Search: 1790-1799::1798 in date 
Smith, James Edward in correspondent 
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From:
Sir James Edward Smith
To:
James Sowerby
Date:
[1798]
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/JS/4, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Finds that no.427 [of "English botany"] they settled on for 'Tragopogon pratense' is already occupied by 'Humulus lupulus'. Encloses drawing of 'T. farfara' no.429; he will bring the rest, with the 'Boronia', to Sir Joseph Banks'. Considering beginning vol 7 [of "English botany"] with 'Epimedium alpinum'.

List of plants for plates 415-435.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Thomas Johnes
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
1 Jan 1798
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/16/41, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

His daughter's health good. Requests Mr Crown's and Mr Hatchett's forenames. Poplars which came two days ago are now laid in the ground. His daughter [Mariamne Johnes] has benefited from prescribing herself "some vinous tincture of Rhubarb", though she complains of a pain in her right thigh which he supposes is caused by the stay pressing on a muscle. Material for coats.

Has begun work on a new road to join that from the [Devil's] Bridge. Todd [his gardener] has planted almost all their available trees, which now number almost 300,000, and they are now waiting on supply from Scotland, when the number will be close to a million. Weather "unkind and fluctuating, but always ending with wet". Regrets placement of his kitchen garden.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Aylmer Bourke Lambert
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
3 Jan 1798
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/6/21, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Sends copy of "Bauer's drawing done by Ennis" [not extant]. Asks is Smith intends a paper on the new genera he mentioned [unnamed]. Sir Joseph Banks has undertaken direction of the engravings [for Lambert's book "Description of the genus Pinus"] after being shown the drawings. Asks if 'Pinus orientalis' is in the Linnaean collections or anything else worth observing, and whether there is any information in Peter Collinson's [(1694-1768) botanist] letters, mentions Smith's intention of publishing them. Presided at Linnean Society, paper read on "the zoology of Leith" by Robert Jameson. Mungo Park [(1771-1806) surgeon and traveller] has returned from Africa "with great discoveries".

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Sir Joseph Banks
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
14 Jan 1798
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/1/60, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Thanks Mrs Smith for turkey. Unable to recommend Bracy Clarke to the directors [Executive Directory, body of five directors that held executive power in France, 1795-1799] for obtaining a passport, but nevertheless admires his acquirements as a veterinary surgeon.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Sir James Edward Smith
To:
Edmund Davall
Date:
17 Jan 1798
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/14/83, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Note on letter received 5 February [1798].

Sorry to have not written since 2 November 1796; informed by Bracy Clark that Davall is in bad health. His move to Norwich successful and happily settled with wife and no children. Has been in Wales treating [Mariamne] Johnes' diseased spine. Working on "Flora Britannica". Anxious to send Davall continuation of "English Botany". Has been studying [William] Sherard's [(1659-1728)] herbarium at Oxford and can now settle 'Mentha' to his satisfaction: gives botanical characters of 'M. arvensis', 'M. gentilis', 'M. sativa', 'M. pulegium', and thinks there are no real differences in species between 'capitate' and verticillate'. Publishing a volume of "Tracts relating to natural history"; contents. Lady Rockingham often asks after Davall.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
William Beeston Coyte
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
21 Jan 1798
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/21/84, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Thanks for Welsh plant specimens. Does not doubt that 'Adiantum' is a different species; will preserve specimen of 'Pelargoniam' for Smith; thanks for specimen of 'S. albidna'. Death of Dr [Nicholas] Gwyn.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
George Williams
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
2 Feb 1798
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/10/86, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Requests a specially bound copy of Smith's "Insects of Georgia" for the Bodleian Library, Oxford. Asks for recent specimens of Lichens used in medicine or in the arts, and whether any foreign author has recently written on the anatomy of plants.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Thomas Johnes
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
2 Feb 1798
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/16/42, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Received Smith's letter of 26 [January]. Impressed with the skills of Mr Williams, who has made an "excellent radical cure of Mrs Johnes toothache"; thinks he will be beneficial for the country. Pleased to hear of Johnson's "very handsome" behaviour towards Mr Enfield. Thanks for gift of "Bufris" fruit "very like an exceeding fine medlar"; asks for a good quantity of them and Mrs Johnes requests Norwich biscuits. The Cardigan salmon has been forwarded, and the cheese must be sent before March or April: it is ripened in ale, similar to how Cheshire cheeses are floated in brine, "for those that like mellow rotten cheese, it would be a treat". Mrs Smith's cordon finished.

Received seeds from Charlotte [his sister, in India], describes physical characteristics of one, the others only have their common names so impossible to name them. Expecting two hundred seeds from gardens of Zarsco Zelo [palace in Russia, near St Petersburg], including the "fine peonies that are in the "Flora Rossica"". Satisfied a plant he sent Smith advertisement of is from Russia. His daughter's health much the same. The poor are very sickly. High winds with rain, very changeable.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Sir Joseph Banks
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
5 Feb 1798
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/1/61, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Has specimens of 'Poa bulbosa' from France, Syria and Switzerland but not England. Has compared his specimen of the 'viviperous' variation against two texts. Not sending his 'Clumae' as his specimens are foreign. Comments on grasses.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
John Stackhouse
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
6 Feb 1798
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/25/73, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Encloses specimen of a small nondescript 'Medusa', it adheres strongly to 'Fucus cricoides', and sends phial of the purple tint of 'Fucus edulis'. Thanks for honour Smith did him in paper read last Linnean Society evening meeting.

[Spec 24 written in pencil at head of verso of folio]

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Thomas Jenkinson Woodward
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
8 Feb 1798
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/18/114, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Sends specimens and notes by himself and [William] Withering of three genera of grasses, including 'Poa angustifolia', 'P. bulbosa', 'Festuca rubra', 'F. duriuscula', and 'Bromus diandrus', and others.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Edmund Davall
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
[13 Feb 1798]
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/14/85, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

In red ink at top of first folio: "Mr Davall's last unfinished letter".

Revived by Smith's letter of 17 January 1798. His health totally destroyed, intellect affected and faculty of speech impaired at age of 35 by "frequent attacks of one of the most terrible" convulsive disorders. Fears he was too copiously bled on 2 February 1797, losing 150 ounces between that date and end of March and blisters applied to his leg caused violent cramps and tortured his nerves. Attended by a too young doctor trained at Pavia who thinks his ills come from an obstinate constipation caused by too frequent use of purgatives. Has taken a deluge of 'Valerian officinalis', 'Cinchona officinalis', flores zinci, 'Moschus', 'Viscum album', and since 10 January wholly on milk diet.

Letter unfinished and unsent, enclosed in Henriette Davall's letter of 10 October 1798 informing Smith of Edmund's death.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Henriette-Louise-Stephanie Davall
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
13 Feb 1798
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/14/84, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Writes on behalf of her husband, Edmund, who is too ill to write himself.

Address written in Davall's hand.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
George Williams
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
22 Feb 1798
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/10/87, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Received the two volumes of Smith's "Insects of Georgia". Thanks for Lichen specimens.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Bracy Clark
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
24 Feb 1798
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/3/69, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Has obtained Peter Huber's paper on "the natural history of the humble-bees" for the Linnean Society and relates some of its principal discoveries; Huber is the son of William Huber of Geneva who published an "ingenious" work on hive bees five years ago including discovery that the queen bee is impregnated out of the hive whilst on the wing and that it is fatal to the males. Huber intends to publish further observations on bees in a second volume, including on the small pouches between the segments on the undersides of the abdomen, in which wax is inserted, and has also observed that the "yellow matter" found on the legs of bees is "bee bread", as discovered by John Hunter [(1728-1793), surgeon and anatomist] before him, but Huber found that this was known to an "old English author on bees which was translated early in [the eighteenth] century into German".

Grateful for Smith's assistance in helping him through France and during his "exile" intends to work on framing much better characters for the division of 'Phalaena' [moths]. Unable to give an account of [Edmund] Davall. Comments that "our revolution" has passed off without bloodshed [French invasion of Switzerland], however at the first moment of its revolt every Englishman except himself left Lausanne as it was expected that the [French] would attack, forcing the cantons to gradually fall off [from the Swiss Confederation] and leave Bern at the mercy of the French. Asks whether [William] Kirby has published on bees as was being reported before leaving England.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
William Bingley
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
12 Mar 1798
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/20/84, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Introduces himself; his acquaintance with Smith's brother, J F Smith of Wakefield. Lists habitats of rarer plants not yet figured in "English botany", found in Yorkshire: 'Saxifraga umbrosa'; 'Saxifraga granulata'; 'Carduus helenioides'; 'Cistus heleanthemum'; 'Sedum telephium'; 'Rhodiola rosea'; 'Saxifraga oppositifolia'; 'Butomus umbellatus'; 'Veronica sentellata'; 'Spergula nodosa'; 'Blechnum spicant'; 'Plantago coronopus'; 'Hippuris vulgaris'; 'Malva moschata'; 'Hypericum humifusum', 'Antirrhinum spurium' and 'Antirrhinum elatine'. Will send specimens of 'Saxifraga umbrosa' when next in Yorkshire and any other rare plants he encounters.

As he only started studying botany two years ago asks how to ascertain the legitimacy of location of plants, referring to article in "Gentleman's Magazine" of October 1796 which he finds insufficient. Just found 'Vinca minor' and 'Helleborus foetidus'.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Charlotte Smith
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
15 Mar 1798
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/9/54, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Thanks for Smith's reply. Would like to make Smith's acquaintance in London when he next comes for his annual visit, although she is compelled to leave the country in May. Took note of Smith's hint of introducing botany into a novel although believes modern tastes in fiction for "gigantic and impossible horrors" will not make it appear vapid enough to the "admirers of spectre novels and cavern adventures", nonetheless has included a little in her latest [presumably "The Young Philosopher" (1798)].

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Sir James Edward Smith
To:
Edmund Davall
Date:
15 Mar 1798
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/14/86, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Relieved to receive Henriette Davall's account of his health. Thinks Davall's disorder is debility and prescribes Peruvian bark taken in peppermint tea, does not see the benefit of a milk diet and recommends plain light meats, warns against too debilitating a plan in case it causes apoplexy, fits, and fainting, not to load stomach with physic or food, take light plain broth or a little solid meat and keep bowels gently open. For uneasiness in head recommends bathing legs and feet in warm water before bed. Suspects he has taken too much physic and has too "Sangrado-like" a doctor [sangrado, Spanish for bleeding].

Lists his plans and destinations for year. Continuing work on "Flora Britannica" though currently cannot do more than five plants a day, just through 'tetrandria', grasses very troublesome. Sorry Davall has not received "English Botany" 42 to 66 he sent with letter of 2 November 1796 listing his reasons for moving to Norwich - domestic comfort, cheapness, command of time, and good air, his health much better. Offers to send "English Botany" and [James] Sowerby's "Fungi".

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Bracy Clark
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
22 Mar 1798
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/3/70, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Staying with [Edmund] Davall in Orbe, gives a detailed account of Davall's current condition and its history. Believes Davall's condition to be more epilepsy than paralysis and to have had its immediate cause in overwork and overeating from the delusion that he was threatened with a consumption. Detailed description of Davall's fits, has been prescribed powder of valerian root with a little musk to be taken 3 or 4 times a day, has also been treated with "calomil bark" and "flores zinci". Davall experienced much uneasiness having only heard rumours circulated by the French as to the condition of England, has been relieved to hear of the efforts of English resistance. Believes Davall will recover. Comments on the beauty of the area around Orbe. Hopes to send a work by Linnaeus he found in Bern, Switzerland.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Christiaan Hendrik Persoon
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
28 Mar 1798
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/8/40, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Awaits receipt of Linnean Society diploma. Sends description of new fungi for possible inclusion in "Linnean Transactions". Asks for engravings of the drawings of fungi he previously sent including: 'Peziza onotica', 'Boletus cinereus', 'Boletus rubiginosus', 'Stemonitis leucostyla', 'Sphaeria ochracea', and 'Lycogala conica', [Smith has marked each with a cross], and for prints of the treatise as he is publishing his "Synopsis fungorum". Expecting packet of dried plants, requests 'Filices' and 'Lycoperdon phalloides'. Sends regards to Bracy Clark and [James] Dickson.

Smith has summarised his reply on verso of second folio: returns five of the drawings to be named; his paper shall be printed in fifth "Linnean Transactions" volume; intends to name a 'Persoonia', was beaten by [Martin] Vahl to name a 'Schraderia'; will send dried plants; requests 'Coliforme'.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London