Pleased to hear of safe arrival of Linnaean collections, Smith must have been made anxious by long delay in its coming.
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.
Thanks Smith for the "very judicious and liberal criticisms" he made upon the sheet [probably "A botanical arrangement of British plants" second edition], discusses various aspects of the work, including: difficulties of making the references; accenting of trivial and generic names, in accordance with Smith's opinion; omitted etymology; has made the times of flowering as accurate as possible but unsure how to do same for ripening of seeds and budding of leaves; work proceeding so slowly it will not be ready for publication next year, unless they leave the cryptogams for an additional volume.
If young Linnaeus had lived they had intended to compare the plants with the Linnaean specimens; they now hear the whole collection is coming to England, but they do not know who has acquired it. Will send Smith a copy of the book when printed.
Envies Smith his access to Sir Joseph Banks as he has no library or collections. Promises Lichens.
Thanks Smith for introduction to Marquis Ippolito Durazzo.
Enquiries about Linnaean collections.
Count Castigliani of Milan.