New plants discovered; 'Encelia'; sends specimens.
Showing 41–60 of 102 items
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).
New plants discovered; 'Encelia'; sends specimens.
Sending Smith a specimen of 'Cineraria alpina?' [sic]. Has papers on lichen to send for "Linnean Transactions" if the second volume has not already been set. Enquires after [William] Hudson and Mr Zier.
Sends Italian translation of Smith's "Linnean Transactions" paper 'Introductory Discourse on the Rise and Progress of Natural History' via [Eusebio] Valli [(1755-1816) physician]. Introduces Valli and relates his work on [Luigi] Galvani's [(1737-1798) physician and physicist] discoveries in animal electricity.
Sends plants by L'Heritier; flora of Barary; Anchusa.
Thanks Smith for the books he sent. Sir Brooke Boothby [6th baronet (1744-1824)] and Dr Johnson of Derby wish to become members of the Linnean Society. Boothby has a great collection of plants at his house. Mentions his own admittance to the society. Enjoyed reading Smith's thesis on "generation" but believes their theories will not agree.
Concedes Smith's claim that he is a lazy correspondent but has been away travelling in Italy. Saw [William] Thomson[(c 1760-1806), mineralogist and physician] in Florence, has decided to settle in Naples after discussion with Sir William Hamilton [(1731-1803) diplomat]. His garden is growing well, offers to send specimens. Complains that plants he received from the Songo firm in London have not flourished possibly due to lack of attention in transit. Recommends Smith contact the Loddigas nurseries for plants that cannot be obtained through friends. Requests seeds of 'Mimosa', 'Cassis', and 'Pinus juniperus', amongst others. Asks if [William] Aiton's "Hortus Kewensis" is worth purchasing to assist in laying out his greenhouse and to send it via Mr Aubert if so. Smith's books have been sent to Turin, Italy, to the required address.
Encloses catalogue of plants [from his botanical garden]. Requests seeds of 'Mimosa', 'Cassia', 'Aeschinomene', 'Poinciana pinus', 'Laurus' and 'Juniperus', excluding species in his catalogue. His brother J. Luc has received the plants that Smith sent. Advises Smith to send plants in a box rather than an open basket in future.
As Smith is one of his benefactors he is dedicating seventh volume of his "Beiträge zur Naturkunde" to him.
Thanks for the first volume of "Linnean Transactions". Henry Matthey has been working in a bank in Genoa for the last six months, his delusions of grandeur cured by squandering his patrimony in London. The fate of the pictures of birds Giorna sent him is unknown after they were claimed by an agent who advanced 20 guineas. Thanks for suggestion of [John] Latham as a correspondent. Hopes Smith has by now received the box of insects he sent via Mr Passavant, an English merchant in Turin. Forgot to send 'Kermes elegans' but was unsure on its classification. Believes [Pietro] Rossi's [(1738-1804) Italian entomologist] "Fauna Etrusca" qualifies him to become a member of the Linnean Society, asks how this could be achieved.
Account for books, etc.
Requests specimens of "Mimosa".
Payment for books; news.
Introduces the Bouttelon brothers from Spain; plants from the Canary Islands; news.
Discusses his 'Hirudo' paper for "Linnean Transactions": has a third species of 'Hirudo' which is not like 'Hirudo stagnalis', asks Smith to correct his paper if necessary. Would like to see figures quoted by Linnaeus in the "Systema" as "Bergm. Act. Stock. 1756". Has named his three species 'Hirudo alba', 'Hirudo nigra', and 'Hirudo crenata'.
Sends his 'Hirudo' paper for publication in "Linnean Transactions". His 'Hirudo nigra' same as the 'Hirudo complanata' in [George] Shaw's 'Hirudo viridis' paper, believes this 'H. complanata' is not the same as Linnaeus' and asks Smith to show Shaw the paper for his judgement. States that his three species are "not good 'Hirudines', if we [...] stick to the Linnaean definitions".
[Nicholas] Gwyn informed him of Smith's introduction to the King and Queen [George III (1738-1820) and Charlotte (1744-1818)], hopes it proves useful. Is collecting insects not described by Linnaeus to send to Smith. Asks if [James] Sowerby's drawing of the leeches included 'Hirudo nigra'. Requests copies of Smith's "Spicilegium" for himself, and a copy of this and Sir William Jones' "Tract on the legal method of suppressing riots" for Gwyn.
Sends specimens of 'Hirudo nigra', observes their different colour from some collected a few months ago. Anxious that his relative lack of knowledge could compromise his paper. Also sends a species of 'Cicada' that swims on its back, like 'Notonecta', would like to write his next paper for "Linnean Transactions" on it if [Thomas] Marsham has not already seen it before receiving it from Kirby.
Thanks for Smith's assistance with 'Hirudines' paper, including [George] Shaw's observations, queries Shaw's suggestion that his [Kirby's] 'Hirudo crenata' is the juvenile 'Hirudo geometra' of Linnaeus. Planning to compare his living species with Gmelin's descriptions. His work limited by lack of natural history books.
Letter sent by Merlet de la Boulaye in Angers to Smith. Thanks for specimens and for election as F.M.L.S. ; death of Charnacé ; news.
Introduces himself and his botanical work: has collected 1200 plants from the 10 sq miles of his neighbourhood, from which he is publishing an "Index florae Lancastriensis" in the third volume of the Transactions of the Philadelphia Philosophical Society. Is now making a full description of the indigenous plants of Pennslyvania in the fashion of [William] Withering, [John] Lightfoot, or [Carl Peter] Thunberg, but frustrated by his ignorance of which plants Linnaeus has already described. Received some assistance from [Johann Christian Daniel von] Schreber, now requests Smith's assitance after seeing him mentioned as holder of Linnaean collections by [Jonathan] Stokes in "Withering's Arranagement". Offers to send prepared specimens for Smith to confirm.
Has just received Smith's letter of 20 February 1792. Thanks for Smith's intention to name the 'Mucada' timber tree after him and makes further notes on its qualities, also that he sent some of the wood to Alexander Dalrymple [(1737-1808) geographer] for possible use in mathematical instruments, and presumes Smith does not approve of naming it after the late Sir John Pringle [(1707-1782) military physician] as he previously intended. Remarks on efficacy of a "newly discovered fever-bark" from a 'Swietenia' in curing gangrenous ulcers, sending Smith specimen; refers Smith to Dr [Patrick] Russell for more information [(1727-1805) East India Company physician]. Requests copies of Smith's new botanical publications.