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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).
Received small cargo of Australian plants; sending one of each kind for Smith. Hopes to meet Smith in London in the summer.
Glad Smith accepted the unscientific collection of Australian plants from a "young Lieutenant of the Royal Navy" despite their faults, the collection included shells for himself and insects for [Alexander] Macleay. Has further dried plants to send to Smith. Received plants from [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert at Boyton. Bad weather, according to Herschel the next moon ought to be more favourable. Planning to visit Ireland in October for first time in five years. Received plants from Cordilleras, Trinidad, including the vegetable "arracacha", but has no guidance on growing it so keeping it in the hothouse. Expecting plants from [Nathaniel] Wallich including his whole collection of bulbs and 'Scitamineae', his [Annseley's] collections of both "now pretty rich". Gratified to receive seeds from Smith, especially as they had the Bishop of Norwich's [Henry Bathurst (1744-1837)] frank whom he believed was dead [Henry Bathurst (1744-1837)]. His son Lord Valentia has become a "florist".