No summary available.
His journey from Oxford to Hall Place. His time in London, including seeing [Thomas] Forster, Mr and Mrs Lee, Mrs Barbauld, the Aikins, including Lucy Aikin [(1781-1864), historical writer], whose poem on women is "very admirable"; Mr Thomson of Russell Square, now a master in Chancery; attended a party at Mrs Weddell's with the C Scotts, meeting Mrs [Amelia] Opie [(1769-1853), author], the Rudges, Wilbrahams, Mr and Mrs Frere, and Sir H Englefield. Proposed to the Dilettanti club by Lord Borringdon; intends to join. Oppressive weather in London. Lord Erskine has called on him twice to consult about willows, recommended by William Smith. His "Hafod Tour"; payment and gifting of copies. Intends to dedicate his "Lapland Tour" to Thomas Forster of Clapton, [Essex].
[Letter incomplete: second folio cropped, presumed destroyed]
Replies to Roscoe's letter of 21 April. At Sir William and Lady East's, amidst "vast avenues of limes, beech woods, abounding with rare 'Orchideae', & a most beautiful surrounding country" to escape London; searching for 'Monotropa hypopitys' in woods near Bisham Abbey, comments on history of that place. Thanks for Roscoe's kindness to his friend John Fraser [(c 1750-1811), botanist], although Fraser did not give the 'Cryptogamic' plant Roscoe sent with him. Recently sent packet of seeds to [John] Shepherd [(c 1764-1836, curator Liverpool Botanic Garden]. Anxious about his brother-in-law, Mr Martin, but not in despair.
Presumes Roscoe's proposed botanic paper will be about natural systems, particularly Jussieu's. Recently received letter from Jussieu, a "very worthy amiable character", though he called the Linnaean system "léze nature". The fashion in the "Banksian circle" is to sneer at Jussieu, [Richard] Salisbury goes but is in much less esteem than he was.
Has just published his "Hafod tour", limited to 100 copies. Has undertaken to finish a "Flora of Britain" in English as soon as possible, to cover the first 23 classes, with a possible separate Cryptogamic volume when "Flora Britannica" is finished. Also contemplating his long projected work on garden plants. New edition of "Hortus Kewensis" printing, Roscoe is "copied implicitly & avowedly" on 'Scitamineae'. Hopes Roscoe agrees with him on spelling of "Linnaeus", for which he cites last "Monthly Magazines", Jussieu, and the French writers. Saw Mr Currie in London.
No summary available.
Sends sketch of his paper on "natural & artificial arrangements of plants" to Smith [see RelatedMaterial below]; comments and remarks on contents.
Sends the 'Cryptogamous' plant found by Henry Shepherd, brother of John Shepherd [(c 1764-1836, curator Liverpool Botanic Garden] for Smith's opinion. Shepherd thanks Smith for parcel of seeds. Allerton undergoing great changes including completion of modern elevation and sweeping away of old gardens. Anxious to see Smith's "Tour to Hafod". Asks for details of plan, extent, and price of "Flora Graeca". Still regrets cessation of "Exotic botany"; urges Smith to consider an edition of the works of Linnaeus, of which Smith is the only possible editor. Mr Martin [Smith's brother-in-law] making little progress in his recovery.
Informing him of his position in the examinations, and offering congratulations.
Has not received the letter or package Smith sent last year. Sending copy of his recently published book with Ortolani, "Statistica generale di Sicilia", and will send his "Indice d'ittiologia siciliana" once it is published. Corrects errors in the plants he sent with a previous letter: his 'Saxifraga tenella' appears to be 'Saxifraga hederacea' L.; his 'Orabanche rubia' perhaps a variety of 'O. fetida' Desf.; his 'Arum autumnalis' variety of 'Arum augustifolium' L.; his 'Hippocrepis biflora' variety of 'Hippocrepis [multisiliquosa]' L.; his 'Scabiosa sessiliflora' same as 'Scabiosa dichotoma' of Bernardino D'Ucria and 'Scabiosa parviflora' of [René Louiche] Desfontaines. Query on stigma of 'Cistus'.
Asks for the botanical news since 1805 and whether [Carl Ludwig] Willdenow's "Species Plantarum", [Christiaan Hendrik] Persoon's "Synopsis", and "L'Encyclopedie Methodique" are complete and available in England, following interruption of Sicily's communications with the rest of Europe. Requests copy of Smith's "Prodromus flora Graeca". Requests characters of all new plant genera described since 1805, lists the genera he knows only by name and gives an example of the format he would like them in [Smith has annotated in margin: "sent my paper from ann. of Bot."]. The genera are for his "great work", the aim of which is to apply a simple and uniform method to all plant genera in a similar manner as the classfifcation of animals in zoology.
His brother who lived near Sir William East's in Hurley was so captivated by the "poisonous doctrines of Voltaire & the new philosophy" that he thought he had a right "to go out of life as soon as he was tired of it". Franked Smith's letter to Mr Shepherd. Glad to hear that [George] Don is keen to increase his communications; takes it as a sign for his desire of improvement. The carnations Smith sent are alive and growing; they are being kept in the original ball of earth, wrapped in newspaper, and the whole constantly moistened as he kept the roots of 'Ligustium cornubiense' before planting at Bulstrode [home of Dukes of Portland]. The name of Bulstrode "agitates his mind. 'Monotropa hypopitys' used to grow in Bisham woods, [Berkshire], was sent it from there by Revd Sir Henry Parker. 'Primula farinosa' lining roadsides and over meadows in Cumberland, took roots of it for his garden.
Numbered observations on enclosed plants, gathered on trip to Angushire coast in summer of 1809: 1. 'Dactylis glauca', differences between it and 'D. glomerata'; 2. 'Festuca glauca'; 3. 'Aira'; 4. 'Poa' possibly 'P. bulbosa'; 5. 'Poa procumbens' first time found in Scotland; 6. 'Poa' possible variety of 'P. pratensis', proposes name 'P. pubescens'; 7. new 'Poa' proposes name 'P. depaupirata'.
Asks Goodenough to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith.
Visiting Claude Scott. Thanks for Roscoe's letter of 18 June and paper [see RelatedMaterial below], which is "new & satisfactory", but cannot subscribe to the declaration that it is chiefly derived from his [Smith's] works, will suggest other alterations. Frustrated in attempts to spend July in country near London. The plant Roscoe sent is 'Bryum ligulatum' "English Botany" t 1449. "Flora Graeca" to be published in 10 volumes with 100 coloured plates in each, released in half volumes at price of 12 guineas for first two, to become successively cheaper; further details.