A title page of Volume 15: Correspondence of Sir James Edward Smith with Sir Thomas Frankland, 6th baronet and Mary Watson-Wentworth, marchioness of Rockingham
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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).
A title page of Volume 15: Correspondence of Sir James Edward Smith with Sir Thomas Frankland, 6th baronet and Mary Watson-Wentworth, marchioness of Rockingham
Note on Mary Watson-Wentworth's grandparents and pedigree.
A title page of Volume 16: Correspondence of Sir James Edward Smith and Mariamne and Thomas Johnes and Andrew Fountaine
A title page of Volume 17: Correspondence of Sir James Edward Smith and William Roscoe
A title page of Volume 18: Correspondence of Sir James Edward Smith and Thomas Jenkinson Woodward
Three title pages of Volume 19: Correspondence of Sir James Edward Smith and his father, James Smith, his mother, Frances Smith, and wife, Pleasance Smith
Imagines Smith enjoying delights of Allerton Hall, [Liverpool, home of William Roscoe]. In "raptures" with [Edward] Gibbon's [(1737-1794)] "Memoirs", discusses the work and Gibbon in detail. News of their Norfolk friends. Sending blond herrings to Lady Anson [Smith's host at Shugborough, Staffordshire].
[Letter incomplete: folio[s] missing, presumed destroyed]
Writes on occasion of their wedding anniversary: her respect, affection, and happiness in Smith all superior to what they were then. Thanks for good news Smith sent from [Thomas] Platt [(d 1842), one of John Sibthorp's executors, supervised the publication of "Flora Graeca"] . Recommends for Smith's breakfast reading the anecdotes of Mr Emlyn, the "worthy dissenting minister" of Lowestoft, in the "History of Lowestoft"; relates some of them.
Puzzled to understand how Smith has made Harriet [Drake, William Drake's wife] FLS. Her aunt [with whom she is staying] looking well; changes to the garden; saw ruined church at Covehill and another at Southwould in good repair; bought china, description and small sketch; local prices for agricultural produce, the present state is "ruinous", other agricultural distresses; her findings from researching the Sidney family.
Change in the weather; "extraordinary phenomena" of a "yellowish substance" observed on surface of rain water cisterns which on burning proved to be sulphur; Mr Dalton the chemist says it has not been observed since the execution of Charles I and Cromwell's usurpation, as mentioned by Baker, unable to find this in his "Chronicles"; other opinions on the cause, including being swept up from volcanic mountains. Discussion of Norwich election with Bishop of Norwich [Henry Bathurst (1744-1837)]. A grebe taken on a ship's deck; sent to be stuffed. A very bad mackerel voyage, causing the pedlars to make trouble. Dined at the Lockwood's; a picture of Mrs Lockwood's great aunt by Sir Thomas Lawrence.
At present unable to locate [Alexander] Macleay's correspondence but when she does will send them. Thanks for portait of Macleay; in return sends photographic copy of [John] Opie's 1798 portrait of her.
Proceeded by extract from the "Edinburgh Review", pointing out errors in Smith's synonyms [in "Flora Britannica"?]. Visited the Maurice; their daughter found a pine stag beetle, first time of it being found in that neighbourhood, thinks the larva may have been brought there from Hampshire; she has seen a beautiful, lively, opaque grass-green beetle with a yellow spot on each wing. If what the "Annual Review" speaks of tours being in as much request as novels is true, Smith ought to make much of his "Lapland Journey" ["Lachesis Lapponica"]. Urges Smith to read review of "Flora Britannica" in the "Annual Review" and what, "in the name of your fair country women", they advise him to do; alarmed to learn what a name Smith has for "gallantry".
Her father wrote a response to Mr Everett's pamphlet [attacking Mr Reeve's "overgrown power" as steward of Manor of Lowestoft] against himself but decided not to publish; transcribes an extract. A regiment of Fifeshire militia men posted at Lowestoft, the "soberest soldiers ever known", who instead of getting drunk club together to hire books to read.
[Note in Smith's hand] discusses obtaining drawing of 'Nymphae' from [James] Sowerby.
Smith's last 6 weeks completely occupied "in body & mind", whilst she has been enjoying "complete repose". Asks if Smith has seen his admirers Mr Nicholls and [Thomas James] Mathias [(1754-1835), satirist], if the latter is author of "Pursuits of Literature" [a satirical poem published 1794, Mathias was the author] his praise is "no mean commendation". Sorry to observe in note to that work a question on how ladies could be "modestly instructed in botany", believes Dr [Erasmus] Darwin to be thanked for this censure; will be glad to see "this beautiful & innocent study rescued from all objection" by Smith' pen, further discussion of this. If Dr [Henry] Reeve settles at Norwich it will preclude all of Smith's ideas [possibly regarding practising medicine], but she would be happy for them to be in a cottage than have the collections sold for a carriage. Her excursions around Lowestoft, including discharge of cannon by the fleet at Yarmouth, [Norfolk], in commemoration of 29 May. Recommends seeing Mr Angerstick's collection of pictures, going to Gisleham, [Suffolk].
A title page and contents page of Volume 2 of James Edward Smith's Correspondence
A title page and contents page of Volume 3 of James Edward Smith's Correspondence
A title page and contents page of Volume 4 of James Edward Smith's Correspondence
A title page and contents page of Volume 5 of James Edward Smith's Correspondence
A title page and contents page of Volume 6 of James Edward Smith's Correspondence
A title page and contents page of Volume 7 of James Edward Smith's Correspondence as well as a portrait of Thomas Martyn and a note on the correspondence from Thomas Martyn
A title page and contents page of Volume 8 of James Edward Smith's Correspondence