From:
Edward Gregory
To:
Nevil Maskelyne
Date:
15 February 1793
Source of text:
L&P/10/35, Royal Society
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Royal Society
No summary available.
Sending parcels of dried plants, fruits, seeds, roots, shells and remains of snakes and birds. The snakes and birds, if they survive, and some of the bulbs, plants and seeds to be passed to Professor [Carl Peter] Thunberg and a separate parcel to Dr [Olof] Swartz. By the same vessel has also sent plants, fruits and seeds to Sir Joseph Banks, [John] Sims and Mr Forster.
No summary available.
No summary available.
Continues his numbered comments on plants in Davall's packet of July 1791: 'Salix incubacea', 'Dianthus carthusianorum', 'Dianthus virgineus' [Nikolaus von] Jacquin "Florae Austriacae" vol 5 t 15 also 'Dianthus rupestris', 'Arenaria dianthoides', 'Dianthus diminutus', 'Arabis bellidifolia', 'Arabis hispidia' "Hortus Kewensis", error in 'Arabis hispida' "Systema Vegetabilum" ed 14, 'Turritis hirsuta', 'Turritis alpina', 'Cheiranthus erysimoides', 'Cheiranthus fruticulosus', 'Rannunculus gramineus', 'Arenaria pubescens', 'Cynoglossum'. Transcribes extract from his fern paper on genus 'Davallia', observations and species. Puzzled by 'Thlaspi', fears he told Davall wrong about his C in parcel of 1791, and that it is 'perfoliatum'; intends to tackle this genus after 'Arenaria'.
His "Sketch of a Tour on the Continent" taking much of his time. Responds to Davall's letter of 11 January 1793: agrees with Davall on the French character; has communications with the Queen on plants; thinks he will soon be able to live by his own means; thanks Davall for recommending him to the Duchess of Devonshire [Georgiana Cavendish (1757-1806)].
Thinks Lady Rockingham is "too much a slave to her servants" and does not like her gardener, Greg. Will send plants for Davall from Botany Bay by Mr Mandrot. Not yet started on [Horace Bénédict] de Saussure's [(1740-1799)] lichens. Received encouraging letter from [Adam] Afzelius and François [Borone] in Sierra Leone; account of violence reported in Berne Gazette was probably occassioned by disturbance at Bulam. Glad to give 'Linum tenuifolium' to English botanists as they considered it an English plant. Aims to write six printing pages of his "Tour" every day. Hopes to get Davall a Dillenius ["Historia muscorum" (1741)] for about £10.
Does not know how to ask to borrow Hedwig work from Sir Joseph Banks'; he has decided not to purchase it, being unwilling to commit to a work not yet completed. Thanks for sending rest of Gaertner.
No summary available.
No summary available.
Thanks Smith for seeds from Sumatra and Sierra Leone. Sorrow at death of [William] Aiton [(1731-1793), director of Kew Gardens, 1759-1793]; his character.
Her 'Strelitzia' and an old 'Amarylis' no one knows anything of about to flower. Smith sent too many copies of his more books than she claimed: in addition to first large volume of his ["Icones] pictae [plantarum rariorum]". Has [William] Woodville's [(1752-1805), physician] work of medicinal plants ["Medical botany..."], it is beautifully coloured. Disordered by this week's tempestuous weather.
Unable to supply Smith with a 'Anthericum serotinum' specimen. Requests Smith's genera of ferns. Has never found an 'Arenaria laricifolia'. Asks about the plan of "English Botany" after having been informed of the true authorship of Sowerby's "English Botany" [Smith's work on this was initially uncredited]. Asks which plants Smith would like sent from Wales, advises him to view list of rare Anglesey and Caenarvonshire plants in [Thomas] Martyn's "Plantae Cantabrigiensis". Prefers to have them drawn and sent with dried specimens, although this is impracticable as [Thomas] Pennant's draughtsman, [Moses Griffith], is 50 miles away. Delayed sending items to Smith.
Plants sent for comparison with Linnean herbarium.
List of desiderata. Specimens sent by Smith [Oct 93] marked with a tick.
No summary available.
His second volume ready for printing; its contents; 'Xanthium fruticosum'; the 'Encelia' really a new genus.
No summary available.
No summary available.
Sent copies of his "glossary"' ["Language of Botany"] to Smith and Linnean Society, includes: from "Hortus Kewensis" 'Achillea squarrosa', and from [Carlo] Allioni 'Achillea herba-rota', 'Achillea ligustica', and 'Achillea tanacetifolia'. Asks if Smith knows "'Achillea lutea' Krocker siles n. 1443". Difficulties with 'Achras' species in "Hort. Malab. vol 3 tab 29, 30, 31" [Rheede van Draakenstein's "Hortus Indicus Malabaricus"?] and between 'Achras' and [Olof] Swartz' 'Bumelia'. Asks what 'Achras balata' of Gmelin "Syst. 574.5" is. Preparing 'Aconitum' for press, asks for any of Smith's observations especially 'Aconitum lycotonum'.
Acknowledges Smith's thanks for dedication [of "The language of botany"]. Asks Smith to correct any errors in the glossary in advance of a second edition. Discusses botanical terminology and the trend of words changing their meaning.
Forgot to mention that the Cape Coast lily she sent Smith was from the Marquess of Bath, who had it from a young man he sent to Africa; he did not know what part of Africa it was from.
Received Smith's letter of 20 February 1792. There is a description of the "Diandrous" timber tree Smith intends to name after him in Roxburgh's plant drawings sent to Court of Directors [of East India Company], sent specimen of the tree to [Alexander] Dalrymple [(1737-1808) geographer] for possible use in mathematical instruments. The 'Lythrum orixensis' flowering in his garden is similar to 'Grislea', further observations, sends new sketch of flower and capsule to replace his faulty former description [on the reverse of the letter Smith has written: "drawing of 'Lythrum' put into herb[ariu]m at 'Grislea'"]. Encloses specimen of 'Indigofera caerulea', too northerly for [Johann Gerhard] Koenig [(1728-1785)] to have come across it. Efficacy of 'Swietenia' bark in curing fevers even after Peruvian-bark has failed, has sent a sample for Smith. Hopes Smith received seeds.
In postscript encloses seeds of 'Lythrum orixensis', asks Smith to forward a note to [William] Aiton [(1731-1793) Kew gardener], and for Molesworth to send potato seeds, believes those in India are still propagated from the first ever sets planted in Asia.