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Received Smith's letter and notes on specimens of 17 May 1801. For most of 1800-1801 employed by the Governor-General [Richard Colley Wellesley (1760-1842) 1st Marquess Wellesley] to investigate the state of agriculture, commerce and the arts in the dominions of Tippoo Sultaum [Tipu Sultan (1750-1799) ruler of kingdom of Mysore] and was organising his materials in Calcutta when ordered to the court of Nepal, as surgeon to Captain Knox, British Resident to Nepal.
Working on his journal from the Mysore trip, which will include appendix with descriptions and drawings of animals and plants. Remarks on the geography and recent history of Nepal. Found many European plants including 'Anagallis arvensis', 'Ervum hirsutum', 'Sonchus palustris', 'Fumaria officinalis', and 'Saponaria'. Given two stuffed wild sheep, descriptions of the species. Uncertain how long he will stay in Nepal, financial constraints prevent him from returning to England. Intends to produce a "Flora Indica".
Comments on the catalogue and plant specimens sent to Sir Joseph Banks from his expedition to Ava, Burma. Found another species of 'Vatica' in Mysore and numerous 'Vateria'. 'Dua banga' may be a 'Soneratia' although it is quite different from 'Soneratia acida'. Long Latin description of the genus he proposes calling 'Hopea', although [William] Roxburgh has since named another genus after Hope. Short Latin description of the fruit of the 'Vatica'. Frustrated by 'Eugenias' and 'Conyzas'. Comments on Smith's acquisition of [John] Sibthorp's materials. Alerts Smith to the fact that [John] Fleming [(1747-1829) physician, Indian Medical Service, Bengal] may return to England with Buchanan's descriptions and drawings of fish, asks Smith to assist in selection and correction of the work if published.
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Todd, the gardener, agrees with Smith that the unknown plant must be 'Orobus sylvaticus', and as requested has sent specimen to Sir Joseph Banks. As yet unable to find the lichen Smith requested ['Lichen floridus']. Fears her garden will not look well this summer as the old man who looks after it has a bad fever which is "very prevalent among the labourers". 'Mimosa [snaveolans]' in "high beauty" in conservatory with long pendulant brances covered with flowers of delicate straw colour, it is the most elegant plant there except for 'Graminia'. 'Sitospermum undulatum' going into flower for first time. Her father away.
Has despatched the books requested by Smith. It is difficult to see [Andre] Thouin because of the distance of the Jardin des Plantes from Paris. Impossible to inform Smith of all the changes that have taken place in Paris since he visited, but believes "on many points it has experienc'd a change much for the worse", details some of the changes: the churches have been stripped; the Pantheon is being developed into a national monument and burial place for the illustrious, Voltaire and Rousseau have been reinterred; highlights of the Museum of Ancient Monuments; plans developed to move the Library to the Louvre, details some of the highlights of the collection; the general shift in society, the best houses now occupied by bankers and others who benefitted from the Revolution and those who remain of the old Regime are too poor to entertain in their own houses. Parisian entertainments: has been spending time with the Russians; attending many elegant balls; he and half of Paris are "dying" for the Princess Galitzin [Anna Alexandrovna Galitzin (1763-1842), wife of Prince Boris Andreivitch Galitzin (1766-1822)]; last night at an "exceedingly elegant thing at the Princess Hohenzollern's; they have a standing invitation to the Princess Courland's parties [Luise Pauline Maria Biron, Princess of Courland, Duchess of Sagan (1782-1845)]; a masked ball at the Opera; the Carnival.
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Thanks for the specimens of 'Salix'. Has recently bought volumes one and two of [Johann] Hedwig's "Descriptio et adumbratio microscopico-analytica muscorum" and enquires how to procure a reasonably priced copy of the third volume. Sends what he believes is a specimen of 'Artemisia caerulescens' but may just be a variety of 'Artemisia absinthium', makes some observations in a postscript.
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