paris via Mr Lock and the French Administration via Mr Addington.
Sends 'Primula' for [James] Sowerby; first sent to him 2-3 years ago; rare in Bedfordshire and Worcestershire pastures and orchards; called the black cowslip; credits Mrs Abbot with its discovery. Sends specimens of female 'Salix russelliana' catkins and 'Bryum fragile' [James] Dickson from Aspley Wood.
He has just finished 'Mammalia' for his ["Animal biography"], his present authorities are Gmelin's "Systema naturae", [Thomas] Pennant's "British Zoology", Pennant's "Synopsis of Quadrupeds", and [George] Shaw's "Arctic Zoology"._x000D_
Has chosen title "Sketches of Nature, descriptive principally of the Economy of the animal and vegetable kingdoms", manuscripts now in London._x000D_
Transcription of specimen passages for his "Synopsis of British Zoology", for criticism [2 pp]._x000D_
Intends to visit North Wales again, prior to publication of second edition of his tour; expects to receive assistance from [Hugh] Davies, and would like to access Pennant's papers; will send [James] Sowerby rare plants.
Sending small parcel of plants, numbered descriptions and observations of the specimens, including: 'Lichen hymenis', 'L. gelasinatus', 'L. calvus', 'Sphaeria gregaria', 'L. polyrhiza', 'L. vernalis', 'L. scriptus', 'L. ripicola', 'Peziza bicolor' [Smith has annotated many in pencil and ink].
Has found 'Scandix adorata' in Yorkshire; probable that 'Turritis hirsuata' is taken for 'Cardamine bellidifolia'; glad his 'Saxifraga palmata' proves to be variety of 'S. hypnoides'; 'Lycoperdon stellatum', 'Lycoperdon fornicatum', and 'Lycoperdon recolligens' grow abundantly in his neighbourhood; has found 'Agaricus alneus'. Intends to send [James] Sowerby duplicates of the lichens.
Having being requested by Government General of Bengal to gather informtion on the cultivation of cotton in China, he met with the subject at considerable length in a Chinese work, which has been translated and is now enclosed as a paper for the Linnean Society [see RelatedMaterial below].
Over the last year has collected all species of 'Salix' growing near London, Lee's garden providing the most. Perplexed by 'Salix amygdalina', 'Salix helix', and 'Salix hermaphroditica'. Pleased to hear of Smith's paper on 'Salix'. Received a letter from [William] Roxburgh, who is stationed at the Cape [of Good Hope] to collect seeds and plants for East India Company, and is expecting to receive specimens of all of Roxburgh's collection, particularly 'Erica' and 'Protea', will send Smith any duplicates. Has just received a box from Soho Square [Sir Joseph Banks' home] of [Roxburgh's] plants, there are many new ones including 'Trapa'. Has a copy of the "Flora Peruviana". Reports progress of engravings [for his book "Description of the genus Pinus"].
On a separate folded piece of paper Lambert lists species of 'Salix' he already has specimens of and requests specimens of any not mentioned, on reverse comments "the enclosed [extant] plant is S[alix] fissa from [William] Curtis garden is not rubra?".
Specimen of 'Salix fissa'.
Communicates his observations on "the small knobs frequently found on shells of the 'Anomia' genus", which he has discovered to be the ossified "tendinous ligature" of other unfortunate shells violently forced from their "adhesive situation".