No summary available.
Death of his mother-in-law, Mrs Manning; account of her last hours and death on 6 March, day of his and Mrs Woodward's birth. Thanks for introduction to [William] Roscoe, who made a short visit. Glad Smith's mother is to make a visit to Liverpool. Expects to attend Linnean Society anniversary meeting.
Apologises for delay in replying to Smith's letter of 21 February [1805] accompanying [John William] Lewin's [(1770-1819), naturalist and artist] plates; he had begun describing the insects but "the brother here became jealous of my interference and is now to publish the whole in his own name" ["Prodromus entomology" (1805)].
Confirms that the Ambrose Serle [(1742-1812), colonial officer and religious writer] whose name Smith saw on the box is the same man Smith knew in Bristol in 1773, and is a great friend of his. Dr Maver not elected. The Linnean Society has agreed terms for new rooms at 9 Gerrard Street, Soho, and the Horticultural Society are to pay 25 guineas per annum to hold their meetings in the meeting room.
Responds to Smith's three letters of: 6 August 1804, thanks for rare cryptogamic plants and news of Miss Smith's marriage to Mr Martin; 17 December 1804, gave [James] Sowerby 'Boronia alata', 'B. crenulata', and 'B. denticulata', also recommended Sir Joseph Banks' specimens; 5 January [1805], thanks for turkey and hare from [William Fitt] Drake, Smith's old appartments ready for when he comes to town.
No summary available.
Rejoices with Smith on the "happy events" [probably birth of a child to Smith's sister, Mrs Fanny Martin, resident in Liverpool] and was delighted to meet Mrs Smith [Smith's mother]. Has discussed Smith's upcoming Liverpool lectures with Mr Martin; anticipating Smith, Mrs [Pleasance] Smith, and [William Fitt] Drake's stay at Allerton. Admires plan and execution of Smith's "Exotic botany", but believes it needs better advertisement. Expects his "Leo" to be published in London in May.
Details of the sale of Mr Taylor's house.
No summary available.
His son's success at Oxford. Sir Joseph Banks doing better than last year and "hobbles up and down stairs on every occassion without sparing himself". The Institution flourishes and is thronged every day but has not been able to hear Mrs Sidney Smith's "Essays on good jokes" yet. His brother to have "the fatigue of being [...] the Cannister to the Duke of Clarence's Tail at the Installation", received his "beautiful little work on the blight in wheat".
Notes on [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert's "A description of the genus Pinus" and errors with Balm of Gilead fir; Dr Hardname, librarian at Sir Joseph Banks' [Jonas Dryander] admitted it was wrong. Encloses a handbill ["Advertisement of the exhibition of a living Llama at Brooke's Menagerie, 242, Piccadilly", see RelatedMaterial below] on the "pacos" of Linnaeus, his own observations: it is not the llama which is the larger species, about seven months old, has many beautiful points with "fine eyes, & much affection in its manners", and it spits when teased but its saliva is not corrosive; includes small ink sketch of back of its head and neck and profile.
Relates an experiment of July 1803 on cut branches of young oaks smeared with Forsyth's ointment; till summer of 1804 there was no attempt renew the bark and concludes that amputation early in the season is necessary for success. Latest volume of "Linnean Transactions" "most respectably engraved".
Account of journey from Norwich, Norfolk, to London, where he is staying with [Archibald] Menzies. Sir Joseph Banks is to attend the Duke of Sussex [Prince Augustus Frederick (1773-1843)] at the installation of the Knights of the Garter. Subscription prices for the [Royal] Institution have risen. Ran Smith's errands, including going to see [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert but he was away at the Marquess of Blandford's. Unable to see Mr Savage at the Royal Institution but did see Humphry Davy. Visited [John Boydell's] "Shakespeare Gallery", description and critique of some of the pictures there including those by James Northcote; Sir Joshua Reynolds; Richard Westall, who is "superior" to William Hamilton and Robert Smirke; and Benjamin West, who "exhibits all of the extravagance without possessing the genius of [Henry] Fuseli". Regrets that "this complete illustration of the plays of our excellent poet should not be deposited in a public museum" [after falling into financial difficulties Boydell's entire business was disposed of in a lottery]. Description of attending a performance of "Douglas" [tragedy by John Home, first performed in Edinburgh in 1756] at the Drury Lane Theatre, including a near stampede for seats and review of [William Betty's] performance as Young Norval. [William Henry West Betty (1791-1874), also known as the Young Roscius or the Boy, was a talented child actor who first appeared at Drury Lane in 1804]. Menzies says that attendance at the Royal Institution often amounts to 1100 or 1200 persons.
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No summary available.
During his journey to London a horse fell under the carriage and they were forced to walk to Newmarket, [Cambridgeshire], rest of journey uneventful but became unwell on reaching London. Called on Sir Thomas Frankland, Mrs [Amelia] Opie [(1769-1853), author], and Sir Joseph Banks', where he saw [Richard] Salisbury, Mr Westall, [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert, the Pattersons, and [Sir Abraham and Amelia] Hume. Cold weather more suited to him in London than warm. Account of visit to Somerset House [home of the Royal Society], with Prince of Wales [George IV (1762-1830)] in attendance.
[Letter incomplete: part of first folio cropped, and fragment of second folio appended to recto of first]
No summary available.
Proceeded by extract from the "Edinburgh Review", pointing out errors in Smith's synonyms [in "Flora Britannica"?]. Visited the Maurice; their daughter found a pine stag beetle, first time of it being found in that neighbourhood, thinks the larva may have been brought there from Hampshire; she has seen a beautiful, lively, opaque grass-green beetle with a yellow spot on each wing. If what the "Annual Review" speaks of tours being in as much request as novels is true, Smith ought to make much of his "Lapland Journey" ["Lachesis Lapponica"]. Urges Smith to read review of "Flora Britannica" in the "Annual Review" and what, "in the name of your fair country women", they advise him to do; alarmed to learn what a name Smith has for "gallantry".
Her father wrote a response to Mr Everett's pamphlet [attacking Mr Reeve's "overgrown power" as steward of Manor of Lowestoft] against himself but decided not to publish; transcribes an extract. A regiment of Fifeshire militia men posted at Lowestoft, the "soberest soldiers ever known", who instead of getting drunk club together to hire books to read.
[Note in Smith's hand] discusses obtaining drawing of 'Nymphae' from [James] Sowerby.
Pleased to hear that Smith is in London and intends to visit him in Rochester; describes the comforts of his house and limitations of Rochester society, "we are all military, mercantile in a little way, or artificers". Has exchanged his living of Copredy, Oxfordshire, for the nearby Boxley, Kent. Received Smith's letters of 1 and 6 May. Asks Smith to defer his business to next week and stay with him this week; the journey from Charing Cross is only five hours. Intending to come up to London himself on 20 May. Has seen that Miss Mary Aynscombe has married Mr Mossop and settled eight miles from Boxley; recalls Smith once saying she was a "great botanist". Intends to attend Linnean Society anniversary meeting on 24 May after missing the last few.
Account of his stay in Tavistock, Devon, with Mr and Mrs Harness, and onward journey to Bath via Exeter, where he saw at the theatre "Young Roscius the 2nd" perform Hamlet, and Bristol. At Bath saw "Maid of the Mill" [by John Fletcher and William Rowley, first performed 1623]. Accounts of people he called on including Dr [Thomas] Beddoes, "very odd and absent"; Mr and Mrs Dickson; Lady Strangford and her daughters; the Talbots; Dr Parry; Miss Sharpe; Dr Currie; and [Thomas] Velley.
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No summary available.
Letter to Smith delayed by work and a feverish cold but has seen Mrs Smith, Mr and Mrs Martin [Smith's sister], and their son. Subscription for Smith's Liverpool lectures has opened headed by Prince William Frederick [(1776-1834)], the Mayor, Dr Brandreth, and 30 more; confident the subscription will match or exceed the last course. His book "Leo" complete, gives his opinion of it.