Has only just returned to the University. Not known at what time the election will take place. Has made inquiries about the bricks; they were given to the College by Sir J. Malcolm. Will get them copied. Just about to write to Charles Babbage who is coming down to take his degree.
Encloses certificate that Charles Babbage sent him, with the amended signatures. Sorry it has given JH so much trouble. All rejoice to see JH on 10 June.
Disappointment of [Thomas William] Coke and his friends at the "rancour of the Norw[ic]h mob" against Coke [and the Corn-Law, which has made a second appearance; it originates solely in the corn-bill, and as he is a great corn grower he has become a target even though he is in favour of free export and import; concludes Coke is not safe in Norwich, and he is taking action against a "most diabolical handbill".
Lord [Thomas, 1st Viscount Anson (1769-1818)] and Lady [Anne Margaret (1779-1843)] Anson left London suddenly to attend their 9 year old son, reportedly dying. He came to London on 22 May and was unanimously elected Linnean Society president for the thirtieth time; Lord [Edward Smith-]Stanley made the Society drink his health twice. Intends to attend last Linnean Society meeting on 17 June and possibly the opening of Waterloo Bridge on 18 June, and will spend the rest of summer in Norwich with visits to Holkham, [Norfolk, home of Coke], and Lowestoft, [Suffolk]. Sent dried plants by waggon from Norwich on 23 May [for Liverpool Botanic Garden herbarium]. Glad Roscoe likes [Aylmer Bourke] and [Catherine] Lambert; "she is very pleasing". Sir Joseph Banks presided at Royal Society and club, he is lame but well. Asks after payment for plants.
Working with Johann Wilhem Meigen [(1764-1845), German entomologist] on 'Diptera' [flies] and updating his 1804 work ["Die Fliegen"], correcting the Fabrician synonymy by comparing against the collections of [Johan Christian] Fabricius. Asks for Smith's assistance by facilitating comparison with Linnaean collections, by either specimens or drawings and descriptions. Proposes [William Elford] Leach as an alternative.
[On separate folio] List of dubious species.
No summary available.
Informs Smith he will be at Spring Grove, Isleworth, Middlesex, for a while and encloses £6 for supply of turkeys.
Read Smith's dissertation on the present systems and state of botany with great pleasure and agrees with all his opinions; compliments the content and the style. He is still interested in debate over natural and artificial systems; wishes that Smith had written in in defence of Linnaeus in "Linnean Transactions". Smith's plant specimens [for Liverpool Botanic Garden] arrived in excellent condition and at a "very reasonable a price"; directions for Smith's payment. Wrote to [Thomas William] Coke on the spread of "the diabolical spirit" in the people of Norwich to "classes far above the mob", but certain that common sense will prevail. Concerned by Smith's report on Lord [Thomas, 1st Viscount Anson (1769-1818)] and Lady [Anne Margaret (1779-1843)] Anson. Mrs [Catherine] Lambert has given birth to a daughter and is in good health.
Establishing [Liverpool Royal] Institution at Liverpool for "education & lectures on a large scale embracing the whole circle of literature, science & the arts", with a proposed capital of £30,000, to which £22,000 is already subscribed, and a building with lecture, school, and exhibition rooms has been prepared, at cost of £10,000. He is to give an introductory lecture followed by courses by Dr [Thomas Stewart] Traill [(1781-1862), physician] and Dr Gose. Solicits Smith's future interest to hold a botanical course, though the financial incentive will not be great; proposed financing of lecture courses.
Would like WH's son, JH, to write some articles for his Edinburgh Encyclopaedia. Would he help him on an article entitled 'Stars'?
Sending books from Mr Targioni. Has collected every kind of 'Cryptogam' in the area. Purchased a collection of Lichens from Schleicher of Bex, recommends him as a source for specimens, is much advanced in his drawings to illustrate [Erik] Acharius. Botany in Florence is respectable but not encouraged. The Grand Duke has a botanic garden but the best plants were removed to a botanic garden at Orto Frisco run by Targioni for agricultural experiments. Praises Targioni, has been able to examine the garden's lichens in Micheli's collection. Botanical lectures are given in the garden and at the Academy of the Georgople. Mr Radi, head of the Royal Museum, recently discovered a new moss, 'Fabronia pusilla', [Olof] Swartz has found a species of the same genus. Targioni plans to publish account of the 'Jungermanniae' of the country on a new system. Wishes to engage him on a "pocket "Flora Toscana" to encourage interest in botany, "the nobles are not rich enough to purchase science, nor wise enough to esteem it". [Gaetano] Savi in Pisa is working on a "Flora Etrusca".
When crossing Mount Cenis found 'Cetraria cuculata' as mentioned in Smith's "Tour". Comments on the great number of English in Florence in the winter, believes it not a good place for delicate constitutions at that time of year due to the dampness, an epidemic of typhus. Thanks Smith for his letters of introduction: at Geneva met Mr Piclet, Messrs Jurine and Morricand, at Turin Professor [Giovanni ?] Biroli [(1772-1825) Italian botanist], at Milan [Barnaba] Oriani, Mr Herman and Mr Breislach the mineralogist. Sent Smith's letter to Ippolito Durazzo, whose sister is in Florence married to the Sardinian minister Brignoli.
Asks if Smith can procure a copy of the "Parody of the Nicene Creed" written during period the French Revolution and lately reprinted at Norwich, as the suspension of the Habeas Corpus act is about to be discussed in the House of Lords and the report from their committee relies upon "the mischief that has been done by blasphemous publications".
Has dedicated his history of botany to Smith ["Anleitung zum grundlichen Studium der Botanik"]. He has written it as an up to date version of [Kurt] Sprengel's similar work, but in German rather than Latin. [Johann Jacob] Römer [(1763-1819), Swiss physician and botanist] to send Smith first volume of their new edition of Linnaeus' "Systema vegetabilium"; remarks on the increase in sheets needed to take in new discoveries and explains some of the plan. Has been asked to translate Smith's "Introduction to Physiological and Systematical Botany"; asks if there any remarks he would like to add. Offers to send alpine seeds.
Is overwhelmed with work in algebra, studying S. F. Lacroix's work, grinding and polishing mirrors for JH's father. Sends thanks to Whitfield family for songs. Comments on controversial Cambridge news. Sends news of friends.
Account of the 'Lycoperdon tuber' of [John] Clayton [(1686-1773) plant collector in Virginia], being the 'Lycoperdon cervinum' of [Thomas] Walter [(c 1740-1789) American botanist] and species of 'Sclerotium' of [Christiaan Hendrik] Persoon, a subterranean fungus found in several southern states of North America, written in response to its general omission from publications, including [Friedrich Traugott] Pursh's "Flora Americana". Acknowledges Dr James Macbride of South Carolina as providing most of the information. Has sent specimens.
Separate note: "Psorex? A non descript species of mus, - see Bartram "Travels Through North and South Carolina, Georgia etc." Philadelphia 1791" [unclear what this relates to].
Introduces Theodore Lyman of Boston, Massachusetts, who is coming to Europe for second time to meet "the most distinguished literary characters". Encloses account of the "great 'Lycoperdon' of South Carolina" from information given by James Macbride, who is now a FMLS. Hosack's pupils are collecting the plants of New York, an account is being prepared which will be sent to Smith or Linnean Society.
Sending a query from Sir Gore Ouseley regarding some Persepolitan writing.
No summary available.
Offers a copy of "Hortus gramineus Woburnensis" to the Linnean Society.
Forwards letter. Asks Macleay to send [Thomas Andrew] Knight his pencil corrections to Knight's paper. He leaves tomorrow morning.
Asks about WW's mathematical investigations. JH's book on algebra is progressing. Describes mathematical investigations by [Edward] Bromhead in calculus of factors. Misses Cambridge.