No summary available.
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.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
Three labelled specimens: queried specimen of 'Carex teretiuscula', Anglesea, sent May; 'Carex distans', Anglesea, sent June; 'Carex laevigata', Anglesea, sent July. Probably specimens sent with letter JES/COR/4/16.
No summary available.
Numbered observations on enclosed specimens, requests Smith's opinion: 1. a 'Galium' [Smith annotation: "'G. veri' var?"]; 2. a 'Carex' [Smith annotation: "'recurva'"]; 3. a 'Euphorbia' [Smith annotation: "'portlandica'"]; 4. a 'Bryum'; 5. a 'Bryum', possibly 'B. elongatum' of [James] Dickson [Smith annotation: "yes"]; 6. a 'Stellaria' he has cultivated for 2 years [Smith annotation: "'scapigera'"]; 7. a 'Fistula' found growing among roots of 'Arundo arenaria' in 1796 [Smith annotation: "'rubra'"]; 8. supposed 'Torritus alpina', found with 'Carex' no.2.; 9. an 'Achillea' quite distinct from 'A. alpina'.
Lists habitats of species of 'Salix' he found in Scotland: 'Salix retusa', 'Salix reticulata', 'Salix lapponicum', 'Salix lanata', and 'Salix depressa'. Still has some unidentified willows.
Rages at ingratitude he has met with [no details of incident are provided]: wishes Smith would create a work on the plan of Baron Borne's "Monochologia" and call it "Causidicologica", from the "lowest blotter of paper to the director of a Royal Conscience", and would give Smith all the necessary assistance needed. Best accounts of his daughter's [Mariamne Johnes] health: thanks to [Thomas] Beddoes [(1760-1808), chemist and physician] living in "such a consumptive latitude" he "sees it in all shapes" so they were alarmed in time and by following his advice she has recovered. Does not think she had any pulmonary disease but it might have developed, they went to Clifton [near Bristol] for treatment.
Thanks Smith for what he says of the naked barley but [Thomas William] Coke told him it was very unproductive. Asks if Smith knows of an American wheat which is six weeks earlier than the common sort, informed of by Mr Galton. His farm and garden doing "vastly well", especially the dairy, and next year intends to have 50 to 60 cows. His family rejoice at Weston's good fortune.
His eldest son, aged 20, has developed consumption and they are about to embark for either Lisbon or Madeira subject to Dr Ritcairn's opinion. Received Smith's letter on 'Chelone barbata'.
Dr Ritcairn has written him with encouraging account of Madeira so is determined to set out as soon as possible with his son [suffering from consumption].
Dr Belcombe advises staying in England until end of September [Frankland's eldest son suffering from consumption]; frustrated that both Lisbon and Madeira are currently inaccessible, with the latter being in possession of English troops. Assured by the Thirkleby apothecary that his son has no bad symptoms, a usual pulse and no heat to his skin, and that what he spat in the morning was only mucus. As Smith speaks of himself as consumptive requests outline of his complaint.
No summary available.
Sends drawing [not extant], by Mrs Dalton, and specimens of 'Saxifraga hirculus' from Knutsford Moor, Cheshire, apparently its only habitat in England.
[This is a double letter. Pulteney has written to Smith in between Lambert's lines of the recto and verso of the first folio]
Lambert staying with [Richard] Pulteney as his house in town is being rebuilt and enlarged, in particular the library. Obtained specimens of all the plants of the Chinese embassy, a "charming collection". Has [Andre] Michaux's [(1746-1802)] "Histoire des chenes de l'Amerique", a "Flora Americana" is to follow. Asks if Smith received the "account" in last month's "magazine of the Spanish botanists". Visited [William] Beckford [(1759-1844)] of Fonthill, [Wiltshire], saw the hothouses and greenhouses, "some of the largest in Europe" and "one of the finest private collections " he had ever seen, including many "Chinese plants in flower". Beckford's gardener Milne [(fl 1800s-1810s)], who lived with [Richard] Salisbury, is "one of the best [...] botanic gardeners in England". Milne is sending four men to collect plants for Beckford, currently in Jamaica, with letters of introduction to [Archibald] Menzies and [Robert] Brown. Requests that when Smith sends willow specimens to send Milne cuttings of all he and [James] Crowe can spare as he is making a "very large botanic garden".
Pulteney sends greetings, kept up to date in botanical matters by the monthly receipt of "English Botany". Wishes Smith success with "Flora Graeca", feels increasingly frail.