Introduces Schreibers.
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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).
Introduces Schreibers.
Received Smith's letter of 10 August from Mr Bauer. Congratulates Smith on knighthood, hopes he will succeed with his campaign for the Cambridge professorship, would be happy to then start an annual exchange of seeds. Sent a box of seeds to [James] Donn [(1758-1813)] last year being unaware of his death. His daughter married [Carl Franz Anton von] Schreibers three years ago, has just given birth to her second child. In continuation of the exchange of their botanical works [including Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin] lists books he shall send in itemised bill: "Hortus Schoenbrunnensis vol 4"; "Fragmenta botanica compleat"; "Genitalia asclepiadearum"; "Eclogae plantarum rariorum fasc. 1-8"; and "Graminum fasc 1 & 2". Requests Smith's publications mentioned in his last letter bar "Tour to Hafod" and "Flora Graeca", for which he will wait but including "Introduction to Botany" and "Prodromus Flora Graecae". Confirms that his father sent Smith "Icones plantarum" and "Collectanea [ad botanicum]" in 1797. Sorry to hear that botany is not as "generally beloved and fashionable in England" and botanical works do not sell as well as before. Asks Smith to procure customers for his "Eclogae". [Nicolaus Thomas] Host [(1771-1834)] is about to publish his monographia "of the European Salix", followed by new edition of "Synopsis plantarum austriae", assumes Smith has his "Gramina austrica".
Son of Head Gardener of Vienna University Botanic Garden, [Heinrich Wilhelm] Schott [(1794-1865)], is writing monograph on 'Silene' [not published], asks Smith to send any duplicate specimens of Oriental or American species and any remarks or specimens on 'Silene anglica'; 'Silene cerastoides'; 'Silene gallica'; 'Silene armeria'; 'Silene mutabilis'; 'Silene cranifolia'; 'Silene aegyptiaca'; and 'Cucubalus fabarius', in return shall send Austrian and Hungarian plants as desired, asks if "Flora Graeca" volume containing 'Silene' shall be published soon. Compliments Smith on his contributions to [Abraham] Rees' "Cyclopedia". [Joseph August] Schultes and [Johann Jacob] Roemer are publishing a new edition of "Systema Vegetabilium", believes Smith would do a better job, surprised he has not done so already. Professor [Balsazar] Hacquet [(1739-1815)], author of "Plantae Alpinae Carniolicae" and "Oryctographia carniolicae" died in Vienna a few days ago.
Hopes Smith received last letter of 21 January 1815, has had no news of him except for [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert mentioning having seen "Eclogae" at Smith's house. Hunnermann has brought the last fasciculus of [Nikolaus von Jacquin's] "Stapeliae" for Sir Joseph Banks and Lambert, hopes Smith will not think he has gone "backward" in the direction of their artists. Has arranged a new method of conveying books to Vienna, assuming the "derangement" of the affairs of Messrs White has prevented Smith from sending his promised books. Uses a copy of the "English Encyclopedia" [Rees' "Cyclopedia" to which Smith contributed botanical articles], wishes that the work's plan allowed Smith to complete the genera with all their species. Sending ninth and tenth fascicules of his "Eclogae" and synopsis of his father's "Stapeliae" soon.
Received chest of books and letter Smith sent on 6 March. Had hoped to send Smith the last fasciculus of "Eclogae" and "Supplementum Collectaneorum" but prevented by sickness of his father [Nikolaus Jospeh von Jacquin], now sending them with "Synopsis Stapeliarum" in a chest directed to Sir Joseph Banks. In settling their long book account observes the higher price of eighth fasicuclus of "Icones plantarum"; is sending "Supplementum Collectaneorum"; unaware that Smith already had "Oxalis"; a mistake by the bookseller is the reason for Smith not receieving the fourth volume of "Hort. Schöenb.", urges Smith to take the copy at Mr Boydell's. Itemised accounts for Smith and Jacquin. Requests [William] Sole's "Menthae" and Smith's edition of Linnaeus' "Journey to Lapland". Next summer publishing last fasciculus of his father's "Stapeliarum" and continuing publication of "Eclogae" and "Grasses" ["Eclogae graminum rariorum"]. Thanks for "Compendium Florae Britannicae", "a model of a flora as every country should have one". Enquires after "the only perfect copy existing" of ["De Materia Medica"] of Dioscorides [(c 40-90) Greek physician] that Nikolaus von Jacquin lent [John] Sibthorp in Vienna before his first trip to Greece, to be returned after his journey, and whether Smith could claim it at the executors. Explains that the notes in "Eclogae" were written in German to evade Bonaparte's higher import tax on Latin books. Defends the right of German botanists to write in their own language as the French and English do. Received "Flora Graeca". [Abraham] Rees' "Cyclopedia" is in Vienna but has not yet seen a copy.
His cousin Schreibers' work on mollusca and insects; books sent and wanted; his marriage and family.