Thanks for specimens; his "Genera" completed; foundation of Linnean Society
Thanks for specimens; his "Genera" completed; foundation of Linnean Society
Viborg visiting London; presents Smith with his "Genera".
Encloses paper on moths for the Linnean Society.
Henry Matthey has written to his parents in Turin stating the cases of natural history drawings sent by Giorna have been detained by Customs due to his lack of money. Matthey's parents have asked Smith to anonymously pay the duties plus £2 for anything Matthey may need, Smith to be reimbursed from the proceeds of selling the drawings. Comments that Viller's "Entomologia Linnaeana" should have been called "Entomogia Europea Juxta Sistema Linneai" as only European insects are described. Complains that the authors of the "Collection des papillons de l'Europe" have abandoned it at the sixteenth installment.
[William Beeston] Coyte is coming to London and will visit Smith. Discusses Smith's publication plans for "Plantarum icones"; "Reliquiae rudbeckianae"; and new edition of "Philosophia Botanica", hoping that this last will be published by the Cambridge University press. Samuel Ewer of Lincoln's Inn Fields, Coyte's brother-in-law, is collecting a library of botany and will subscribe to all of Smith's works. Anger at [William] Curtis' corrections of Linnaeus. Smith's 'Centaurea [solstitialis]' has not produced any viable seed and Jonas has failed in making a successful cutting. Thanks for 'Forsythia' of Frasier which turns out to be only 'Decumaria carbara L'. Can procure Scottish plants for Smith from Dr Ramm. Would welcome [Joseph Franz ?] Jacquin to his home in the summer if Smith invites him. Coyte is to visit Westmoreland, advised to study [William] Hudson beforehand, intends to ask [James] Dickson about having him staying. Displeased from reading [Giovanni Antonio] Scopoli. Dissatisfied with [Caspar] Bauhin's [(1560-1624) Swiss botanist] "Prodrumus" and unsurprised by Linnaeus' rare use of it. Enjoyed reading "Hortus Upsaliensis" over the winter. [Charles] Sutton has a "brother botanist" at Norwich, a chaplain of the Bishop, and associates in [William] Kirby [(1759-1850) entomologist], and [Peter] Lathbury of Orford, Suffolk, [(1760-1820) rector]. [John] Pi[t]chford requires 'Equisetum sylvaticum', has a 'Carex strigosa' found last summer near Bungay, Suffolk. Asks Smith for copy of Kew catalogue. In postscript if Smith can acquire seeds of 'Epilobium latifolium' through [Joseph Franz] Jacquin and has two 'Geranium palustre' and a 'Sal. alpinum'.
Introduces Lawton and Hasell who would like to see the Linnaean collections, recommending to show them table 11 of "Philosophia Botanica" and the method in which Smith keeps the specimens, and 'Vallisneria' and 'Nepenthes distillatoria', asks Smith to assist their access to Kew Gardens. Dr de Ramm will visit Smith in London. Remarks Smith has not yet got any cabinets for his "Conchylia". Has received shells from Mrs Jones "but most of them trash". Asks Smith to introduce [John] Sibthorp and [Joseph Franz] Jacquin to him in Ipswich. Thanks for opinion on 'Lupinus portegrifolius'. At Kew asks Smith to show Lawton and Hasell 'Geum montanum' and "flore aureo" of the Alps.
Thanks for election as Honorary Member of the Linnean Society.
The genus "Broussonetia".
Has received Smith's works, but damaged in transit; De Jussieu.
Accounts for books supplied.
Introduces Dr Viborg.
Sends memoirs for Linnean Society; books wanted; news.
[Note in Smith's hand] remarks on specimen sent by L'Héritier.
Sends dissertation; compliments.
Sends further dissertations; dissolution of Linnean Society of Paris; Gmelin.
Shortly leaving for Connaught [Connacht, Ireland], hopes to be more successful with his natural history researches than on his last visit. Asks after a "Flora Hibernica" he believes he heard of in London. Extract from unnamed book recently published in Ireland on discovery of elk antlers and skeleton in 1783 on the "sea lands of the Bishop of Dromore". Encloses drawing [not extant] of a "Borer" insect causing damage to West Indies sugar canes as the Hessian fly does in America, sent larvae to [Thomas] Marsham.
Smith elected FM of Society des Botanophiles; Lamarck.
Thanks Smith for naming foreign plants he sent, including 'Geranium cicutarium', explains his errors in determining them himself, including: 'Arenaria'; reasons for disputing what Smith named 'Galium pusillum'; uncertain if 'Dianthus rupestris' is not 'Dianthus caryophyllus'; disappointed that Smith has rejected [James] Crowe's 'Rubus [corylifolius]' as a distinct species on [Richard] Salisbury's belief that it is a variety of 'Rubus fruticosos'. Sends regards to [Samuel] Goodenough and [Robert] Batty. The Forsters convinced that [Pitchford's] 'Chenopodium album' and 'Chenopodium viride' are distinct. Crowe growing 'Poa angustifolia' and 'Poa nemoralis'. Observes how different the foreign 'Asperula cynanchica' is from the English one.
Thanks for courtesies Smith showed to his pupil. Shall see that Smith's pupil [probably François Borone] is educated in drawing and Latin. [Fulgenzio] Vitman [(1728-1806)], professor of botany in Milan, is publishing a book of all known plants, his previous work on medicinal plants was derided by a French newspaper.
Smith's pupil [François] Borone was to be taken into service of the Archduke, then to study botany at Pavia university, both of which would have left him unable to learn Latin as Smith desired, and is now to return to England instead. Had hoped to cross Smith's path next May at Mount Cenis but told by Borone that Smith is no longer making the journey. Heard that Smith's brother is fond of architecture, sends gift for him.
Wishes to join Linnean Society. Received Smith's "[Plantarum] icones" and "Reliquiae rudbeckianae" and [Johann] Gmelin's edition of "Systema [naturae]". Asks if [William] Withering and [John] Stokes' "Botanical Arrangement" is correct to designate "the Cornish heath" as new. Asks if any copies of [Olof] Swartz's "Prodromus Plant. Amer." are available in London.