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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).
No longer prevented from renewing their correspondence. Sending plants described in his "Flora Germanica" for comparison with Linnaean specimens. Thanks for praise of his work.
Sorry Smith has been so ill, hopes not to hurry him. Will appreciate Smith's advice about "English botany" indexes. Encloses further patterns for "Flora Graeca" and letter from [George] Anderson on plight of late [George] Don's family for Smith and [Dawson] Turner's consideration. Asks to borrow Linnaean specimen of 'Ostrea diluviana' for drawing; thinks a work on Linnaeus' shells "would perhaps answer a good purpose".
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.
Unable to accept Smith's invitation to enjoy "the feast of reason and the flour of the soul" which presence of [William Roscoe] promises. Sends game.
Sends a possible paper for "Linnean Transactions" for Smith to judge whether it makes any additional observations to what appears in George Montagu's [(1753–1815) naturalist] previous paper on Marine Animals [see Related Material]. Enquires after Smith's specimen of 'Lichen scaber' which was described in "English Botany" as a "great botanical rarity".
Researches on "Umbelliferae".
Compliments.
Grateful for Smith's condolences on death of his daughter Sophia [Lady Brownlow (1788-1814), wife of John Cust, 1st Earl Brownlow], a "victim of [...] this cruel winter". Believes the people at Cambridge are "most obstinatley blind to their own interests" [Smith's unsuccessful campaign to become Professor of Botany], comments that the Botanical Garden there last summer was in a "most forlorn uncomfortable state". Wishes Smith knew Mr Eustace, a writer who has been staying at Wormleybury. Sophia's death has "badly checked" the pleasure he gained from his plants and garden, which after the death of his wife Amelia were cultivated solely for Sophia.
Appreciation of Trans. of Linnean Society; sale of his books in England.
The same (as JES/COR/6/99).
His work on New Holland plants.
Sends Australian plants for determination; his work thereon.
Shock at death of George Don, asks that if one of the last plates for Smith's "elegant work" [presumably "English Botany"] is one of Don's discoveries he should be commemorated in it.
Responds to Smith's enquiries about 'Pinus', referring him to [Andre] Michaux's [(1746-1802)] comments in Pursh's "Flora Americae". A 'Pinus maritima' at Kew now 'Pinus caricio' "Lamarck Encyclo. vol 5". Growing new species of pine at Boyton, [Wiltshire], compares it against 'Pinus cembra' and 'Pinus pinaster', it was sent from the Crimea by [Peter Simon] Pallas and named 'Pinus maritima' in his last "Travels". [Pierre] Sonnerat [(1748-1814)] returned to France. Linnean Society short of papers for next volume of "Linnean Transactions".
Death of Lady Brownlow [Sophia Brownlow (1788-1814) wife of John Cust, 1st Earl Brownlow, and daughter of Sir Abraham Hume] of a "rheumatick fever". Sir Abraham Hume's reaction. Believes Smith's indisposition a result of "this Siberian winter". Health of various friends including [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert, Sir Joseph Banks, and [Samuel Goodenough].
Eager to hear about [Alexander von] Humboldt as soon as he appears at Soho Square. Has nearly the whole of [Thomas] Nuttall's [(1786-1859)] collection of [living] plants.
Congratulates Smith on knighthood. Has some of [Thomas] Nuttall's [(1786-1859)] living plants from the banks of the Missouri, including 'Jussieua angulata' and 'Mentzelia oligosma', hopes to be able to confirm Smith's conjecture that it is the same genus as 'Loasa'. Received [Matthew] Flinders' "Voyage [to Terra Australis]", would like Smith's opinion of [Robert] Brown's observations on natural order. Has 'Lathyrus amplicarpos' in flower answering to the "old Morrison" description, asks if Smith described it from a dyed specimen in the "Encyclopedia" [Abraham Rees' "Cyclopedia"].
Thanks for £31 for George Don's family, visited them in Forfar with [Robert] Brown [(c 1767-1845)] of the Perth nurseries, comments on the opposing characteristics of Don's two grown up sons: the elder, [George Don (1798-1856)], is "senseless, stubborn, unfeeling", whilst the younger, [David Don (1799-1841)], is "pliable, full of attachment [...], and really clever". "The Committee" failed to convince the eldest to "carry on the garden", fears it will be abandoned and that the son will go into the army, navy, or worse. Will try and get the younger son attached to a nursery or into Kew. Congratulates Smith on completion of "English Botany". Maughan has proved 'Solidago lanceolata' as indigenous, still has his own doubts. Results of an experiment for growing 'Fucus esculentus' at Car Rock. A "curious fact in vegetable physiology" concerning yellow leaved ash seedlings "inoculated by the insertion of [a] diseased bud". Neill's opinion of "Life and Death of a Monkey [or the Village of Alton: a tale for young persons" an anonymous work by "A Lady" published in London in 1814].
He has been confined to his house for two months with "debility & headaches", a consequence of influenza. His campaign [for botany professorship] is stationary; the present Cambridge vice-chancellor [John Davie] is not a friend so it is not expedient for [Thomas] Martyn to resign, but believes his interest is working as it is to their own concern to have an active professor. Nothing to be done with his knighthood until he is sure of Cambridge. Delayed in sending papers for Linnean Society meeting.
Smith's candidature for Botany Professorship at Cambridge University. [Richard] Relhan has enquired after a report that [Martyn] is resigning in Smith's favour. Smith right in gaining support from outside Cambridge. Discusses process of Cambridge elections and reiterates Dr [Richard] Walker's [(1679-1764) founder of Cambridge Botanic Garden] provision in his gift of the lectureship that a foreigner may be elected if sufficiently qualified.