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Concedes Smith's claim that he is a lazy correspondent but has been away travelling in Italy. Saw [William] Thomson[(c 1760-1806), mineralogist and physician] in Florence, has decided to settle in Naples after discussion with Sir William Hamilton [(1731-1803) diplomat]. His garden is growing well, offers to send specimens. Complains that plants he received from the Songo firm in London have not flourished possibly due to lack of attention in transit. Recommends Smith contact the Loddigas nurseries for plants that cannot be obtained through friends. Requests seeds of 'Mimosa', 'Cassis', and 'Pinus juniperus', amongst others. Asks if [William] Aiton's "Hortus Kewensis" is worth purchasing to assist in laying out his greenhouse and to send it via Mr Aubert if so. Smith's books have been sent to Turin, Italy, to the required address.
Invites Smith to see her 'Amaryllis capensis' in flower; Crabb brought it from Holland as a bulb and neither Smith nor any other botanist have any knowledge of it, urged [James] Sowerby to draw it. She is very unwell and in addition to losing her domestic servants her favourite dog has died. Grass also ready for inspection by Smith.
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Discusses his 'Hirudo' paper for "Linnean Transactions": has a third species of 'Hirudo' which is not like 'Hirudo stagnalis', asks Smith to correct his paper if necessary. Would like to see figures quoted by Linnaeus in the "Systema" as "Bergm. Act. Stock. 1756". Has named his three species 'Hirudo alba', 'Hirudo nigra', and 'Hirudo crenata'.
First part of 'Icones' published; criticism of Ortega.
Letter sent by Merlet de la Boulaye in Angers to Smith. Thanks for specimens and for election as F.M.L.S. ; death of Charnacé ; news.
Joy he receives from Smith's friendship. Presses Smith to visit. Anxious that Smith may not have received the seeds of 'Cerinthe perennis'. Glad his ideas on 'Trifolium alpestre' proved correct in "Linnean Transactions", further comments on [Adam] Afzelius' paper. 'Serapias' all a confusion for Smith. Cannot say anything on "pretended specific difference" of 'Gnaphalium sylvaticum', 'norvegicum' Retz, 'Crepis discoridis', interests him as much as 'Trifolium agaricum'. Comments on plants previously sent in various parcels.
Thanks Smith for his efforts in reconciling [William] Aiton to him. Answers Smith's queries on his health: does find fruit to be laxative, red wine makes him costive, and is most tormented with it in spring where 'Leontodon taraxacum' is eaten as they do other vegetables, stewed in butter or beef broth. Has not yet received anything from [Horace Bénédict] de Saussure [(1740-1799)]. Regarding Smith's proposal to name a genus after him would like Smith to do whatever he thinks best, but wishes he had completed his work before such an honour. Comments on 'Carex' no 11 of his parcel by Mandrot 1790.
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Encloses catalogue of plants [from his botanical garden]. Requests seeds of 'Mimosa', 'Cassia', 'Aeschinomene', 'Poinciana pinus', 'Laurus' and 'Juniperus', excluding species in his catalogue. His brother J. Luc has received the plants that Smith sent. Advises Smith to send plants in a box rather than an open basket in future.
Fears for Smith's safety following reports of fire at the Pantheon [place of public entertainment on south side of Oxford Street, London]. Responds to Smith's letter [of 30 December 1791]: sorry to hear of Smith's brother's inactivity; will send a list of desiderata in due course, but anything not Swiss welcome and especially 'Smithia sensitivia'. Intends for his herbarium plan Swiss plants and English and European plants in near affinity. Thanks for Smith's figures of 'Agrostis capillaris' and 'Saponaria lutea'; shall send Smith a list of grasses desired, already has 'Cornucopiae cucullatum'.
Responds to Smith's letter of 6 July 1791: extensive comments on 'Arenaria liniflora'; is Smith happy with his drying and nature of specimens; number 10 of his 1791 parcel by Mandrot 'Anemone fragifera' or '[Anemone] baldensis'; will send good wild specimen of 'Ranunculus thora', comments on Haller's figure, does not agree with what Smith says of [Jean Johannes] Bauhin [(1541-1613)] and notes errors in printing of Bauhin and other 'Ranunculus' species.
Asks if Smith has seen "that complicated, fabricated, forged, mechanic mass", the vegetable part of [Johann Friedrich] Gmelin's [(1748-1804)] "Systema Naturae". Received visit from Professor [Johann] Hermann of Strasburg last summer.
Disputes the 'Mentha' Smith and Goodenough determined as 'M. sativa'; convinced that all 'Mentha' can be found both hairy and smooth on the underleaf depending on soil and situation; discussion of other 'Mentha' including 'M. arvensis', 'M. gentilis', M. rotundifolis', 'M. sylvestris', 'M. villosa'; desires to see [Edmund] Davall's specimens and to hear from [William] Hudson on subject.
Pleased to hear that [Samuel] Goodenough now concedes that the Linnaeus' 'Carex caespitosa' is the same as the London 'C. caespitosa'. Requests specimen of 'Cerastium alpinum'. Congratulates Smith on escape from fire at the Pantheon, [Oxford Street, London].
[Note on separate piece of paper] an article in January [1792] edition of "Monthly Magazine" proposes an explanation for the formation of "fairy rings", brief summary.
Thanks for Smith's letter of 9 December [1791]. Requests copy of Smith's "Flora Lapponica" and remaining parts of Gaertner. Expects Labillardière's circumnavigation of the globe will delay his work. Requests remainder of Cavanilles' "Monadelphiae".
Sends "Flora Lapponica" and final fasciculus of Dickson's "dried plants", "Icones pictae" delayed; Woodward's account. Sends specimens of 'Iberis amara' and 'Lycoperdon cancellatum' of Jacquin and Linnaeus "Supplementum" he found on pear leaves at Sir Abraham Hume's in Hertfordshire, which he almost certainly the work of insects. Thanks for turkey, on which he, [Samuel] Goodenough, and [Jonas] Dryander dined, and letters of 28 December [1791] and 5 January [1792]: intends to create the genera 'Woodwardia', 'Davallia', and 'Dicksonia' to go "hand in hand"; [William] Withering's election to Linnean Society "unanimous"; does not know [William] Sole except by name; thinks Woodward's disorder is gout. Only giving copies of "Flora Lapponica" to a few country friends and directing everyone else to purchase it from White's, as they print it at their "hazard & expense".
Arranging the Queen's [Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744-1818)] herbarium, late [John] Lightfoot's, on introduction and advice of Lady Cremorne and [Samuel] Goodenough; refusing payment; the Queen's character; is to give her and the Princesses a course of botany in the summer; expects a visit from the Queen. Studying Lightfoot's herbarium will be useful for his "Flora Britannica" as the British specimens are good and annotated by [John] Pitchford and Bryant. His old servant, François [Borone], is to accompany [Adam] Afzelius on a botanical trip to Sierra Leone for 18 months to 2 years, sent by the [Sierra Leone] Company to find gums and other profitable items of trade.
Apologises for delay in sending L'Héritier's works, "but the fault is not in me but in the French revolution, which has turned the head of our friend [...] & made him turn tail upon us botanists". Other European publications, including by Cavanilles and Labillardière. Sends "Flora Lapponica" and Swartz' "Prodromus".
Has just been at Windsor to look at the Queen's [Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744-1818)] herbarium, formerly [John] Lightfoot's. Hopes Pulteney will come to London this spring.
Illness of his brother-in-law, Mr Palmer, has delayed his coming to London till Easter and Linnean Society anniversary meeting. Remarks on various phenomena of the early spring: recently saw 'Papilio phamni' flying, 'Scarabaeus luisquilius' in hundreds, and "those nimble animals the 'Carabi'"; an apricot tree in flower in a Cambridge college garden as reported in Cambridge paper, observed in his brother's [Sir John Cullum, 6th baronet (1733-1785)] journal that the apricot tree at Hardwick, [Suffolk], flowered on 20 February 1779 and 27 February 1775 but did not flower till March or April in following years; observed 'Veronica hederacea' and 'Veronica agrestis' in flower and considering looking for 'Veronica verna' and 'Veronica triphyllos'.
Praises number fifteen of "English Botany"; 'Papaver hybridum' and 'Anchusa sempervirens' commonly grows near them does not doubt 'Verbascum blattaria' is native having seen it in similar conditions and in barren places in Cornwall. Requests of White copies of Smith's new "Flora Lapponica", Thunberg's "Characteres genenum insectorum", and [Pehver's] "Weekly Memorials for the Ingenious". Asks of Mr Poulter, [William] Hudson, and Sir George Staunton's safe return.