Concerned over illness of William Herschel. Discusses 'Evolution of Curve Lines.' Describes [Christiaan] Huygens's terms for evolution of curves. Offers advice to avoid problems with them.
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Concerned over illness of William Herschel. Discusses 'Evolution of Curve Lines.' Describes [Christiaan] Huygens's terms for evolution of curves. Offers advice to avoid problems with them.
Would have complied with Smith's wishes relative to the new 'Liliaceous' genus but [Richard] Salisbury has published it in last number of "Paradisus Londinensis" as 'Hookera coronaria'; transcribes the entry.
Whilst suffering a severe attack of gout 3 years ago, was recommended the Kingslandian system by Colonel Montagu, but it seized his head and eye and led to further complications. Hopes to begin studying botany again this year. Sent [James] Sowerby specimen of 'Hyacinthus comosus' of Jacquin, wild in this county; observations. Unable to confirm if 'Cypripedium calecol' is a Berkshire plant; believes his friend may have been deceived by foliage of 'Orchis mascula'. An 'Alca aller' was shot inland in early November, by presence of which he portended a long or severe winter. Encloses paper by [James] Bicheno on "the sleep of plants" for Linnean Society.
Sends his promised paper [extant, extracted from "Monthly Magazine" May 1803]. Hopes he will be able to entertain Smith again soon.
"On the Use of the Words "Shall" and "Will", extracted from "Monthly Magazine" May 1803, 2pp.
Has looked over Governor [Philip Gidley] King's [(1758-1808)] plants from New Holland [Australia] and added 300 new species to his own collection. Has things to tell Smith about "a certain person". Mrs King has brought back a case of 6000 insects she intends to part with and a case of shells she means to keep.
Immersed in politics; his new pamphlet on proposals to open negotiations for peace in 1807 is currently printing [see RelatedMaterial below], it also contains a definitive answer to his critics. The mayor of Liverpool, a "bigotted & furious ministerialist", held a meeting "in commendation of the present men & measures" [in relation to the war with France]; he [Roscoe] opposed this and offered an opposing address which was "carried by a great majority", but the mayor carried the original address. Both addresses were presented to the public for signatures; his [Roscoe's] address "favourable to peace & moderation" gained almost 15,000 whilst the mayor's struggled for half that amount. The enraged opposition has been issuing handbills and anonymous letters; transcribes example of one sent to himself.
Recently sent [James] Sowerby a specimen of 'Canna latifolia' for "Exotic botany" but he had drawn it before; will soon send his thoughts on the genus. Urges Smith not to give up "Exotic botany", which could now be carried on in just the quatro edition. Thanks Frederick Smith [Smith's brother] for merino wool coat.
Dined with Sir Abraham and Amelia Hume. Apologises for the unintentional affront of giving a specimen to Andrews without realising Smith wanted it. Received collection of New Holland [Australia] specimens from the bursar of Governor [Philip Gidley] King's [(1758-1808)] ship including a 'Fabricia' in flower. Has set aside [Jacques-Julien de] Labillardière duplicates for Smith. Smith styled a "celebrated lecturer" in latest number of [Richard] Salisbury's "Parad[isus Londinensis]", hopes never again to have to entertain Salisbury or [William] Hooker [(1779-1832), botanical artist for "Paradisus Londinensis"].
Assured [Robert] Brown that Lady Essex has not grown the New Holland plants 'Corylus' and 'Psychilis' as evidenced from her gardener's ignorance and Hooker's continued misinformation [it was revealed that Salisbury had stolen drawings from Sir Joseph Banks and published them as his own]. Requests specimen of 'Juniperus oxycedrus' from [John] Sibthorp's collection as no one knows what it is. Received from Mr Hamilton specimen of the "Cedar of the Ancients" taken from the Acropolis in Athens, [Greece], appears to be 'Juniperus bermudiana' or 'Juniperus oxycedrus' of Hawkins. Speculates on Smith's future articles for [Abraham] Rees' "Cyclopedia".
Had hoped to congratulate Goodenough in person on his appointment as Bishop of Carlisle at Linnean Society anniversary meeting but his wife and three servants have been suffering from "a sort of rheumatic epidemic" and so has delayed coming to London. The symptoms include intense pain in the back of the limbs, insomnia, and in some cases considerable emaciation and debility. Sending some Latin for "Flora Graeca" for Goodenough to correct. His sister in Liverpool invites Goodenough to stay on his way to Carlisle.
Asks Goodenough to frank an enclosed letter to John Hawkins, Dallington, near Northampton, [Northamptonshire].
Has dined several times with Sir Abraham and Amelia Hume, on the last occassion Lady de Clifford was there dividing a box of Cape bulbs. Hopes to see Smith's paper in tomorrow's "Monthly Magazine". [Richard Salisbury] "begins to expect there has [sic] been some enquiries about Lady Essex's nonentities"; he and [Robert] Brown now believe that Salisbury stole his figure of 'Byblis' from Sir Joseph [Banks'] [Salisbury had claimed that he figured the Australian plants 'Corylus', 'Psychilis', and others from Lady Essex's garden, who never had the plants].
Linnean Society currently depends entirely upon Smith for papers, short for ninth volume of "Linnean Transactions". Intends to offer an essay on 'Holoraceae' including 'Amaranthaceae' and 'Atriplius', which has been neglected by botanists but Brown has examined most of it in determining his New Holland [Australia] plants. Sends list of species from Linnaeus herbarium Brown would like to inspect: 'Achyranthes muricata', 'Achyranthes alternifolia', 'Achyranthes alternifolia', 'Celosia argentea', 'Celosia margaritacea', 'Celosia gnaphaloides', 'Illecebrum brachiatum', 'Illecebrum sanguinolentum', 'Illecebrum canariense', 'Illecebrum bengalense', 'Illecebrum polygonoides', 'Illecebrum precordium', 'Illecebrum cymosum', 'Illecebrum alsinifolium', 'Illecebrum suffruticosum', 'Gomphrena arborescens', 'Corispermum squarrosum', 'Camphorosma monspeliaca', 'Camphorosma actua', 'Camphorosma glabra', 'Camphorosma paleacea', 'Salsola rosacea', 'Salsola sativa', 'Salsola polyclonos', and 'Salsola hirsuta' [list of plants is marked in pencil in Smith's hand with either a tick or cross, note in Smith's hand "plants lent and returned"]
Given [Lieutenant-]General Francis Grose's [(1758-1814) Governor of New South Wales, 1792-1794] collection of New South Wales plants collected by [William] Patterson [(1755-1810)]. Also collection of drawings of birds, fish, animals, and plants. Amused by Smith's letter in "Monthly Magazine" [in April 1808 edition, explaining the dissolution of his friendship with Richard Salisbury]. Dismisses Smith's suggestion that it is Dr [William Fordyce] Mavor [(1758-1837)] who writes in the magazine, everyone believes it is [Charles] Konig, gives his reasons.
Has still not received a letter from Goodenough. Wants Goodenough to read his paper on the new genus 'Hookeria', named after William Jackson Hooker, at the Linnean Society and asks that Goodenough overlook the clash with [Richard] Salisbury's 'Hookera', named after [William] Hooker [(1779-1832)], botanical artist for "Paradisus Londinensis", a "man of no knowledge & of even less character". Has found that Salisbury and William Hooker have been stealing copies of Sir Joseph Banks' drawings and publishing them as drawn from Lady Essex's garden. His wife still helpless with a painful rheumatic illness. Intends to be at the Linnean Society on 19 April.
Insists that he sent a franked letter to Smith after leaving Rochester, it included praise of Smith's "Introduction to Botany" [not extant]. His new duties at the House of Lords more time consuming than he anticipated. Thinks naming plants after unworthy people "lowers the science" [in reference to Richard Salisbury naming 'Hookera' after his botanical artist William Hooker [(1779-1832)]. Sends back Smith's work [for "Flora Graeca"] with queries on Latin usage for several items. Spent the day with [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert who has just received large addition of [New] South Wales plants to his herbarium. Sir Abraham Hume, Admiral and Mrs Essington, General [Francis (c 1758-1814)] and Mrs Grose, [Alexander] Macleay, [Thomas] Marsham, and Lord Seaforth were also there. Wrote to Dawson Turner correcting 'Griffithsii' to 'Griffithsiae'. Persuaded Hume to become a FLS. Shall discuss the new Geological and Entomological societies the next time he sees Smith. Mrs Lynn in decline. Hopes to visit Smith's sister in Liverpool on his way to Carlisle.
Asks Smith to remind [Thomas] Marsham of his promise to send the "most beautiful subjects for the microscope" for Colonel Tindall of Scarborough, [Yorkshire].
Delighted with Smith's book [probably "Introduction to Botany" (1807)]. Not yet in London as he is tending to his neglected plantations and his son is foxhunting. Will bring plants with him for Smith's inspection, including fern from Madeira.
Grateful for Goodenough's comments on "Flora Graeca" manuscript, discusses use of 'Atho', corrected by [John] Hawkins to 'Athone', and other Latin. Laments the loss of Goodenough's critical letter on his "Introduction to Botany", a similar thing occured when the Duke of Portland franked a letter to him on his "[Sketch of a] Tour [on the continent]". Pleased that Sir Abraham Hume is to become a FLS. Dawson Turner grateful for Goodenough's correcting [of the name 'Griffithsii' to 'Griffithsiae'] and it shall be published in "English Botany" as 'Griffithsiae'. His wife has relapsed into her rheumatic illness. Lord Seaforth an "excellent & very acute man". Directs Goodenough to [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert for news of [Richard] Salisbury stealing a figure of 'Byblis' from Sir Joseph Banks.
His need to vent with Goodenough like the Suffolk baronet and wife of their acquaintance, who when apart write to each other every day with minimal formalities, and when Sir Thomas Frankland used to write to him with the "most delightful epistolia" of the moment. Recollects the day he spent with Yeates and Broussonet in the woods of Corby Castle, near Carlisle, where he caught and gave to [Thomas] Marsham 'Elater cuprens' and 'Scarabaeus arvicola', wonders why Marsham has only named Yorkshire for the former species and not mentioned him [in "Entomologica Britannia"]. Found 'Elater pectinicornis' on Cromford Moor near Matlock. Noticed that Dr [Samuel] Johnson [(1709-1784), author] explains the "shard-born beetle" of the poets as born or produced among broken stones or pots, Smith thinks it must mean "borne, or flying about, on shards, or shells (testae)".
Argues for his new 'Hookeria' [after William Jackson Hooker] and 'Brodiaea' genera being put forward in spite of [Richard] Salisbury having already published Smith's 'Brodiaea' as 'Hookera' [in "Paradisus Londinensis", after William Hooker (1779-1832), botanical artist]: wrote his papers on 'Hookeria' and 'Brodiaea' before hearing of Salisbury's intention for 'Hookera' and would not normally object except that Salisbury's Hooker is not a botanist and an associate "in an infamous fraud" on Sir Joseph Banks [stealing figures of 'Byblis' and other plants and presenting them as their own]. Urges Goodenough to read his letter in the "Monthly Magazine" [April 1808 edition] which addresses an erroneous statement in the botanical report in [the February 1808] issue of the magazine conjecturing on the nature of the dispute between himself and Salisbury, which is independent of botany.
Discusses etymology and usage of 'Atho' in "Flora Graeca". Reassures Smith he read and sent a letter on Smith's "Introduction to Botany". Advocates revival of exhibits of material at Linnean Society meetings. Thinks Smith correct about Dr [Samuel] Johnson's [(1709-1784), author] "shard-born beetle". Sick of attending the "tiresome, ill-conducted debates" at the House of Lords.
Residing at Bignor Park, former home of Charlotte Smith, "whose little poems on subjects of natural history must have engaged your attention", purchased from her sister [Catherine Ann] Dorset [(d 1816) children's author]. Pleased to hear of imminent publication of "Flora Graeca Prodromus" and satisfied with second part of first volume of "Flora Graeca" which is free from the errors in the first part. In reference to 'Briza elatior' clarifies use of Greek "or" instead of Latin "in" in forming names. Cautions Smith in use of Sommarera as a source for names as the vulgar modern Greek names are so "barbarous" that some are shamed into using names taken from Matthiolus [Pietro Andrea Mattioli (1501-1577)] and others and passing them off as the real names, although they are not strictly neo-grecian. List of Greek plant names [with Hawkins' corrections and comments].
Thanks Smith for naming 'Opegrapha lyelli' after him and accepting numerous specimens, believes the species is distinct despite variations towards 'Opegrapha dendritica' and 'Opegrapha pulverulenta'. Thanks Smith for the notice he took of 'Lichen pollinarius' in "English Botany" which encouraged him in further investigation of mosses and lichens in his vicinity.
Forwards letters to SmithEncloses letters [not extant]. Invited to Royal Academy dinner, suspects the invitation is due to Smith.