From:
Joseph Banks
To:
William Herschel
Date:
1785
Source of text:
MM/10/6, Royal Society
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Royal Society
No summary available.
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Congratulates Smith on acquisition of the Linnaean collections. Informs Smith the sale was settled with [Johan Gustaf] Acrel for 900 guineas just before Sibthorp offered 1000 guineas. Swedes angry with Acrel selling the collection. Recommends Smith visits Göttingen. Asks Smith to send [Joseph] Black's "Lectures on [the elements of] Chemistry". Requests catalogue of Linnaeus' books. Message for [Jonas] Dryander that Sir Joseph [Banks] could acquire much of his desiderata at an upcoming auction by Professor Spielman in Strasbourg. Message for [John] Lightfoot that he has almost a complete collection of the terrestrial and fresh water shells of Switzerland to send to the Duchess of Portland [Margaret Cavendish Bentinck (1715-1785) wife of 2nd Duke of Portland].
Botanical news: asks if [James Dickson] has published his "Lyncean discoveries"; informed by [Pierre Marie Auguste] Broussonet of a 'Rosa unifolia' from Ispahan, Persia, in the Paris garden; presumes first part of L'Héritier's "Plant. Rarior" is almost ready; [Carl Peter] Thunberg has been examining 'Bohun upas' which he believes to be a species of 'Sideroxylon'; believes Ferber will succeed to chair of Bergman; [Johann Christian Daniel von] Schreber is writing monograph on 'Aster' and dissertation on 'Boletus suaveolens'; flora and fauna of Lombardy expected from [Giovanni Antonio] Scopoli; [Werner de] Lachenal [(1736-1800)] and [Horace Bénédict de] Saussure [(1740-1799)] collecting materials for a natural history of Switzerland. Is in Göttingen as a practitioner and observing use of medicinal plants including experimenting with 'Caryophyllata' and as the hospital is run by "a pupil of Vienna" so 'Cicuta', 'Arnica', and 'Pulsatilla' are in constant use.
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Congratulates Smith on arrival of the Linnaean collections; considering visiting London to see them. Understands that the Linnaean mosses have thrown the British mosses into "entire confusion", and expects the same for the grasses, Umbelliferous, and Syngensious plants, and 'Salix'.
Received letter from [James] Dickson on 'Lycoperdon coliforme', which he is including in ["Fasciculus plantarum cryptogamicarum Britanniae"]; asks if Smith has seen [James] Sowerby's drawing of the specimen he sent. Asks how numerous 'Fucus' are in comparison to number in "Systema vegetibilium", and whether it is worth buying the new edition. If Smith disposes of any book duplicates requests [Peter] Artedi.
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Linnaean collections still disordered but Woodward welcome to consult it. Elder Linnaeus' herbarium in "perfect order" but the younger's is unarranged [Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778), and Carl Linnaeus the Younger (1741-1783)]. Offers Woodward first refusal of the duplicate books. Discusses Murray's new edition [of "Systema vegetibilium"], which is a "faulty work", as is the "Supplementum plantarum". Has copy of Artedi for Woodward.
Felicitations on Smith's Linnaean collections. His mother has died. Asks Smith to have mourning ring made.
Has edited works of [Pierre Richer de] Belleval.
Encloses his list of desiderata [extant]. Natural history "an object of perpetual pleasure"; has collected and dried 3000 plant specimens. Believes he has all British species except those in his desiderata, offers Smith any specimens he may desire. His collection of lichens and mosses poor and unsatisfactorily arranged. Believes he has all of Hudson's species of 'Fucus'. Smith's purchase of Linnaean collections "sets Britain above all other nations in the Botanical empire".
[On separate folio] Goodenough's "Desiderata Hudsoniana", several marked by Smith: 'Campanula patula', 'Ornithogalum pyrenaicum', 'Juncus triglumis', 'Arbutus aplina', 'Euphorbia characias', 'Chelidonium hybridum', 'Chelidonium corniculatum', 'Lathraea squamaria', 'Subalaria aquatica', 'Vicca lathyroides', 'Hieracium paludosum', 'Gnaphalium supinum', 'Carex limosa', 'Lycopodium alpinum', 'Fucus cartilagineus', and 'Scirpus pauciflorus'. Smith has also noted "sent 'Lichen miniatus', 'Lichen olivaccus', 'Hypnum painetin', 'Hypnumn curpiratum', 'Isoetes lacustris', 'Phalaris phleoides', 'Agrostis littoralis', 'Lichen globiferus', and 'Lichen glaucus'.
Details his preparations for visit to London to view the Linnaean collections; asks for a list of duplicate books. Discusses possible works that Smith could base on the collections, including a "Flora Britannica" and a selection of Linnaeus' correspondence. Supposes the new edition of "Systema vegetibilium" not as useful as the former, which is now scarce.
Accepts invitation to see the Linnaean collections. Scarcely knows more than the outlines of botany, his interests being ornithology and entomology.
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Details of his and [Robert] Stone's [(c 1751-1829), botanist] pending visit to London. Received [William] Hudson's specimen of 'Corrigiola' from [John] Pitchford; totally unlike 'Illecebrum verticillatum' of Vaillant's figure and "Flora dan[ica]".
Pleased the Linnaean collections answer Smith's expectations. A "Flora Britannica" needed to correct errors amongst English botanists and the false Linnaean names. Unable to accept Smith's invitation to Chelsea.
[William] Hudson has found 'Corrigiola littoralis' on coast of Devon. Lord Bute has begun printing his [botanical] work, and has presented a copy to the Queen [Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744-1818)].
Sends plants for comparison with Linnaean specimens; congratulates Smith on acquiring the collection; would purchase it if Smith should want to sell it.
Sends figures of foregoing plants, also an "Atraphaxis".
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