Sends copy of his "Illustrationes Theophrasti". Would like to see a new edition of Theophrastus.
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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).
Sends copy of his "Illustrationes Theophrasti". Would like to see a new edition of Theophrastus.
Sends copy of his "Extracts [from Bruce's travels in Abyssinia]", as an explanatory note to his edition of Theophrastus he sent Smith last summer ["Theophrasti Eresii de Historia plantarum"]
As requested via [Thomas] Woodward, sends Smith description of the new 'Ulva' or 'Fucus' found by him at Weymouth, [Dorset], and will arrange for Woodward to send the specimen. Thanks Linnean Society for honour of being elected FLS.
Sorry to hear there is no chance of his being presented to Smith next month in London, on account of Smith's being absent in Norfolk. Thanks for Smith's attentions to his paper, [Thomas] Woodward will forward Smith the specimen. Has submitted to Woodward a fasciculus of his marine plants, and if well received intends to describe and delineate the 3 genera, or at least those not recently described and drawn in England; expects to receive accurate observations in Woodward and [Samuel] Goodenough's paper in forthcoming "Linnean Transactions".
Encloses specimen of a small nondescript 'Medusa', it adheres strongly to 'Fucus cricoides', and sends phial of the purple tint of 'Fucus edulis'. Thanks for honour Smith did him in paper read last Linnean Society evening meeting.
[Spec 24 written in pencil at head of verso of folio]
Encloses small drawing [extant] of the small 'Medusa' he left for him at Linnean Socitey's rooms; observations. Has little knowledge of the Mollusca tribe but would be glad to have it the subject of a paper in "Linnean Transactions".
Two small coloured sketches of 'Medusa', one magnified, found adhereing to branch of 'Fucus cricoides' in Mounts Bay, summer 1797.
Asks if the 'Fucus fastigiatus' of the Linnaean herbarium has any fruit on it as described in "Linnean Transactions" vol 3 p200, and if so requests smallest sample possible in order to draw it under microscope; he has made some important discoveries respecting fructification in this species and its affinities.
Requests to become a subscriber of "Flora Graeca". Does not wish the remaning volume of "Flora Anglica" ["Flora Britannica"?] to come out until the modern cryptogamists are more advanced. Has much to add to the physiology of 'Fucus' from parcels of winter specimens in fruit sent from Cornwall, Bognor, [Sussex], and the Isle of Wight.
Has sent letterpress of his third fasciculus [probably "Nereis Britannica"] to [Dawson] Turner for Smith's opinion. Hopes Smith received specimen of 'Lichen vulpinus'; observations. Encloses specimens of 'Byssus fulva', observations; drawings of 'B velutina v aurea', observations. Sent specimen of 'Auricularia papyrina' to Turner; observations.
[Spec 25 written in pencil at head of verso of first folio]
Sending Smith a book on marine plants recently published in France [title not given], to be returned. Reminds Smith of the 'Byssus' specimens he sent last year; observations on the genus, thinks them nearly allied to 'Conferva'. He brought some "curious" foreign 'Fucus' from Paris, which he sent to [Dawson] Turner, difficulties of another in delineating them.
Thanks for Smith's letter, just received; will be glad to have Smith's criticisms on the "Tab[ula] Syst[ematica]", as in addition to Smith's own practical botanical knowledge he has assistance of [John] Sibthorp herbarium. His hopes for future usefulness of his "Illustrationes Theophrasti". Sorry he is to miss Linnean Society anniversary meeting, hopes Smith may visit him near Liverpool in August.
Received specimens of what appears to be 'Zannichellia [palustris]?', gathered from a Bradford canal by [Edward] Pigott [(fl 1790s-1800s)], a marine botanist; observations; wishes to know whether to forward it to [James] Sowerby. Asks after progress of "Flora Britannica" and "Flora Graeca". Invites criticism of his "Illustrationes Theophrasti".
Pleased to hear Smith's health is so much reestablished. He made a botanical tour of North Wales in the summer and has expanded his collections of marine and alpine plants, intends to examine them on his return to Bath, [Somerset].
Asks after the remaining "Flora Anglica" ["Flora Britannica"]; "there are such fluctuations in the Syst[emati]c Arrang[emen]t that retard [Smith's] progess" he fears it will be long time, though completion of "English botany" will much improve their botanical libraries, though it must always have an occassional supplementary volume. Intends to start work on pocket edition of his "Illustrationes Theophrasti" this winter.
Announces publication of part one of "Theophrastus [Eresii de Historia]", though the costs are such he cannot send Smith or Sir Joseph Banks copies. Asks after concluding volume of "Flora Britannica" and continuation of "Flora Graeca". Just returned from a tour in Cornwall.
Congratulates Smith on knighthood, hopes it will lead to what his friends have "so much at heart", Smith's succession to Cambridge botany chair. He has been rambling for most of the summer. Encountered delays in printing of second fasciculus of his "Theophrastus", and the great expense of printing meant he could not present any copies as gifts, even to Sir Joseph Banks, but will provide copies to friends at the trade price.
Found Smith's friend, Mrs Spragg [widow of Harvey Spragg], well.
Regrets being unable to attend Linnean Society anniversary meeting this year as he has a paper on the larch insect to submit to the Society, and wished to announce a new edition of his "Nereis Britannica". Undertook new edition over the winter in order to present a thesis sent to the Moscow Society of Natural History some years ago, in return for being made a member; he has added 30 plates to the 17 in the thesis, comprising the whole of 'Fucus', and has printed a limited number, though it will be cheaper than any new printed book.
He has been busy arranging the animals in Aristotle, in preparation for new edition of Stephen's "Thesaurus". Hopes Smith has been well in the two years since they last saw each other.
Received Smith's letter of 3 [September 1816]. Pleased Smith has received second edition of his "Nereis Britannica", a present he considers a "token of respect, considering the eminent place [Smith] fill[s] in the Department of Botany". Explains the work: added more plates to the first edition in order to include all British known species, and to offer arrangement on Linnean principles. Only 100 copies printed, with an additional 50 copies of the arrangement with extract from preface to be sent to foreign seats of learning. He received extra stimulus for his work on receipt of Gmelin's catalogue of lichens; thinks Smith is the right person to reform this genus. Thanks for Smith's remarks on his generic names, which will be amended.
Forwards book by [Jean Vincent Félix] Lamouroux [(1779-1825), botanist] Smith purchased off him. Requests Smith's opinion on enclosed 'Ulva' specimen [Smith annotation: "merely 'Fucus saccharinus' rather longe!"]. He has been in Shropshire this summer, studying the larch beetle , which "continues its ravages"; in correspondence with [William] Kirby on subject and will present paper to Linnean Society.
Asks Smith to look over the fasciculus of ["Nereis Britannica"] as far as it is finished and to show it to the Linnean Society. Notes on his intentions and other matters, including: apprehension that no sexual office has been attributed to the "air bladders" [of seaweed], and perplexed by the urn-shaped vessels in fronds of '[Fucus] serratus vesiculosus'.
Discussion of Linnaeus' definiton of reproductive organs of plants and [Thomas] Velley's criticism of his remarks on same in the preface of ["Nereis Britannica"]. Quotes from a letter by Velley to himself discussing this further and the absence of floresence in seaweed, gives his own botanical opinion of the matter.
Informed by [Thomas] Woodward that Smith approves of his work ["Nereis Britannica"]. Inspired by his disupte with [Thomas] Velley [over floresence of plants and seaweed] to investigate seaweed fructification with a microscope, details some of his observations, particularly the production of seeds and air bladders, from examination of: '[Fucus] vesiculosus', 'F. spiralis', 'F.nodosus', 'F. carnaliculatus', 'F. siliquosus', 'F. digitatus, 'F. polyschides', 'F. palmatus', and 'Ulva umbilicalis'. Shall send samples of two or three sea plants. Sending his paper on 'Herniaria glabra' which rectifies other authors' previous errors, including sketch and specimen [see RelatedMaterial below]. Believes the lack of reviews for his book is due to his not having advertised it very widely.