Relates events after being confronted by "an awkward mob with bad intentions" [following an address he made in Norwich in favour of the Corn Law].
Relates events after being confronted by "an awkward mob with bad intentions" [following an address he made in Norwich in favour of the Corn Law].
Developments following his encounter with an anti-corn law mob in March. Sorry that Smith's friendly feelings towards him could mark him out to a "deluded populace", and had hoped that the feeling against him would have subsided by this time.
Hopes Smith can spend a day at Holkham to look over the manuscripts bound and annotated by Rosoce before they depart [on visit to Roscoe in Lancashire].
Left Spain in 1803, but unable to communicate owing to war ; still studying Natural History.
Received Smith's letter of 10 August from Mr Bauer. Congratulates Smith on knighthood, hopes he will succeed with his campaign for the Cambridge professorship, would be happy to then start an annual exchange of seeds. Sent a box of seeds to [James] Donn [(1758-1813)] last year being unaware of his death. His daughter married [Carl Franz Anton von] Schreibers three years ago, has just given birth to her second child. In continuation of the exchange of their botanical works [including Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin] lists books he shall send in itemised bill: "Hortus Schoenbrunnensis vol 4"; "Fragmenta botanica compleat"; "Genitalia asclepiadearum"; "Eclogae plantarum rariorum fasc. 1-8"; and "Graminum fasc 1 & 2". Requests Smith's publications mentioned in his last letter bar "Tour to Hafod" and "Flora Graeca", for which he will wait but including "Introduction to Botany" and "Prodromus Flora Graecae". Confirms that his father sent Smith "Icones plantarum" and "Collectanea [ad botanicum]" in 1797. Sorry to hear that botany is not as "generally beloved and fashionable in England" and botanical works do not sell as well as before. Asks Smith to procure customers for his "Eclogae". [Nicolaus Thomas] Host [(1771-1834)] is about to publish his monographia "of the European Salix", followed by new edition of "Synopsis plantarum austriae", assumes Smith has his "Gramina austrica".
Son of Head Gardener of Vienna University Botanic Garden, [Heinrich Wilhelm] Schott [(1794-1865)], is writing monograph on 'Silene' [not published], asks Smith to send any duplicate specimens of Oriental or American species and any remarks or specimens on 'Silene anglica'; 'Silene cerastoides'; 'Silene gallica'; 'Silene armeria'; 'Silene mutabilis'; 'Silene cranifolia'; 'Silene aegyptiaca'; and 'Cucubalus fabarius', in return shall send Austrian and Hungarian plants as desired, asks if "Flora Graeca" volume containing 'Silene' shall be published soon. Compliments Smith on his contributions to [Abraham] Rees' "Cyclopedia". [Joseph August] Schultes and [Johann Jacob] Roemer are publishing a new edition of "Systema Vegetabilium", believes Smith would do a better job, surprised he has not done so already. Professor [Balsazar] Hacquet [(1739-1815)], author of "Plantae Alpinae Carniolicae" and "Oryctographia carniolicae" died in Vienna a few days ago.
His collections destroyed by fire; "Umbelliferae".
Parts 3-5 of his 'Icones'; For. Members of the Institut; news.
Severe weather and deep snow. Discussed Smith's Cambridge candidature with Lord John Fitzroy. Lea is in England on way to Bogotá to collect drawings and materials of [José Celestino] Mutis [(1732-1808) Spanish botanist]. Lord Valentia [George Annesley] between visits to Ireland. Has been ill after rushing to meet [Aimé] Bonpland [(1773-1858)] in London and being attended by "an apothecary who proved to be more ignorant than the horse he rode on". [Sarah Sophia] Banks [(1744-1818), collector of antiquarian items, sister of Sir Joseph] not enthused by plants.
Thanks for turkey. Sir Richard Hoare in town and about to print first part of his work on North Wiltshire. Pleased with Smith's life of [John] Ray in new volume of the "Ency[clopedia]" [Abraham Rees' "Cyclopedia"], paragraphs of which "for men of science [ought] to be written in letters of gold". Problems in obtaining collections of [José Antonio] Pavon, [Alexander] Macleay is acting as his agent. Bequeaths this collection to Smith if he should die first [Lambert outlived Smith and his collections were sold and dispersed].
Received a letter from [José Antonio] Pavon, the collections Lambert is purchasing from him, including herbarium and insects, have been sent. A new plant received from Longleat [home of Thomas Thynne, 2nd Marquess of Bath (1765-1837)]. Has five species of 'Oxybaphus' growing. Has 'Fragaria chiloensis' from Guernsey in flower different from the one Smith describes in "Encycl[opedia]" [Abraham Rees' "Cyclopedia"].
Compliments.
Condolences on death of Smith's brother, [Francis Smith]. [Thomas] Marsham better than Smith feared, though he was dangerously ill for some time, but Smith's correct that his finances are not in order, suspects his son has ruined him. [James] Sowerby is owed £18 by the Linnean Society and has refused to supply any more plates to [Robert] Brown until it is settled; offence taken at Sowerby's attitude to the Society's credit. Encloses proposal from [William George] Maton [not extant]. Latest "Linnean Transactions" volume almost complete. Proposes Edward Forster as next Society Treasurer.
Sends his passage on the biblical "lilies of the field" for Smith's approval before it is printed [for the annotated Bible prepared with Richard Mant known as "D'Oyly and Mant's Bible" (1814 and later editons)], asks if 'Amaryllis lutea' is the correct trivial name, read that Celsius believes the white common lily is the "lily of the fields".
His work "Les Liliacées".
Has been confined for nine months [on account of his angina pectoria]. Philosophical reflections on friendship; life; Smith's botanical achievements; recent history, including fall of the Bourbons and rise of Napoleon; notions of power and glory; and his own approaching death, inspired by death of [Samuel] Whitbread [(1764-1815) politician, who killed himself by cutting his throat on 6 July 1815].
Asks if Smith received the letter and parcel dated 15 May 1814 he sent via Hayne. Encloses the same undetermined plants, for Smith's opinion, in case Smith did not receive them, for inclusion in second volume of "Flora Germanica", asks that Smith reply via [Charles] Konig.
Requests specimens of 'Potamogeton compressus', 'Potamogeton gramineus', and 'Potamogeton lanceolatus', all "English botany", and 'Verbascum virgatum' "Flora Britannica". Also desires specimens of 'Verbascum boerhavii' and 'Verbascum orbeckii' as he has doubts over their classification; observations on characters.
As thanks for Smith's "Introduction to Botany" sending copies of his essay "De Halophytis" and first part of his monograph on 'Verbascum'.
Sending 30 roots each of new or little known Sicilian 'Orchideae', described in [Antonius] Bivona [Bernardi's] "Sicularum plantarum": 'Orchis longibracteata', 'Orchis purpurea', 'Orchis longicornu', 'Orchis acuminata', 'Ophrys tenthredinifera', and 'Ophrys lutea', also added roots of 'Arum tenuifolium'; a proportion being sent to Kew, hopes they will become permanently introduced. Botanists of Sicily "anxiously looking" for second volume of "Prodromus florae graecae"; believes his herbarium may contain species which escaped [John] Sibthorp.
Condolences on death of Smith's brother. Returned the "superfluous" Linnean recommendation.
Subscribing to [John] Hunt's "British Ornithology". Thanks for renewal of "ancient benefaction of turkeys". [Sir William Jackson] Hooker has been given [Alexander von] Humboldts's collection of mosses on condition of publishing them.
Thanks Lady Smith for turkey. [Sir William Jackson] Hooker has returned from his travels [a nine month tour of Europe] and has [Alexander von] Humboldt's mosses, believes he also collected some novel 'Cryptogams' whilst climbing in the Alps. Was not aware that Smith intended to keep the Linnaean collections together otherwise would not have encouraged Wilkin to make his [unidentified] proposal. Is hopeful that John Hunt's "British Ornithology" will be a useful acquisition to ornithologists. Thinks that Humboldt has made a mistake in his thoughts on the 'Mauritia' palm due to insufficient specimens. [Robert] Brown curious as to the etymology of 'Mauritia'.