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.
No longer possible for Woodward to stay during his visit for Linnean Society anniversary meeting as his mother, youngest sister, and brother from Yorkshire are visiting at the same time. Asks if Woodward saw letter in last month's "Gentleman's Magazine" criticising his specific character of 'Geranium lucidum' in "English botany"; his response to appear in May issue in which he will also own the work. "English botany" to start including 'Cryptogamia', but not fungi. Has Woodward's drawing of 'Agaric' from [James] Sowerby.
Correcting the press of Woodward's 'Lycoperdon' paper; finds it amusing, though doubts Charles Bryant [(d 1799)] will. "Great loss" of [William] Aiton [(1731-1792), director of Kew Gardens] to Kew, his son [William Townsend Aiton] "clever & civil". Fourth fasciculus of "Icones pictae" out this year. Still working on his "Tour", some already printing. Feels better this winter than he has for many years.
Details of his journey and pending visit to London. Expects [Charles] Bryant [(d 1799)] to be "very angry" on reading his paper [on 'Lycoperdons'], expects an attack in the "Gentleman's Magazine". Saw the attack on Smith's 'Geranium lucidum' of "English botany" in "Gentleman's Magazine"; unsure who the author is and attempts to apologise for him. Approves of "English botany" including cryptogams but warns against figuring too many for fear of "disgusting the florists & the ladies". Hopes to send [James] Sowerby 'Cineraria palustris' and others from Yarmouth; doubts whether the drawing of 'Agaric' is the 'Clypeolarias' of Bulliard, as [William] Withering refers to it. Visits from Sir John Rous [1st Earl of Stradbroke (1750-1827), politician] who grows exotic trees in his plantations, does not study them scientifically but knows their names in "Hortus Kewensis".
No summary available.
Thanks for 'Fl. Lapponica' and plants from New South Wales; negotiations for books; sends his Dissertations for Royal and other Societies.
Sending fifth volume of "Transactions of the Royal Scientific Society of Uppsala", via Dr Avent, who is returning to England; wishes there was greater exchange of correspondence between England and Sweden. Smith unanimously elected to Royal Society. Concerned to hear that Smith's letter to a German on subject of sale of Linnaean collections has been disclosed, but gratified Smith wishes he [Acrel] be cleared of all impropriety. Clearance of his debts with Smith. Introduces Dr Bierchen.