Much obliged to Mrs Smith and the effort she goes to in supplying turkeys. Reports on an extremely fertile field near Norwich, apparently due to plague victims being buried in it.
Showing 1–20 of 64 items
Much obliged to Mrs Smith and the effort she goes to in supplying turkeys. Reports on an extremely fertile field near Norwich, apparently due to plague victims being buried in it.
Compiling an account of an earthquake felt at Norwich, unsure whether it was caused by "an explosion in the air or under the earth".
Silk for purses to be had at Gardons, St James's Street, London. Arrived back in Hafod from London late on evening of New Year's Day, which was like being "awakened from a frightful dream". An incident in London has made him "look on mankind with no friendly eye". Dr [James] Anderson has been "most amazingly active here", including starting work on a pensile garden for his daughter [Mariamne Johnes], and he is satisfied with his own gardens.
Everything quiet and "perfectly tranquil" in this part of the country; bread is 6lb wheat, 6lb rye, and 9lb potatoes, "which is equally good, to my taste, as yours at Hammersmith".
Death of Smith's father; L'Héritier; unable to send books.
Sorry to hear Smith has not received the letter she sent him some time ago. Her father returned home on 1 January and bought her a "very pretty diamond beetle", some cork, and a pair of "flappers". Asks whether 'Banksia ericaefolia' has ever flowered in England. They have had "dreadful" stormy weather. Looking forward to seeing Smith and Mrs Smith at Hafod next summer.
Encloses comments from [Samuel] Goodenough on [John] Lightfoot's 'Fucus' specimens, showing that Lightfoot's work on this genus was "almost always guesswork". Expects a battle with Goodenough over 'Fucus repens' and its right to be called a species; observations. [John] Stackhouse's "accuracy & industry" in investigating marine plants, in reference to 'F. repens'. Long character description and observations on 'F. repens'.
Encloses papers and drawings from Colonel [George] Montagu [(1753-1815)] for Linnean Society; Montagu wishes to know whether the sandpiper with red legs and dark body colour is a new species; Latham notes it is similar to 'Tringa maritima' of Norway and Iceland, and one brought from Quebec by Colonel Davies; observations on latter. Also Montagu's accounts of 'Motacilla sylvatica' and 'Alanda petrosa'.
Latham's recommendations for publication of these observations, considering recent publications on the same species.
Thanks for Smith's letter of 21 [January]. Waiting to see Smith to fully explain his personal affairs; found that when "money comes into competition with [...] friendship the last vanishes away like an airy vision".
Suggests contents for Smith's proposed "short Tour" of his part of Wales, "which are hitherto maiden", for it to be published by Edwards will publish and for it to include "beautiful" drawings of his own and of Colonel Greville's, which alongside Smith's writing will "answer for the sale being very great".
They have had fine weather but very great storms of wind, rain, and thunder; many of his sheep killed by lightning. Introduced "capital improvements" in the economy of forcing plants and fruit in his garden.
Asks after Smith's recent movements and activities, including "Flora Britannica". A mild winter allowed him to gather flowering 'Vinca minor' three miles from Bury. Sends his respects to Dr [George] Shaw and [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert. Asks if Smith has heard from [Richard] Relhan, whose affairs are "deranged" in spite of a £700 subscription. Asks if new editions of [William] Withering's "Botanical Arrangement" and "Hortus Kewensis" are to appear. Will pay his lapsed Linnean Society subscription before next anniversary meeting. Asks for a copy of Sir George Staunton's "Embassy to China" to be reserved for him at White's; missed the first edition of [James] Cook's last voyage through failing to do this. A spare room always available at his house for friends.
Addition at head of recto of first folio states he fears a letter to [James] Sowerby requesting all previous numbers of his "Cryptogamia" has been lost.
Received Smith's letter of 28 [January 1796]. Account of last Linnean Society meeting: [George] Shaw disappointed him in not taking the Chair as promised, but [Richard] Salisbury filled the place and read the papers; received papers from Colonel [George] Montagu [(1753-1815)] on 2 or 3 species of birds; a motion was made for the Society to treat with Smith for purchase of the Linnaean fossil collection he intends to sell, but doubtful the funds can be found. An artist has offered to give the Society a portrait of Smith if the members subscribe to a print of it.
[Aylmer Bourke] Lambert encloses a newspaper clipping [extant], stating that Smith has retired from London on a pension "granted by his pupil the Queen"; his concerns. [James] Sowerby has obtained Smith's parcel from [Olof] Swartz.
Present state of affairs make correspondence difficult. [Rodrigo] de Sousa [Coutinho] anxious to receive any works by Smith that are not listed [in letter] with those he already owns, alongside Aiton's "Hotus Kewensis", Linnaeus' "Flora Lapponica", and [James] Dickson's ["Plantarum cryptogamicarum Britanniae"].
Details of [John] Sibthorp's will: provision for publishing his "Flora Graeca" in ten volumes each containing 100 plates, and when the work is finished the produce of the estate to be applied to the establishment of a professorship of Rural Economy at Oxford University when certain conditions are met. Discussion of candidates for professorship at Oxford. The "miraculous field" near Norwich.
Congratulations on Smith's engagement to Pleasance Reeve. The cinnamon tree not likely to open its flowers for a week to ten days. Death of [John] Sibthorp, asks whether Smith will apply for Sibthorp's post as a professor at Oxford.
His cousin Schreibers' work on mollusca and insects; books sent and wanted; his marriage and family.
Anxious that Smith has not received a letter she sent some time ago. They have had wet weather but she has walked every dry day and found some very "curious" lichens, which she will send. Sends Smith "very fine" melon seeds from Russia [corrected to Persia by a different hand] given her by her father, and sends Maidenhair she has found, asks if it is the one that is "so curious".
Congratulates Smith on his marriage [to Pleasance Smith].
Congratulates Smith on his marriage.
This letter has also signed by Cullum's wife, Mary [née Hanson (1745-1830)].
Sending Smith parcel of plants and seeds from Gibraltar, Africa, and Portugal for Sir Joseph Banks, and a new dioecious plant called 'Thulea'. Also sending bulbs, insects collected by Broussonet, minerals, and shells.
Broussonet has requested names of plants sent. Fears Smith has not received several letters he previously sent. Broussonet has advised him to go to England. Requests Smith's assistance in establishing correspondence and exchanges with interested naturalists, including Fabricius.
Congratulates Smith on his marriage, which he saw announced in the Times newspaper. Read [Eberhard August Wilhelm von] Zimmermann a long time ago but "with great pleasure" and asks if Smith knows Lavater's "Journal", printed for Cadell in two small volumes.
'Strelitzia' and 'Illicium floridanum' in fine flower, the first drawn by his daughter [Mariamne Johnes] "incomparably well". Gives directions for delivery of the insect cabinet Smith promised her. His friend [Robert] Liston [(1742-1836)] has also recently married "an old flame", has not heard if he brought him anything from Constantinople and he is now to be ambassador to America. During the dry and sharp weather he burnt some furze covered mountains; "one of the grandest sights I ever witnessed".
Confirmation that their low expectations [regarding sale of the Linnaean fossils] were well founded: worthless chaos of the Linnaean cabinet contained only one valuable specimen; concerned that the efforts of himself and Dr Mitchell in organising it worked towards Smith's disadvantage; thought that Dr Lettsom would be a possible purchaser, and he did call at Mr King's, but did not attend the sale. Advertisement of Smith's lectures [at Guy's Hospital, London]. Balance from the sale.