Sends 100 kinds of seeds; list of desiderata.
Sends 100 kinds of seeds; list of desiderata.
Pleased to see Macleay's handwriting "after so long an interval". Concerned to hear of the death of [Olof] Swartz, one of his "most constant correspondents", with death of [Carlo Antonio] Bellardi leaves 4 FMLS vacancies; nominates [Augustin] de Candolle and [José Antonio] Pavon, in spite of the latter's financial situation, Lamarck, and [Franz Karl] Mertens. Considered [Kurt] Sprengel. [Georg] Meyer dedicated his "pompous" "Flora Essequeboensis" to the Linnean Society and is ambitious of joining, but must not be chosen for FMLS yet.
Apologises for delay in remarking on plants sent by Swainson; finishing his part of Rees's "Cyclopedia". "Little hairy fern with simple fronds" found Rio Janeiro agrees in size and shape with 'Blechnum Lanceola' of Swartz in Stockholm Transns. for 1817. p. 71. t. 3. f. 2; observations. Grass marked 'Digitaria of Persoon?' is 'Paspalum conjugatum' Willd. Sp. M., also 'P. dissectum' of Linnaeus' Syst. Nat. ed. 12. v. 2. Dark-cold grass from "deep forests at Pernambuco" another 'Paspalum', species unknown. 'Cyperus', 'culm triangular, bogs at Pernambuco' unknown. "Very rare" grass, from "sandy table lands in the interior of Pernambuco", close to 'Agrostis radiata' of Linnaeus. 'Cassia' "in dry sandy tracts" unknown. A new 'Lythrum', near 'racemosum' but distinct. An 'Eriocaulon fasciculatum' of Lamarck & Willdenow, or very near it. Their plant appears to want the many awlshaped leaves of the common calyx, or involucrum. A 'Campanula' appears to be 'C. minor ['minima'] africana, erini facie &c', Hermann Leigd. Bot. 108. t. 111, erroneously cited by Linnaeus for his 'C. erinoides'; has this plant from Sierra Leone. Does not have his 'Hyptis' under that genus, does not seem to be any of Willdenow's.
Called to wish him a good journey and to offer his compliments to Sir William and Lady Herschel.
Thanks for letters from Smith and William Smith regarding the sale of his picture collection; their purchase by the [Liverpool Royal] Institution is not yet settled but will take up William Smith's offer of assistance in selling them if they do not. Sending Smith a copy of his pamphlet and asks his opinion, which he implicitly relies on; defends himself against possible detractors.
Thanks for turkey. [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert unable to write as suffering from a toothache. A vote at the Linnean Society led by Lambert failed in removing the "tanners' and some other house", smell so offensive that [William George] Maton had to leave before dinner was over. A mild winter. Describes attractions of Boyton House, Wiltshire, including gardens. Praises Smith's "sublime hymns". Discusses poetry including "odditys [sic]"of Lord Byron and Lord [Thomas] Erskine's [1st Baron Erskine (1750-1823), lord chancellor] poem "The Farmer's Vision". Sir Joseph [Banks] ill, discussion of [Sarah Sophia] Banks' will [(1744-1818), sister of Banks and collector of antiquarian items, ]. Has seen Lady Banks and the Countess Bentinck, and Maton in connection with Banks' health.
No summary available.
No summary available.
JH's father and mother will call on WW during visit to Bath, scheduled after wedding of JH's cousin. Spent three weeks meeting science luminaries in Paris. Notes continuity of scientific endeavors there over three generations.
Would he please forward the letters and papers which he left behind.
No summary available.
Relates the details of his accident. Gives equations and theorems.
Is anxious to hear how his wounds are progressing. Will not be able to come to town yet owing to various circumstances. New chemical experiments.
His father [Franz Karl Mertens] suffering from a "tedious & painfull" indisposition of his eyes, so on his father's behalf thanks Smith for present of willow cuttings, but as only nine of the eighteen specimens have grown requests fresh replacements and asks that they to be sent via his brother-in-law Theodore Zimmermann. Lists those willows that grew at end of letter: 'Salix malifolia', 'Salix russelliana', 'Salix acuminata', 'Salix lanceolata', 'Salix hirta', 'Salix rubra', 'Salix purpurea', 'Salix decipiens', and 'Salix phylicifolia'.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
Writes on occasion of their wedding anniversary: her respect, affection, and happiness in Smith all superior to what they were then. Thanks for good news Smith sent from [Thomas] Platt [(d 1842), one of John Sibthorp's executors, supervised the publication of "Flora Graeca"] . Recommends for Smith's breakfast reading the anecdotes of Mr Emlyn, the "worthy dissenting minister" of Lowestoft, in the "History of Lowestoft"; relates some of them.
[Draft or copy]
Hopes Smith recovered from the indisposition he suffered when he "honoured our town [Liverpool] with [his] instructive visit". Forced to give up botanical part of his Brazilian collections so as to focus on the zoological side, which is his main interest anyway, but anxious that botany should benefit from his collecting in places where no one has been but himself; offers to present any able botanist with collection of his duplicates, on condition of results being presented to Linnean Society; asks Smith to propose it to any of his competent botanical friends.
Smith's candidature for Botany Professorship at Cambridge University. [James Henry] Monk's [(1784-1856) Regius Professor of Greek, Cambridge] attack on Smith in "Quarterly Review". Believes Smith will never carry the professorship or lectureship, due in part to changing circumstances in professorships at Sidney Sussex College. Observes he and Sir Joseph Banks were negligent in supporting James Donn [(1758-1813)] and [Arthur] Biggs [(1765-1848)] for curatorship of Botanic Garden without fully knowing their religious persuasions.