From:
unknown
To:
Joseph Banks
Date:
27 March 1797
Source of text:
L&P/11/27, Royal Society
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Royal Society
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
Disappointed not to see Smith before he left, especially as was in Windsor, [Berkshire]. Thanks Mrs Smith for Norfolk cakes and requests the recipe. Returns copies of Smith's "Spicilegium [botanicum]" and "[Icones] pictae [plantarum rarorium]" and requests others, and sends a Sierra Leone 'Amarylis' to be drawn by [James] Sowerby, requests the name. An exchange of fasciculi with set of late [Harvey] Spragg's.
Enquires after [John] White [(1757-1832), surgeon in New South Wales], Mrs [Elizabeth] Weddell reports that he "had got what he wished" although not sure what that is other than it being "ten shillings a day". Imagines White saw a lamentable scene at Portsmouth, [Hampshire]; she fears "all things are growing worse & worse". Wishes to subscribe to the work Smith mentioned.
Thanks for Smith's "rich cargo" of Norwich biscuits; uses them medicinally when she has a dry mouth and throat in the night. Smith's visit to Wales must have been "truly gratifying" on account of "being the means of restoring health to a beloved Daughter of a beloved Friend" [Mariamne Johnes, daughter of Thomas Johnes]. Invites Smith to visit on his return journey and details of the roads from Bath, [Somerset].
Apologises for not being able to send recipe for "those little cream cheeses". Her health better recently and freer from "those billious pains & sensations that are so tormenting both to the body & the mind".
Cannot find any of the 'Bromus' he suspects is 'B. squarrosus' but encloses coloured drawing made by his sister [extant]. Encloses the grass [not extant] he previously mentioned to Smith, small sketch in ink illustrating a point about its growing, it differs from 'Poa rigida', [William] Curtis is growing it from a root from foot of St Vincent's Rock, [near Bristol].
Coloured drawing of plant [Smith has annotated: "'Bromus secalinus' JES"].
Recounts his recent movements between Bath, Haford, and London, where he was called to prevent the destruction of all the timber at Croft, which Smith may have seen advertised, but failed. Saw Sir Joseph Banks this morning. Received from Dr [James] Anderson "a lock of the golden fleece" which he supposes Smith has accounts of in the papers; it is "very curious & just the colour of raw silk, a high gold colour".
Opportunity to acquire seeds from Constantinople, as long as the list corresponds with [Peter] Forsskål [(1732-1763), Swedish naturalist]; asks Smith to compile a list of rare and beautiful plants in return for a share of the seeds, had hoped to send list from [Peter Simon Pallas'] "Flora Rossica", particularly 'Rhododendron'. Much hampered by his mother's conduct but sale of the timber prevented by an injunction. Has heard from his sister, Charlotte; she and Mrs Kindersley both well and there is an addition to the family, she was going to Baughlepoor.