From:
James Douglas
To:
Joseph Banks
Date:
21 November 1784
Source of text:
L&P/8/112, Royal Society
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Royal Society
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
Introduces Dr Young of the island of St Vincent's, where he had charge of temporary botanic garden.
[Note: letter written to Robert Batty] Thanks for news of safe arrival of Linnaean collections; he had seen some of the books at Customs House whilst collecting a parcel of insects sent from St Petersburg. Sends his compliments to Smith and invites him to Dartmouth, and asks to view the Linnaean collections when possible, never thought it would "fall to the lot of an Englishman to possess" them.
[Smith has noted his reply:] invites Latham to see the collections.
Pleased to hear of safe arrival of Linnaean collections, Smith must have been made anxious by long delay in its coming.
His considerations and advice on Linnaean collections, following discussion with Smith's father [James Smith]: recommends Smith focus on his medical studies, and after arranging and cataloguing it to his satisfaction he should decide what parts, if any, to dispose of; if Smith intends to give lectures then neither the minerals, plants, or insects can be disposed of. Recommends caution on publishing new editions of Linnaeus' works from the manuscripts, and suggests publishing a "Flora Britannica" in "Linnaean dress", if Smith can obtain [John] Ray's plants or verify his synonyms. Danger if exhibiting the plants of being pre-empted in publication of new English plants.
[Richard] Relhan has gathered 'Athamanta oreoselinum' Hudson and named by him 'A. hibanotis'. Hudson has found 'Corrigiola littoralis' on Devon coast.
Requests tubs of herrings for his friends. He is in London for arrival of his son's [James Edward Smith] purchase of the Linnaean collections and for placing his youngest son, Richard, with an architect. Confident of the collection's value. His hopes for Richard.