Death of [Amelia] Hume after a "long and severe illness". Has received from [William] Roxburgh a large parcel of specimens for Smith and seeds for Liverpool Botanic Garden, and one for Royal Society at Edinburgh and seeds for the Edinburgh Botanical Garden.
Delayed sending plant specimens for Smith from George Don and they now have mildew. Was unable to accompany Don to verify habitats of 'Lychnis alpina' and 'Ranunculus alpestris' at the Rocks of Clova in Scotland but believes he has no intention to deceive. Refers to Don's discoveries of 'Cheiranthus incanus', 'Oenothera biennis', and 'Potentilla tridentata' and his response to letters from Smith and Samuel Goodenough as evidence, along with description of his methods. Discusses Don's interactions with Smith's 'Festuca triflora', 'Arundo neglecta', 'Chaerophyllum aureum', 'Chaerophyllum sylvestre', 'Saxifraga geranioides' and other 'Saxifraga'. Smith still to pronounce on Don's 'Carduus polyanthemos', [James] Brodie thinks it 'Carduus leucographus'. Establishing plantations in the north, would like large quantities of 'Salix russelliana' if its use in tanning is proven, requests recommendation for nurseryman to supply 'Salix fragilis', and asks whether 'Populus tremula' is the poplar that grows in Swedish forests. Looking forward to seeing fourth volume of "Flora Britannica" and Linnaeus' "Lapland Tour".
Relates his fruitless efforts to obtain [William] Sole's copy of "Menthae Britannicae" annotated with observations and censures on "Flora Britannica" caused by Smith's classification of 'Mentha' in "Flora Britannica". Describes arrangement and presentation of [Thomas] Velley's "Phaenogamous" and marine plant collections, herbarium and remainder of his botanical collections, the whole being offered to Linnean Society for 150 guineas by his widow, requests repsonse. Offers his drawings and descriptions of fungi of his region should Smith decide to augment "Flora Britannica" with this class. Encloses specimen [extant] of a 'Byssus' collected from an abandoned coal mine in Crickhowel, Brecon, Wales.
Specimen of 'Byssus'.
Thanks for "fine specimen of ornithology". Has been with Dr [Edward Daniel] Clarke. [George] Jackson has returned from Cambridge with remainder of collection of [Peter Simon] Pallas' plants, a gift from Clarke, including 'Molinia jubata', an "extraordinary plant". Botany "again revived in Soho Square" [home of Sir Joseph Banks]. [Jonas] Dryander working on "the New Holl." and new edition of "Hortus Kewensis". Has a parcel of Indian plants for Smith from [William] Roxburgh. Sir Abraham Hume reports that Amelia Hume is very ill.
Query regarding 'Mespilus tanacetifolia' and Smith's variety in "Florae Graecae prodromus". Reviews first volume of Lord Valentia's [George Annesley] "Travels", wishes there was more natural history and less politics. About to begin his "summer campaign" on Salisbury Plain with Sir Richard Hoare.
A packet from [Jacques-Julien de] Labillardière for Smith. Received latest editions of "Annals du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle" which include the whole of [René Louiche] Desfontaines' "Choix de plantes du Corollaire de Tournefort". Received from Mr Coxe a copper plate of [Peter Simon] Pallas from St Petersburg, will give it to Linnean Society to accompany his paper. Obtained all of [Alexander von] Humboldt's works on plants. Has been busy on Salisbury Plain, is going to Longleat, [Somerset], to visit Lord Bath [Thomas Thynne, 2nd Marquess of Bath (1765-1837)], says of Lady Bath "my Lady fancys [sic] herself very fond of plants but I fancy she is not". Proposes Sir Edward [Hulse] and Mr Duke as Linnean Society members.
Discusses a "curious communication" containing as "much botanical as well as physical information" [presumably a paper or figure by Richard Salisbury]. States they "are only at war with the immoral not the scientific part of "that fellow of nuisance and scandal"", concludes that [Salisbury] is now received at Soho Square [home of Sir Joseph Banks] as Lady Hamilton [(1765-1815) mistress of Lord Nelson] would be [following discovery of Salisbury stealing Sir Joseph Banks' drawings and publishing them as his own]. Discusses history of a disputed related drawing. Death of Amelia Hume. Discusses distinctness of the two species of 'Aegiphyla'.
[Letter incomplete: sections cropped, presumed destroyed]
Busy with live and [Peter Simon] Pallas' dried specimens of 'Astragali', including all of the species featured in Pallas' book on the genus, some include notes from Gmelin's herbarium. Has received large box of lemongrass in flower from [James Webbe] Tobin [(d 1814)] of Nevis, long "a desideratum among all of us". Believes it is 'Andropogon nardus' Linn. and the true 'Spikenard' of the ancients. [Richard] Salisbury's publication of his work on 'Protecea' is in "such direct opposition to Soho Square" [home of Sir Joseph Banks], as well as to the Linnean Society that it is regarded as "infamous". Discusses Linnean Society news and nominates the Marquess of Bath [Thomas Thynne, 2nd Marquess of Bath (1765-1837)] as new Honorary Member, says Lord Bath pointed out the differences between the two 'Mespilus'. Has specimens of the two 'Aegiphyla' for Smith, which were discussed by [Jonas] Dryander and [Charles] Konig. [William George] Maton has been with the Queen [Charlotte (1744-1818), wife of George III] again and Mr Hausman is making a catalogue of her herbarium.
A new paper on the Cardamom [White's 'Botanical Description and Natural History of the Malabar Cardamom'] which authorises it as a new genus. Had named it 'Garcia cardamomum' in the new edition of the London Pharmacopoeia, but [Martin] Vahl [(1749-1804)] and [Carl Ludwig] Willdenow had made prior claims on the name, asks Smith's assistance in determining a new name.
Intends to subjoin some remarks in [David] White's paper on the Malabar Cardamom explaining the name for new genus of the plant, 'Elettaria', and correcting errors in Linnaeus' 'Amomum cardamomum', describes some of them and asks Smith to examine Linnaeus' specimen. Unsure on how to proceed with publication of the note.
Received Smith's letter of September 1809, along with a letter from Olof Swartz the only communications from his European correspondents. Enjoyed Smith's "Flora Britannica". Thanks for Smith's observations on his plants numbered 708 to 803, responds with list of queries on his previously sent numbered specimens. Will send new packet of plants via Liverpool.
Sends his paper on ivy which he had previously addressed to Sir Joseph Banks. Banks believes ivy classes with "woodbind" as a "vegetable beast of prey". Repton refutes Banks' claim with his own observations on ivy's less aggressive nature, offers the paper to Smith and Linnean Society.
His paper on ivy: has further observations; asks how the drawings would be effected if it is ever printed; unsure what to make of Sir Joseph Banks objecting to the printing of Banks' letter on ivy; asks Smith to send back the other papers he sent so he can edit them.
Had intended not to ignore winter weather during his tour of Scotland but forced to stay several days with [James] Brodie due to heavy snow and to go to the coast instead of further inland. Smith praised by the botanists he meets. Brief itinerary of places he has visited: Mull, Staffa, Skye, Sutherland, Caithness. Death of "J G".
Circumstances of a "cruel war" cuts him off from Smith's "fortunate homeland, fair and free cradle of the liberal arts". Sends through the Stockholm Academy [of Sciences] his new edition of a work by "the divine Linnaeus" [probably fourth edition of "Philosophia botanica"], which he has dedicated to the Linnean Society. Nothing "more fervently desired by all good men and scholars than the resumption of trade with England"; keen to receive the latest additions to [John] Sibthorp's work edited by Smith ["Flora Graeca"].
Did not receive Smith's letter asking him to attend the Carrow Bridge Bill [in the House of Commons] until it was too late [this was a contentious scheme to build a bridge over the River Wensum at Carrow Abbey, near Norwich, for which an Act of Parliament was passed on 31 May 1809]. Apologises for being a "lazy and unprofitable associate of the Linnean Society". Has conclusively proved that 'Picus medius' is not a species and is only the young of 'Picus major'.
He has been collecting the palmated 'Saxifraga' for some years, and has cultivated them in every soil and situation to determine to settle which are species and which are varities, will send specimens of all those he thinks species.
Encloses specimens of 1. 'Saxifraga' from Angushire that may be two species or two varities [Smith annotation: "'pedatifida' Ehrhart"], observations; 2. 'Lamium' he sent last year [Smith annotation: "pray send seeds"]; 3. '[Lychnis] alpina' [Smith annotation: "HL"]; 4. a 'Juncus' distinct from common species [Smith annotation: "no"]. Observations on the 'Lamium'. Asks Goodenough to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith.
Encloses plant specimens, thinks most are new. Numbered observations on enclosed specimens: 1. new 'Ranunculus' proposed name 'R. macrophizus' [Smith annotation: "same as D Turner's from Snowdon, acris?"]; 2. new 'Saxifraga' [Smith annotation: "same brought by [Turner] from Snowdon -new -petals round"]; 3. new 'Potentilla' [Smith annotation: "surely a variety of 'aurea'"]; 4. new 'Grimmia'. Has also enclosed specimen of 'Potentilla aurea' of "English botany" [Smith annotation: "new probably"]. Asks Goodenough to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith.
Encloses further plant specimens, some of which he believes are new to Britain. Numbered observations on enclosed plants: 1. 'Glechoma', possibly 'G. hirsuta' [Smith annotation: "var[iet]y of 'hederacea' with abortive anthers?"]; 2. 'Saxifraga' he thought a hybrid between 'S. hypnoides' and 'S. geranoides' [Smith annotation: "'pedatifida'?"]; 3. 'Saxifraga' previously sent on 3 April 1807; 4. possible 'Viola uniflora' [Smith annotation: "'lactea' var."]; 5. possible 'Viola pumila' [Smith annotation: "Mr Crowe's little shrubby violet?"]; 6. 'Viola' from Ben Lawers distinct from 'V. trivalis'; 7. possible 'Sirapus alba' [Smith annotation: "I think so"]. Asks Goodenough to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith.
Encloses further specimens, numbered observations: 1. an 'Aira' [Smith annotation: "In HL from Lapl[an]d. I think it new 'A. vivipara' JES"]; 2. 'Erigeron uniflorum' [Smith annotation: "right"]; 3. new 'Saxifraga'; 4. a 'Saxifraga' the same as his no.4 in letter of 17 December 1808; 5. 'Geum' close to 'G. rivale' [Smith annotation: 'rivale?'].
Necessity for someone with books and botanical knowledge to publish a monograph on palmated 'Saxifraga'; difficulty of recognising the species in "Flora Britannica". Asks Goodenough to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith.