Encloses specimens of 'Cardamine hirsuta' and 'Cardamine flexuosa' that [William] Withering believes are distinct species. Long list of habitats of "uncommon" plants he has observed.
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The Linnean Society of London Collection
The scientific and personal correspondence of James Edward Smith (1759-1828), purchaser of the collections of Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) and founder of the Linnean Society of London in 1788, was presented to the Linnean Society between 1857 and 1872 by his widow Pleasance Smith (1773-1877). Since then, it has been complemented by additional series. The collection was catalogued, conserved, and digitised from 2010 to 2013, thanks to the generous support of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Letters can be searched through Ɛpsilon, with links to images and summaries available on the Linnean Society’s Online Collections (http://linnean-online.org/smith_correspondence.html).
Encloses specimens of 'Cardamine hirsuta' and 'Cardamine flexuosa' that [William] Withering believes are distinct species. Long list of habitats of "uncommon" plants he has observed.
Corrects an error in his catalogue, 'Geranium phaeum' was found by Mr Severne of Aberly, Worcestershire, not Butt. Lord Valentia [George Annesley] disappointed not to see Smith on his return from Wales. Long list of habitats of plants found in northern England by Butt, including long description of 'Anchusa [officinalis]' with very rough sketch in pencil of the leaf, seeks Smith's opinion and offers to send specimen if required.
Thanks Smith for his attention in identifying 'Anchusa officinalis', describes its habitat and opinion on whether it is indigenous. Has left instructions with a friend to send specimens to [James] Sowerby, as requested. Lord Valentia [George Annesley] hopes to soon see Smith in London.
Honoured to be mentioned in "English Botany" but uneasy lest he erroneously judged 'Anchusa officinalis' indigenous. Describes habitat of a 'Gnaphalium margaritaceum' he has found and believes is indigenous, offers to send specimens. Believes a 'Lonicera caprifolium' in Elsfield Wood, Oxford, is indigenous there, criticises [John] Randolph, Bishop of Oxford, for believing it is a variety of common honeysuckle. Long list of habitats of rare plants found this year [by Butt].
Sends specimen of grass he found in a wood near Newtown Barry, Ireland, believes it to be close to Smith's 'Festuca calamaria'. List of habitats of Irish plants observed by him. Disappointed in attempts to establish a botanical garden of hardy herbaceous plants with Lord Valentia [George Annesley] by the "ignorance or imposition of nurserymen", asks Smith to recommend anyone in Norfolk willing to assist. Asks whether there is a treatise on the genus 'Aster', the descriptions in "Hortus Kewensis" and Marten's "Dictionary" being "very confused". Lord Valentia sends an index to first four volumes of [Carl Ludwig] Willdenow's "Species Plantarum". From the seeds Smith sent has been able to grow 'Helianthus decapetalus', 'Polymnia canadensis', 'Eupatorium kuhnia', 'Carduus carinatus', and 'Allium nutans'.
Detailed description of a 'Carex' he is unable to identify, requests Smith's opinion. List of plants growing in Worcestershire and not yet figured in "English Botany", offers to send specimens. List of habitats of plants found by him in West of England and Guernsey. Pleased to hear third volume of "Flora Britannica" is published but wishes there was an English translation of it, "for the benefit of lady botanists", believing it would have sold well and "made the last edition of [William] Withering unnecessary". Disappointed that [James] Sowerby has not proceeded further in his work on fungi. Rough description of possible 'Ophrys arachnites' from Switzerland, believes it may be allied to 'Ophrys apifera'. Has received seeds of "very indifferent quality" from Lord Valentia [George Annesley] in Calcutta, India.
Sends a plant found by the Marquess of Stafford [George Leveson-Gower (1758-1833)] near Dunrobin Catle, Sutherland, would like Smith's opinion on what it is. Refers to a plan for sowing the fruit of roses, saying it might lead to some "elucidation of the limits of different species". Confirms a 'Polemonium caeruleum' is wild.
Lord Stafford [George Leveson-Gower (1758-1833)] will give Smith a ticket to see the pictures. Chases up Smith's opinion on a species of 'Carex' he sent some years ago. Deficient in figures of fungi, complains that [James] Sowerby has taken no notice of many species including ones distinct from Sowerby's found by Butt at Arley, Worcestershire. In a "wretched country" for botanising, having seen no rare plants except the 'Andromeda' and the three 'Droseras' which grow near Whitmore, Staffordshire. 'Epilobium angustifolium' gathered wild on the banks of Windermere, Cumberland, is growing in a garden, although Butt thinks it is closer to 'Epilobium angustissimum', offers to send specimens. Lord Valentia [George Annesley] printing his work in London.
Sends leaf and seed head of a 'Geum' gathered between Kendal and Shap, Cumberland, by Mr Forster of Stoney, thought to be either 'Geum montanum' or 'Geum rivale' [Smith annotation: "merely 2 states of 'G. rivale'"], sends a seed of the latter for comparison and imparts his own opinions. Also sends specimens of an 'Epilobium' from Westmorland.
Disputes Smith's attribution of 'Fragaria indica' as a new genus in "Linnean Transactions" and [Abraham] Rees' "Cyclopedia", countering Smith's observations with his own, taken from his own plant given him by Lord Valentia [George Annesley]. Would like to show Smith his collection around 1000 hardy herbacious perennials, would be grateful if Smith could suggest anyone with whom he could exchange. Toured Scotland in 1811 but did not make any botanical discoveries. Has [John] Mackay's [(1772-1802), employed at Dickson nursery, Edinburgh] Irish 'Saxifragas' from Edinburgh. List of plants and their habitats.
As "English Botany" is almost finished asks Smith to reconsider the genus 'Circaea', encloses a specimen from a Yorkshire plant and a 'Circaea alpina'. Through comparison with Linnaeus, [Carl Ludwig] Willdenow, and [William] Withering, believes 'Circaea alpina', 'Circaea intermedia' and 'Circaea lutetiana' are all distinct. Contests the validity of separate genera for 'Potentilla' and 'Tormentilla' when 'Potentilla reptans' and 'Tormentilla reptans' have the same flower. Thinks that 'Geranium lancastriense' and 'Geranium sanguineum' are distinct, his observations. Would like to be introduced to [George] Don's successor. List of rare British plants, hopes for assistance from Smith's friends in acquisition, [some of the names are marked by circles with dots in the middle].
Butt puzzled by a 'Rubus' which grows in a nearby wood, gives descriptions in Latin of three varities and in English of his variety, which he thinks may be a hybrid of raspberry and blackberry, would like Smith's observations.
Wishes Smith success with his Cambridge candidature. Agrees with Smith that "the small 'Circaea'" is 'Circaea alpina' but thinks it differs from that in "English Botany". Has not made any further observations on 'Rubus'. 'Glechoma hederacea' is known in his neighbourhood as "ground ivy" and "robin-run-in-the-hedge", a tea is made from it for "scorbutic complaints".
Two coloured drawings each of flowers of 'Ophrys arachnites' and 'Ophrys apifera'.
Disappointed not to see Smith in London, wished to show him drawing of 'Ophrys arachnites' from Lord Valentia's [George Annesley] collection, originally from Switzerland; thinks it distinct from 'Ophrys apifera', drawings of each, corrections for "English botany", description of 'O. arachnites'. Observations on 2 hothouse annuals currently flowering: 'Mollugo stricta' and a new plant which came as 'Nama repens'. Found a new species of 'Carex' in his woods; observations.