No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
Hopes Smith's health is good. Intends to send copy of his Monandrian essay but busy correcting his "[Life and Pontificate of] Leo [the Tenth]" for second edition; defends the book against criticism in journals and "Critical Review" by stating the critics' ignorance of the period.
Has been waiting for Roscoe's 'Sciatamineae' paper so he can proceed with plants from that family in "Exotic botany". His leg still healing but is much better.
Indignant at a critical review of Roscoe's book ["Life and Pontificate of Leo the Tenth"]; [William Fitt] Drake's theory as to the author. Fears imminent second edition of his "[Sketch of a ] tour [of the continent]" will be similarly treated. Gives his complimentary opinion of "Leo", though agrees with "country gentlemen" in wishing for a translation of the poetry and quotations and questions use of English in another section.
Sir Joseph Banks has offered to mediate between himself and [Richard] Salisbury, who initially thought Smith was being too severe until further explanation. Received another "most abusive & rascally" letter from Salisbury offering to resign vice-presidentship and detailing illegal property. [William] Salisbury [(d 1823/1829)], the nurseryman, says his name is ruined for £500 a year as people assume he belongs to the Yorkshire [Richard] Salisbury and will not deal with him.
Frustrated in giving a full account of of his New Holland [Australia] desiderata, Smith's labours in this area have facilitated his researches but still unsure on some specimens, in particular 'Eucalyptus'. Relates the misfortunes of [Matthew Flinder's] expedition to Australia [on which Brown was the naturalist] but despite these and the failure to complete the planned survey approximately 3000 species have been brought home, Brown hopes at least a third are new. [Ferdinand] Bauer has made approximately 1600 drawings. Appointed Librarian of the Linnean Society. Pleased to hear that Smith is recovering from his "severe indisposition".
Thanks for specimens of native camphor; at present the nature of the substance is incomprehensible. Would like to become FLS; states his involvement in establishing the [Liverpool] Botanic Garden as example of his promoting botany. [John] Shepherd [(c 1764-1836, curator Liverpool Botanic Garden] going on well; considerable additions made to the collection since Smith left. Comments on "unprincipled attack" on [William] Roscoe's "Leo X" in "Critical Review"; pained to observe such a "spirit of illiberality" in one of their most popular periodicals.
Acknowledges receipt of manuscript book and letters to forward. Hopes Smith has recovered from his confinement. Will shortly send Smith the "Hortus Malabaricus".
Received Smith's letter of 10 December [1805]. Surprised that Smith's "antagonist" [Richard Salisbury] has taken his "animosity so very far"; believes there may be more than botanical causes for the schism and that Salisbury is "again brewing something" against Smith; Smith's use of [Jean-Jacques] Rousseau [(1712-1778), philosopher] motto in second volume of "Exotic botany" will perpetuate the "unworthy affair".
No original specimen of 'Plinia' in Sir Joseph Banks' herbarium; the plant they consider the same is specimen sent by [Alexander] Anderson [(1748?-1811), botanist] from West Indies, sending Anderson's description and drawing [extant]. Expects "Annals of Botany" to cease publication with next number as it is proving to be a losing concern. Salisbury has offered a paper on splitting of 'Ornithogalum' into two genera, calling one 'Gagea' after Sir Thomas Gage. Parcel for Smith from Willdenow; he wishes for the new British 'Salix'.
[Postscript] Specimens, descriptions, and drawings brought from New Holland by [Robert] Brown and [Ferdinand Lucas] Bauer [(1760-1826), botanical artist] "are by far the most excellent that ever resulted from any expedition", numbers exceed 2000. Proposes new genus 'Brunonia' in Brown's honour. [Ambroise] Beauvois [(1752-1820)] has given name 'Ventenatia' to a genus of 'Malvacca', at Ventenat's own choice; proposes Smith's 'Ventenatia' as genus for Brown.
Drawing and description of 'Plinia'.
Pleased to of recovery of Smith's health in his letter of 2 [January 1806]; his own bad health forced him to leave Bengal. Regrets his and Smith's missing each other in Liverpool; now little chance of their meeting until Smith comes to London in April. Contemplating a return to Bengal as the climate here is not agreeable. Comparing his specimens with [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert's; Lambert has almost convinced him that [Charles] Konig's 'Argostis linearis' is Smith's 'Panicum dactylon'; recommends Sir William Jones' figure of former in "Asiatick Researches" vol 4; requests Smith's assistance with all his Indian plants.
Thanks for parcel of herrings. [William] Roxburgh's collection of plants in London, is working on his "Flora Indica". Roxburgh informed that [Francis] Buchanan is on the way home with the Marquess [Richard Colley Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley (1760-1842) Governor-General of India, 1798-1805]. Has received specimen of 'Fabricia laevigata' in flower. Sir Jospeh Banks is recovered and in the library again. Comments on the "charming plants" in Smith's last two numbers [probably "Exotic Botany"] but informed by [Robert] Brown that there is already a a genus given to [Etienne Pierre] Ventenat in a "Flora of Benin" published in Paris so likely Ventenat has already approved of it.
Thanks for turkey. Glad to hear that [Richard Salisbury] will soon lose his title [presumably as vice-president of Linnean Society], "no one ought to mind what he says or writes more than when a puppy barks". Sending specimen of 'Fabricia', also has two new species of "'Leptasperum'?". Has basket of "Lambert nuts" for Smith, told by [James] Sowerby that he has the drawing of it, believes it a new species mentioned by [Peter Simon] Pallas in his last tour. Has a 'Eucalyptus', 'Melaleuca veridiflora', and 'Styphalia' from Amboyna, [Indonesia].
[Letter incomplete: several lines from foot of second folio cropped, presumed destroyed]
Intends to keep dedication to Smith in ["The gardener's and botanist's dictionary"]. Considers Smith "the establishment", glad of Smith's decision to only neglect [Richard] Salisbury, whom he never "much affected either as a man or a botanist". Discussion of botanical terminology.
Returns 6 drawings and two 'Conferva' specimens to be figured as t.2427 and t.2428 [of "English botany"], to finish no.247 June. Also returns Sowerby's "beautiful drawings" for the Duke of Bedford [John Russell, 6th Duke]; difficulty whether to call some 'Mespili' or 'Crataegi'. They intend to arrive back in London shortly.