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From:
Anonymous
To:
Unknown
Date:
[1793]
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/19/67, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Defends the Roman Catholic faith against Smith's attacks on it in "Sketch": criticises Smith for "picking nettles and moss" instead of visiting the Palace of Caserta, Naples; for commenting on art and statues but labelling a statue of the Virgin Mary "idolatory"; Smith's hypocrisy in despairing of lack of religious freedom in Turin but rejoicing at the anti-Catholic songs sung in Geneva. Defends the Catholic litany; remarks on religious liberty of Protestants in Rome compared to Catholic priests in England; points out that common people are superstitious in all countries, such as maids in London divining from tea leaves; criticises [Jean-Jacques] Rousseau's [(1712-1778), philosopher] contradictions.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
G Smith
To:
unknown recipient
Date:
1 January 1793
Source of text:
L&P/10/58/1, Royal Society
Summary:

No summary available.

Contributor:
Royal Society
From:
John Hunter
To:
unknwon recipient
Date:
1793
Source of text:
L&P/10/52, Royal Society
Summary:

No summary available.

Contributor:
Royal Society
From:
John Latham
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
[1793]
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/23/59, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Presents his compliments and leaves two drawings of 'Lithosperum caeruleo-purpureum' for Smith.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
John Hobart, 2nd Earl of Buckinghamshire
To:
William Musgrave
Date:
3 January 1793
Source of text:
L&P/10/40, Royal Society
Summary:

No summary available.

Contributor:
Royal Society
From:
Sir James Edward Smith
To:
Thomas Jenkinson Woodward
Date:
9 Jan 1793
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/18/65, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Spent Christmas at Sir Alexander Hume's in Hertfordshire. Hopes to have his usual annual party of [Samuel] Goodenough, [Thomas] Marsham, and [Jonas] Dryander to his house next week, with Woodward's turkey acting as his ambassador; comments on turkeys being introduced from America to south of France by Jesuits. Asks for the Woodwards assistance in finding the tale in verse of the City mouse & country mouse" [note pasted to reverse of letter, in Smith's hand, with reference to Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift]. He is "well pleased" with his royal pupils, who are "very diligent & apt"; returning after 4 June. Currently engaged in zoological lectures in London, has 16 subscribers, including Lord Stormont. Work on his "Tour" proceeded well at Frogmore.

Comments on 'Woodwardia'; on good grounds. Plans to figure 'Fucus abrotanifolius' in his uncoloured work. Error by [James] Sowerby in his figure of 'Cardamine impatiens' in "English botany". Praises beauty of [Edward] Donovan's [(1768-1837), natural historian] insect plates but the letterpress is "not scientific"; he is an "Irish compiling sort of adventurer in literature", previously published a "very bad" sixpenny botanical magazine. [Samuel] Goodenough still thinks the 'Fucus' Woodward mentioned is 'F. palmetta' of Gmelin.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Edmund Davall
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
11 Jan 1793
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/14/55, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

His life completely secluded from contact with societies and individuals. Describes sudden death of his 84 year old aunt, and anecdote of a man who died with his cards still in hand. Glad of Smith's success with the Royal Family and hopes some reward will come of it.

Despite living as a hermit in September Lady [Lavinia] Spencer [(1762-1831)], the Duchess of Devonshire [Georgiana Cavendish (1757-1806)], and Lady [Henrietta] Duncannon [(1761-1821)] visited and he named the plants they had collected; the Duchess was rather indifferent as she prefers minerals to plants but Lady Spencer seriously intends to study Botany and Lady Duncannon has some aptitude, and he recommended Smith to them.

French politics: would like to see the establishment of a "reasonable & virtuous liberty & a state of things free from the abominable effects of intrigue & corruption" but unsure if as a nation they are "capable of great things, they always run into extremes & overshoot reason". Savoy peasants are forbidden from trading with Switzerland so must trade with the French for paper instead of money; "miserable as they were, many are still more so now".

Smith's pamphlets on slave trade: shocked by "the horrors practised on these unhappy men". Pleased with lichens and Smith's botanical instruction in his 9 November letter: will send more specimens of 'Linum tenuifolium' if requested. Pleased to hear of Afzelius and François [Borone] as the Berne Gazette has been reporting mortality and rebellion in Sierra Leone.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Thomas Jenkinson Woodward
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
11 Jan 1793
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/18/66, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Asks after new numbers of "Icones pictae" and "Spicilegium botanicum". Approves of enlarged "English botany" [from 3 to 6 plates per number], thinks it will increase sales amongst botanists though the number ordered for Bungay has fallen from 5 to 2, previously bought "as pretty pictures".

Expects to hear from [Samuel] Goodenough on 'Fucus palmetta' following his examination of the Linnaean and Sir Thomas Frankland's specimens, asks Smith's opinion of the Cromer 'Fucus' resembling 'F. furcellatus' and Gmelin's 'F. rotundus'. [William] Withering at Lisbon; he had been extremely ill with pulmonary complaints but recovered; happy to hear Smith has approved Withering's 'Agaric' species but the 'Fucus' are a bad copy of [William] Hudson's and thinks Velley should have helped him better.

Discusses origin of turkeys in Europe. Unable to find verse version of the "City & Country Mouse" story. Warns Smith not to fall in love with Princess Elizabeth [(1770-1840), daughter of George III]; rumoured that Dr J Willis did and thought it reciprocal; finds it odd that she, who is "least handsome", has been "most admired"; rumoured that Smith's sister was offered Miss [Fanny] Burney's [(1752-1840), novelist and Second Keeper of the Robes to the Queen] place but refused it. Asks how Smith is to publish his ferns.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
John Fairbairn
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
12 Jan 1793
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/22/1, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Bearer of the letter is a gardener recommended by Hunter of [Kenwood], for the gentleman Smith mentioned.

[Note in Smith's hand] account of expenses to [Shute] Barrington, and "Gulielmus Fridericus Baro de Gleichen, author of Microscopic observations on the parts of genera of plants".

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Benjamin Wiseman
To:
John Frere
Date:
14 January 1793
Source of text:
L&P/10/56/1, Royal Society
Summary:

No summary available.

Contributor:
Royal Society
From:
Hugh Davies
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
15 Jan 1793
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/21/95, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Delighted by Smith's employment at Windsor; hears that the Queen [Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744-1818)] wants to set up a botanic garden and he has been approached to send plants from Welsh mountains. Sending plant specimens for Linnean Society, will send lichens in next post. Hopes to send animal drawings via a friend. Has not seen a figure of the 'Pycnogonum'; Herbert's bad figure of the 'Cancer' [crab].

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
William Jones
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
15 Jan 1793
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/5/109, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Unable to attend Smith's gathering of friends at Marlborough Street due to his ill-health, a "rheumatic sciatic". His paper on 'Papilios' is with Smith, not having seen it since it was approved to be printed.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Nevil Maskelyne
To:
Joseph Banks
Date:
19 January 1793
Source of text:
L&P/10/31, Royal Society
Summary:

No summary available.

Contributor:
Royal Society
From:
Joseph Banks
To:
Joseph Banks
Date:
22 January 1793
Source of text:
MM/7/113, Royal Society
Summary:

No summary available.

Contributor:
Royal Society
From:
Richard Pulteney
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
23 Jan 1793
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/24/97, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Asks if Smith received his letter of 20 November 1793.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Richard Pulteney
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
1 Feb 1793
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/24/98, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Thanks for Smith's letter of 28 [January 1793], apologises for being a "troublesome correspondent". Desires Smith to compare [Sir Joseph] Bank's copy of Hedwig's ["Descriptio et adumbratio microscopico-analytica muscorum" (1787-1797)] with the one Haslock has for sale, and if satisfactory to purchase it for him. Directions for sending this and plates of L'Héritier's "Sertum Anglicum". His account with Smith. Pleased to hear that L'Héritier is to now focus exclusively on botany. He has given up on the French since they stepped over their own borders, even though they were provoked to it.

Asks Smith to show Dr [Thomas] Rackett the Linnaean shells.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Sir James Edward Smith
To:
Thomas Jenkinson Woodward
Date:
4 Feb 1793
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/18/67, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Sends remainder of Bulliard's ["Histoire des champignons"] and text, finally sent by L'Héritier; Woodward's account. Miss [Sarah Sophia] Banks [(1744-1818)] enquires after Bungay tradesmen's tokens or halfpence, for her collection. None of his works ready for two months; busy on his "Tour". Sales of "English botany" have increased since the enlargement. Did not review [William] Withering's book, and confirms he has only ever reviewed three: Berkenhout's "new edition" [of "Clavis Anglica linguae botanicae" (1789)], Curtis' "Magazine", and a pamphlet on silk worms, all in "Analytical Review"; does not intend to write any others.

Can easily see how Princess Elizabeth's [(1770-1840), daughter of George III] "winning condescension [and] looks so full of soul" could be mistaken by "a fool or a coxcomb" as a passion for himself; admits he is flattered by the attention she pays to his lessons. Lady [Amelia] Hume found the "City & Country Mouse" in Swift's works. His paper on ferns is for the Turin Academy as thanks for making him one of their 20 foreign members, in place of Franklin and in company of Priestly and Herschell. His picture is being drawn for the Exhibition, for Sir Abraham Hume, he is to have a frond of 'Woodwardia radicans' in his hand.

Sends his Matlock, [Derbyshire], lichens, and 'Convallaria verticillata', from Scotland. Amused by reports of his sister being offered Miss [Fanny] Burney's [(1752-1840), novelist and Second Keeper of the Robes to the Queen] place [in attendance on the Queen], which are without foundation; "you have no idea what tittle tattle is at Windsor".

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Thomas Jenkinson Woodward
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
8 [Feb] 1793
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/18/68, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Thanks for Bulliard's plates ["Histoire des champignons"]; comments on contents, including 'Clathus cancellatus' and 'Lycoperdon stellatum', which resembles his 'L. recolligens'. His fears that the "present horrible state of France would have put all literature out of the question" have not been realised. Wishes to know L'Héritier's role as a politician, believes he initially took an active part. Shocked by "murder of poor Louis" [Louis XVI (1774-1792), King of France], though it is a mercy for him considering his "uncertain situation". Sees no point in going to war and believes the country is averse to it, regardless of what ministers say.

Unable to provide Miss [Sarah Sophia] Banks [(1744-1818)] with Bungay tradesmen's halfpence as they were not produced on account of high cost. Thanks for lichen and 'Convallaria verticillata' specimens; has Smith's specimen of 'Pyrola uniflora' from Mount Cenis. Hopes to see Miss Lane's drawing of Smith at the exhibition in town; admires her drawing of Smith's eldest sister. Discusses further issues of Bulliard's plates, longs to see L'Héritier's "Geranium".

Requests Smith to add note to his account of 'Lycoperdon recolligens' [from paper on 'Lycoperdon'] to take in information from Bulliard. Does not expect to be at expense for the "Zoology & Botany of New Holland".

[Letter incomplete: lower half of second folio cropped, text immediately following interruption suggests this was the note on 'Lycoperdon recolligens']

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Anders Jahan Retzius
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
14 Feb 1793
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/4/101, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Plant queries for second edition of "Florae Scandinaviae prodromus", including: 'Carex uliginosa' identified as 'Schoenus compressus' or 'Scirpus caricis'. Offers to send specimen of [Jakob] Ehrhart's grass figured in Smith's "Icones pictae". Disappointed by natural history content of [James] Bruce's [of Kinnaird (1730-1794), traveller in Africa] "Travels"; errors with discussion of cereals. Requests copy of "Linnean Transactions" vol 1.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
John Henry Engelhart
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
14 Feb 1793
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/4/102, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Enquires after his old college acquaintances Smith, Dr Lubbock and Dr Saunders.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London