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No summary available.
Presents Smith with two "curious" plants. The first 'Oenothera biennis' discovered by John Sheppard [(c 1764-1836) first curator Liverpool Botanic Garden], a garden plant not acknowledged as a native, description and location of wild habitat growing alongside 'Cynoglossum officinale', 'Salix repens' and 'Carexes'. The second 'Saponaria anglica concava' first discovered in Northamptonshire by [John] Gerard [(d 1611) herbalist] but not found since that time, description of its habitat. Offers to send specimens to Smith for verification.
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Received Smith's alterations to his paper on 'Salix' too late for printing. His paper on 'Myrti' was read and will appear in next volume of "Linnean Transactions". The Lord Chancellor has declared [Benjamin] Robertson's [(c 1732-1800)] bequest towards establishing a botanic garden to be null and void.
Thanks for loan of valuable book [unnamed]. A drawing of "the most beautiful plant in nature", the New South Wales lily 'Doranthus' ['Doryanthus'], drawn by [John William] Lewin [(1770-1819), naturalist and artist], was shown at Linnean Society. Spent three hours looking over only half of [John] Fraser's [(1750-1811)] collection of American plants. Fraser also brought two of [Alexander von] Humboldt's chests, with whom he went to Cuba. Fraser brought back specimens of 'Pinus palustres'. Asks Smith to delay sending willows. Asks Smith to write to [Alexander Macleay] and [Jonas] Dryander to get the lily in "the volume" [presumably "Linnean Transactions"]. Has specimens of 'Salix acuminata'.
Inaccuracies in [William] Hudson's ["Flora Anglica"]. Hudson's '[Carex] inflata' is not Smith's '[Carex] laevigata', recalls Hudson taking specimens of what he now knows to be '[Carex] filiformis' and believes this may be Hudson's 'C. inflata'. Notes that Hudson's 'Carex tomentosa', [in brackets 'C. filiformis'], is introduced, along with others, in the appendix, entirely on the authority of [John] Lightfoot who was unaware that this plant was the same. The '[Carex] vesicaria' and '[Carex] inflata' of his first edition were both varieties of the same plant. Comments on the pressure Hudson was under to produce a second edition, which along with his poor state of health accounts for the inaccuracies. Thanks Smith for the specimen of 'Poa bulbosa'. Encloses specimen of 'Cerastium latifolium' "from Dr Richardson's own habitat". Complains that [James] Dickson is being "tedious" with his fourth part of "Fasiculus", laments that "emolument should at any time be the sole object of publication, as then it is too apt to promote multiplication of species". Notes a numbness in his right hip, knee and leg.
Descriptions of two new species of 'Carex' [Smith has annotated "'C. acuta' JES" in left-hand margin of verso of first folio and "var. of 'ampullacea'? JES or a mule?" at top of recto of first folio]. Has found 'Dianthus barbatus' growing indigenous in Studley Woods. Discussion of 'Carex gracilis', which he took to be 'C. lavigata'. Has found 'Actaea spicata', 'Ribes petraum', 'Lichen saluminus'. Catalogue [extant] of 'Carex' and 'Lichen' species growing locally; offers to send specimens of any and requests specimens of any not listed.
[Letter incomplete: top third of second folio cropped, presumed destroyed]
No summary available.