Disappointed Smith could not visit in the autumn and laments the distressing cause. Invites Smith to visit anytime he is free. Thanks for present of seeds.
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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).
Disappointed Smith could not visit in the autumn and laments the distressing cause. Invites Smith to visit anytime he is free. Thanks for present of seeds.
Thanks for Smith's letter and kind attention to her husband's [George Leonard Staunton] requests concerning their son's, [George Thomas Staunton (1781-1859), Sinologist and politician] museum. Arrangements for receiving the boxes; will be happy to see Smith in Bentinck Street, [London], in November.
Thanks for books sent; will distribute duplicates to Genoa botanists; specimens of "Carex" for Goodenough; plants from Siberia.
Discusses whether 'Mentha exigua' is distinct from 'Mentha pulegium' with observations on a specimen received from Sutton, a letter from [Thomas] Woodward on it, and comparison of the calyx. Fears Dr Lubbock has typhus.
Hopes Smith received letter of 16 August 1793 and parcel containing plants including 'Orchis abortiva', bottle with flowers of same, and seeds. Feels unwell and low spirited. Sends seeds of 'Lavatera punctata' [Carlo] Allioni "Auctarium", 'Minnartia campestris' L., and 'Androsace lactea', observations including growing recommendations. Thanks for second parcel of Botany Bay plants. Will wait to send Smith's Montpellier parcel till sure of safe carriage. Would have come to England to see Smith but his finances ruined by purchasing books.
Approves of Smith's observations on 'Veronica kamtchatica' in "Linnean Transactions", asks if he will adopt Allioni and [Dominique] Villars' name 'uniflora' for 'Hypochaeris helvetica'. Offers to send "Gesnus dissertatio de Ranunculo bellifloro". Requests copy of a plate for [Jean] Senebier. Sends copy of Burman's "de Geraniis". 'Ranunculus plantaginifolius' of "Systema Vegetabilium" ed 14 found in Swiss Alps this summer; and a 'Bufonia tenuifolia' turned out to be 'Moehringia muscosa'.
Responds to Smith's letter of 24 September: condolences on death of Smith's brother; will enquire of [Jacob] Wyttenbach the particulars of the Berne fireworks display costing more than Haller's collections; comments on error by [Georg Franz] Hoffmann with 'Lichen omphalodes' in "Enumaratio" 4o p.76 and his "Plantae lichenosae" vol 1 p.40. Glad [Adam] Afzelius and François have returned, sorry their collections were attacked by insects so much and asks what liquor Smith uses to protect his specimens. Discusses his agreement with François [Borone] to be supplied with specimens as he is keen to increase his herbarium which is difficult to do in Switzerland; keen to start correspondence and exchange of specimens with [Thomas] Woodward. Will send Smith dried specimens of 'Melampyrum cristatum' this summer, in Switzerland it is a grove plant never seen in corn; he has given a foreign turn to 'Galium pusillum'.