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From:
Sir James Edward Smith
To:
John Bowyer Nichols
Date:
11 Apr 1821
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/JN/15, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Approves autographs [for "A selection of the correspondence of Linnaeus" (1821)]. Requests further proofs so he can finish his index, and fair copies of various sections.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Sir James Edward Smith
To:
John Nichols
Date:
20 Apr 1821
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/JN/16, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Returns remaining 10 volumes of Miss Currer's collection of correspondence, and volumes of [Emanuel Mendez] da Costa's [(1717-1791), naturalist] correspondence, and a few other letters.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Sir James Edward Smith
To:
John Nichols
Date:
5 May 1821
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/JN/17, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Saw Mr Longman on his return through London yesterday, who expressed "great pleasure" in publishing the "Correspondence", and regretted that his house had formerly declined taking on the work. Offers his interest in this edition to Nichols for £100 and 150 copies, as it is the kind of book to make presents and exchanges with.

[Draft of Nichols' reply:] Declines Smith's offer.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Sir James Edward Smith
To:
Pleasance Smith
Date:
7 May 1821
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/19/114, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

A dinner with Correa, [Robert] Brown, [Charles] Konig, and Hare; Mr Forster thinks Correa's mental powers are failing. Correa's opinion of America. Walked to [Stoke] Newington and visited the Aikins, Mrs Barbauld, Mrs Lee, and Revd Mr Bransby. Unable to see [Nathaniel] Kindersley [Smith's cousin] before he goes to India. Visited Loddiges [plant nursery] where they have raised hundreds of 'Rhododendrum arboreum' from his seeds. His future activities. Has not heard anything yet about their journey to Southampton._x000D_

[Explanatory notes in pencil, by another hand, on first folio]_x000D_

[Letter incomplete: folio[s] presumed destroyed]

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Sir James Edward Smith
To:
John Bowyer Nichols
Date:
8 May 1821
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/JN/18, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Satisfied with arrangements for publication, and leaves arrangements with Longman to Nichols. Returns proof of index.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Sir James Edward Smith
To:
Pleasance Smith
Date:
24 May 1821
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/19/115, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Account of Linnean Society anniversary meeting: 72 at the dinner, greatest number yet; lists attendees; details of his speech. Is to visit Lady Ramsay on the Isle of Wight with Harriet. There were 20 subscribers above the 120 wanted for Sir Joseph Banks' bust by [Francis Leggatt] Chantrey [(1781-1841), sculptor]. New Linnean Society house [in Soho Square] costs less than the old one [in Gerard Street]. His first [Royal Institution] lecture on 28 May and second on 31 May. Suffered a headache, now cleared. Prince Leopold did not attend [Linnean Society meeting] or send an answer, which they wonder at.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Sir James Edward Smith
To:
Pleasance Smith
Date:
9 Jun 1821
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/19/116, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Account of his [and Harriet's] journey from London to Cowes, including visit to Dr Hill and family in Southampton. Account of their reception by Lady Ramsay and her son, who is a keen botanist, and how they have spent their time. The "Linnaean Correspondence" much admired and likely to sell well; his "Grammar of Botany" ridiculously abused in the "Eclectic Review".

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Sir James Edward Smith
To:
Pleasance Smith
Date:
18 Jun 1821
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/19/117, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Account of his journey from Southampton to London, via Winchester, where he admired the cathedral and met [John] Latham. His London engagements. His future movements; intends to return to Norwich by end of June. Asks for directions regarding present of dress or ornament.

[Letter incomplete: folio[s] presumed destroyed]

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Sir James Edward Smith
To:
John Bowyer Nichols
Date:
9 Sep 1821
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/JN/19, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

[This letter appears to be a later copy and is not in Smith's hand]

Thanks for mention of him and his "Grammar of Botany" in last "[Gentleman's] Magazine". Approves of the 20 copies of "A selection of the correspondence of Linnaeus" alloted to him. Requests a set of the autographs. "Poor Mr Stevenson's treasures are preparing for sale by auction".

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Sir James Edward Smith
To:
John Bowyer Nichols
Date:
26 Oct 1821
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/JN/20, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Requests return of autographs of [Jean-Jacques] Rousseau [(1712-1778), philosopher], [Nicolas de] Condorcet [(1743-1794)], [William] Hogarth [(1697-1764)], and Ramsay, if Nichols has them. Hopes "Linnaean correspondence" is selling well, has not yet seen it reviewed.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Sir James Edward Smith
To:
Nathaniel John Winch
Date:
23 Nov 1821
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/MS321/4, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Thanks for letter and packet. Observations on Winch's specimens: leaving the roses until he comes to that section of "[English] Flora", but having briefly examined them concurs with Winch's opinions and compliments him as "a faithful & original observer"; believes the genus ['Rosa'] is a perfect example of the saying "the more cooks, the worse broth"; has no true authority for 'Rosa villosa' being wild in Britain.

Has not yet read [William Jackson] Hooker's work on roses, but thinks Hooker was "too hasty" with 'Salix' and showed he had not studied them properly, which he has told him, will avoid doing so in public. Criticises various recent publications on 'Salix' including by De Candolle and Sprengel, in which his own work on willows has been "jumbled", and Seringue, leading to nurserymen applying his names to common varities, leading him to be "plagued with enquiries".

Observations on Winch's remaining specimens: Winch's 'Salix forsteriana' and 'S. andersoniana' correct; the 'Salix' of fifth and sixth editions of [William] Withering's ["Botanical arrangement"] is 'S. myrsinites'; 'Cypripedium calceolus'; 'Saxifraga hirculus'; Winch's 'Epilobium alpestre' his 'E. alsinifolium'; 'Thlaspi hirtum'; Winch's new 'Veronica' is his 'V. saxatilis'.

Thanks for Winch's last work, has sent a copy to [Robert] Brown. Apologises for not being "a good correspondent", he has too much other writing; deeply engaged with "Flora Graeca", and following a trip to Holkham [Hall, Norfolk, home of Thomas William Coke] intends to focus on "English Flora", which he longs for "more than a schoolboy for his holidays".

[On recto of second folio] Two lists of plants sent to Smith, dated 12 March 1823, and 26 April 1824 "with desiderata" [in Winch's hand, see RelatedMaterial below].

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Sir James Edward Smith
To:
Samuel Goodenough
Date:
3 Mar 1822
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/12/73, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Thanks for barrel of oysters. Steadily working on his "English Flora" and hopes to get it to the press in May; expects it to be "quite an original Flora" as he has been revising the whole subject and correcting mistakes made by previous writers and compilers. Asks Goodenough's advice regarding accenting of names and whether to give derivation of generic names. The whole object of the book is "botanical determination". Asks Goodenough's opinion of the "green old age" of [Thomas William] Coke [on 26 February 1822 Coke married for the second time Lady Anne Amelia Keppel (1803-1844), fifty years his junior]. Smith hopes he has done some good with the grasses and triandria monogynia, with which [Robert] Brown is "very great" but refines too much.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Sir James Edward Smith
To:
Samuel Goodenough
Date:
13 Mar 1822
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/12/75, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Takes on advice in Goodenough's last letter on "English Flora": only explanations of generic names will be for those new to British readers; praises Goodenough's plan for accenting but decides to adopt a simpler system. Queries whether [Augustin] de Candolle's new term, "carpella", for the single grains of compound fruits should not be "carpiola". Adopting [Johann von] Schreber's [(1739-1810)] genus 'Spartina' for 'Dactylis stricta' but the French have called it 'Limnetis'. Fears [William] Swainson has not succeeded in his attempts for a British Museum post. Regrets that party politics should make men such as [Thomas William] Coke and Edmund Wodehouse [(1784-1855), politician] enemies; feels some alarm at difference in age between Coke and his new wife [fifty years his junior]. [William] Roscoe preparing a "very excellent distribution of the species of 'Canna'" for Linnean Society.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Sir James Edward Smith
To:
James Yates
Date:
24 Mar 1822
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/26/77, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Thanks for Yates' letter, pleased he enjoyed his time at Norwich. Heard great things of Yates at Holkham [Hall, Norfolk, home of Thomas William Coke] and his skill with Coke's manuscripts. Asks Yates' opinion of Coke's marriage [in 1822 Coke married Lady Anne Amelia Keppel (1803-1844), 50 years his junior]; "Tories and bigots [...] hate Mr Coke for his virtues, but still more for his happiness".

Sorry to hear reports of Yates' father's [John Yates (1755-1826), Unitarian minister] ill health, "his loss will ill be supplied whenever he is taken away"; receives supports from his sister Martin, who is attached to Yates' family. Engaged with his "English Flora" and has little time for letter writing. Hopes to see Yates in London, he intends to be there from 5 May to till after 4 June.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Sir James Edward Smith
To:
Alexander Macleay
Date:
5 May 1822
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/AM/154, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Unable to go to London tomorrow as he is suffering from one of his "old inflammatory attacks on the lungs", but hopes to be well enough to attend Linnean Society anniversary meeting by staying at Mr [Thomas] Forster's in Hackney, [Middlesex], for a week beforehand. [Thomas] Brightwell [(1787-1868), entomologist] will attend Society on Tuesday to be admitted, will bring [Joseph] Sabine's paper.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Sir James Edward Smith
To:
Pleasance Smith
Date:
26 May 1822
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/19/118, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Frederick [Smith's brother] still in town. Account of his time in London: visited Westminster Abbey; dined with [William Fitt] Drake at [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert's; tiring Audit and Council meetings [at Linnean Society]; Linnean Society anniversary meeting; a wish expressed for a bust of Smith to be made by [Francis Leggatt] Chantrey [(1781-1841), sculptor], as companion to the one of Sir Joseph Banks; only 49 present at the dinner, compared to 70 last year, held in the Free Masons' tavern; Bishop [of Carlisle, Samuel Goodenough] and [Edward] Rudge informed him that the agricultural distress "is in a great measure imaginary"; visit to the British gallery with the Drake and Harriet [Drake's wife?]; went to Royal Institution, is not lecturing this year, but finds they are much called for, may lecture next year, London Institution have also asked him to lecture; visited the Miss Blackwells and assumed they were grave on account of [Thomas William] Coke's marriage but was in fact sudden death of Duchess of Grafton; visits to Lord Stanley, Lady Anson, Lady Scott wife of Sir Claude Scott, Duke of Norfolk, Lady Petre, and Lady Hervé and Miss Caton. Meeting with Coke and Lady Anne, his new wife; alterations at Holkham. Visits to R Kindersley [Smith's cousin]; Lord Stafford's pictures; Lady Banks; [James] Sowerby; the Munros; Major and Mrs Sandham. Plans to visit Sir Thomas Cullum in Bury, [Suffolk]. His feverish and pulmonary symptoms all gone. Harriet admitted a fellow of the Linnean Society in form. Saw [Dawson] Turner at anniversary meeting. Mr Crabbe received £3000 from Murray for copyright to his poems.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Sir James Edward Smith
To:
J L Lawson
Date:
13 Jun 1822
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/AM/156, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Complains that Lawson's letter had no address or date, but informs him the Linnean Society "will always receive gratefully any communications relative to Nat[ura]l History", and assures Lawson that as long as there is "nothing unpleasantly controversial to Mr [Robert] Brown" all criticism is welcomed. Thanks Lawson for his good opinion of his performances [probably Smith's lectures].

[Unclear if this letter reached its destination]

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Sir James Edward Smith
To:
Sir Thomas Gery Cullum
Date:
29 Jun 1822
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/13/72, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

[John] Denson [(fl 1820s-1870s, curator of Bury botanic garden] sent him thirty specimens to examine and a copy of his catalogue [of plants in Bury botanic garden]. Found 'Aurum dracunculus' "flowering & stinking" in his garden though not as tall as Cullum's. Cullum's parakeet is 'Gingi psittacus' as figured in the "Planches Enluminées". Experiencing an improvement in health and walked to Mrs Crowe's; the willows all growing well. Placed all of Lady Gage's insects in his cabinet. Sends Cullum copies of Linnaeus' "Orbis eruditi judicium" and "Observationes in Regnum Lapideum". Resuming work on his "English Flora", Edward Forster approves of that already done.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Sir James Edward Smith
To:
Alexander Macleay
Date:
20 Aug 1822
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/AM/157, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

He has been at home since middle of June and had recovered his health and strength until contracting a severe case of cholera, "very prevalent here"; hoping to recover his strength at Lowestoft, [Suffolk], before going onto Birmingham, [Warwickshire], to give another course of lectures at the Institution, beginning 16 September [1822]. Following this will visit Holkham [Hall, Norfolk, home of Thomas William Coke]. Suggests Macleay come to Norfolk in late autumn.

"There is no end of strange & awful events in the history of our times", comments on deaths of Lord Londonderry [Robert Stewart, 2nd Marquess of Londonderry (1769-1822), statesman, committed suicide], and Mrs [Charlotte] Lynn [daughter of Samuel Goodenough, died suddenly].

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Sir James Edward Smith
To:
Pleasance Smith
Date:
10 Sep 1822
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/19/120, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Glad neither Pleasance or sister-in-law suffered by the accident [unspecified]. Their journey to Holkham [home of Thomas William Coke]. Plans for Pleasance to join them at Holkham in October, following his lectures in Birmingham. Duke of Sussex [Prince Augustus Frederick (1773-1843)] and [William] Roscoe also to visit. Lists current guests. A game of "long shilling". Shall be cautious when eating fruits. Reading "Voice from St Helena".

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London