No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
Has arrived in Scotland. Recently witnessed a large comet. Thanks JH and family for hospitality at Slough.
Thanks Smith for mention of him in his article on 'Salix russelliana'. Sends copy of his "Parochial Divinity" for Smith. Explains circumstances behind his sending specimen of 'Vicia bithynica' last summer: he had hoped to be proved its first discoverer, but found [James] Sowerby had received it a month before from a Sussex friend; gives its location anyway and urges Smith to mention receipt of it also; observations.
Sending specimens of the 'Vicia', a 'Gnaphalium', and an unknown plant like a 'Serapias' ['Epipactis purpurea']. Previously sent Sowerby fertile specimen of 'Bryum annotinum'.
[This letter is marked "Duplicate", sent with Rottler's letter of 15 October 1807, see RelatedMaterial below]
He has only just received Smith's letter of 30 April 1800 and his "Specimen of the botany of New Holland", which he had long given up ever receiving. Encloses duplicate of his letter of [14] October [1806], which accompanied a parcel of plants. Received [Nathaniel] Kindersley's letter of 1 May 1806, will reply when chest of books for female asylum arrives.
[Label attached to letter:] "'Tetracera sarmentosa' 83) Vahl Delima Lin.".
Encloses duplicate of letter he sent Smith in March [1807] [extant], and packet of plants; wishes to know Smith's opinion of this and the packet he sent October 1806. Asks if his new genus 'Gwillimia' has been accepted.
Unoffended by rejection of his paper by Linnean Society and amused by their "squeamishness" over the passage playing on Mr [Lilly?] Wigg's [(1749-1829), clerk in Dawson Turner's bank] name, even though it was omitted and both Smith and Dawson Turner found it unexceptionable, though uncertain whether the attack he made on Mr S's paper [possibly Richard Salisbury] caused this rejection. Will send illustrative specimens to Smith and print the paper privately.
On 1 September broke his inner gastrocnemius muscle and it has recovered from bandaging alone, as advised by Mr Home.
Encloses list [extant] of specimens prepared for his rejected paper, with note against each whether sent or not: 'Ulva fusca', 'U. purpurascens', 'U. rubens', 'U. rubra', 'Fucus concatenatus', 'F. faniculaceus', 'F. abrotanifolius', 'F. fibrosus', 'F. tamariscifolia', 'F. linearis', 'F. crispatus', 'F. bifidus', 'F. mutlifidus', 'F. obtusus', 'F. [filiminus]', 'F. cartilagineus', 'F. confervoides', 'F. capillaris', 'Conferva furriculacea', 'C. nigra', 'C. setacea', 'C. elongata', 'C. rubra', 'C. pellucida', 'C. nigresscens', C. fuccides', and 'C. pararitica'.
Weather lore: received "infallible prelude" of an approaching storm yesterday by rooks collecting in a small compass on the ground before going to roost: "their appearance between 4 & 5 yesterday afternoon was almost terrible, at about 200 yards from the house", similarly their collecting on the highest trees before going to roost is a certain predicition of a fair day.
Praises figures of willows and 'Conferva' in last received number of "English Botany" and answers questions on latter: ignorant of [William] Hudson's 'Conferva multifida; convinced 'C. equisetifolia' of "English Botany" is Hudson's 'C. imbricata' as Hudson sent him decayed specimen of it from Margate, [Kent]; figure of 'C. barbata' refers to Ellis' 'C. florisera' "Phil. Trans", if this means 'C. flosculosa' it belongs to 'C. setacea' as pointed out in his paper that Hudson misapplied it to 'C. rubra'.
Mr Rarhleigh sent him undoubted specimen of 'Rivularia [vermiculata]' and there is a similar at [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert's written upon by Hudson "'Ulva s.n.'".
Note at top of recto of first folio: "sea goldbeater's skin enclosed - alias young membranaceous Fucus".
Happy Smith has been pleased with La Broequine and thanks him for his notes, which he will make use of in the next edition. Has been extremely inconvenienced by [John Henry Petty, 2nd Marquess of] Lansdowne [(1765-1809)] abandoning his purchase of the Priory.
Mariamne [Johnes, his daughter] has become a "prodigious fine miniature paintress". His work on [Enguerrand de] Monstrelet [(1400-1453), French chronicler] translation: first volume printed and second will be finished by March, keeps three printers constantly employed. Fire at Hafod House: his Venetian library in "grand confusion", having escaped the fire, but lost first volume of "Flora Graeca" and all "Linnean Transactions". Intends to restore library "as handsome as before".
Studies botany during intervals from his work but has only an "imperfect" acquaintance with current state of botany in Britain, having been absent for nearly 20 years, but presumes he would be able to supply many desiderata; desires to establish a correspondence with Smith, exchanging plants for botanical information.
He is now at sea on a voyage to St Helena, recovering his health, but intends to immediately return to his station at Fort Marlborough, Sumatra. Sends drawings for Smith's interest [not extant], describes and makes observations on each: seed of camphor tree [Smith has part transcribed this paragraph]; a possible 'Brucea', used as an "intense & powerful" bitter; seeds. Difficulties of collecting.
West coast [of Sumatra] has been in possession of the nutmeg and clove plants for some time and extensive plantations are now flourishing, and outproducing the Dutch. He has also cultivated the coffee of mocha and 'Cacoa', the latter having arrived from South America via the Philippines. Productive botanic garden also placed in his care, where most of the tropic fruit flourish, including 'Cinnamon' of Ceylon, 'Cassia', and tea. Expects the English settlements on Sumatra to rise from obscurity to great "commercial & political importance".
Aware that his support for the "gradual abolition of the slave trade" could be misunderstood by his friends, but meant it to ensure the slaves' saftey and interests and not for the benefit of the merchants. Finds it inexplicable that William Smith has lost his Norwich seat, as "the slave trade is held in such general abhorence" there, and he has been one of its "most firm & active opponents". Admires Smith's [epithet] for Alderman Baseley and praises Smith's "excellent turn" for this kind of composition. Details printing for his paper on Scitamineae. Intends to see [James] Sowerby about "Exotic botany", which must not be discontinued. Found a "Flora Peruviana & Chilensis" in [Henry Richard Vassall-Fox, 3rd Baron] Holland's [(1773-1840)] library containing figures of 'Canna', 'Costus', and 'Maruta', which he made copies of but forgot, and which confirm his and Smith's system [for determining 'Scitamineae' plants].
Asks Roscoe to visit [Alexander] Macleay at the Transport Office to settle urgent questions regarding his 'Scitamineae' paper waiting to be printed; the law only allows Roscoe twelve copies of the paper. Pleased that Roscoe is finding multiple confirmations of his system; resolves to obtain "Flora Peruviana". Hopes Roscoe will encourage [James] Sowerby, who is "in despair about the work" ["Exotic botany"]; the publishers Longman & Co. were to continue it but withdrew on finding the confusion surrounding it caused by Sowerby's poor business skills; [Smith] is keen for the final two parts of second volume to be published.
Informs Roscoe of how much he is "looked up to by the nation" on abolition of slavery, which is very popular with "all parties, clergy & dissenters, quakers, aristocrats & democrats, if good people", though some people fear Roscoe will compromise or fall short of expectations. Principle wish of the people is for "immediate abolition of the procurring slaves from Africa", and for emancipation to follow in time. Roscoe is taking a "decided lead" and it will lead him to greater political consequence as long as [William Wyndham] Grenville [1st Baron Grenville (1759-1834), prime minister 1806-1807] or another abolitionist does not take the glory. Invites Roscoe and family to Norwich for Easter.