Text Online
From:
Claude-Julien Bredin
To:
André-Marie Ampère
Date:
23 janvier 1812
Source of text:
Lettres inédites de Claude-Julien Bredin (Lyon: 1936), p. 65-66.
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
La Correspondance d’André-Marie Ampère
No summary available.
Thanks for supply of turkeys. Mr Brown visiting Smith on the subject of 'Tetradynamie', praises Brown for the work he has achieved on it. Would like [Sir William Jackson] Hooker to inform Banks where to obtain the "Keland[?]" book with a view to a new translator. Dr Wright visiting Banks and informs him the garden in Edinburgh will advance very fast with the new gardener.
Arrangements for visiting Smith. Criticises the writing of Dr [Walter ?] Wade and Mr Schmaltz [possibly Constantino Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz], particularly the latter's work on 'Verbena nodiflora'. First meeting of the Linnean Club taking place today.
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Describes JH's public Latin examination in algebra yesterday. James Grahame and sister were dangerously ill, but Grahame returned to Cambridge. [Addendum:] Newspaper clipping naming students (including JH) who received B.A. degrees at Cambridge on 16 Jan. 1813.
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Sends seeds.
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Previously sceptical of the fiorin grass called 'Agrostis stolonifera', or couch, but now convinced on its excellent qualities and on encouragement of Dr Richardson and Mr Miller set to convert his "dreary moors" to "the finest hay grounds". He is also improving a new farm which was only £20 rent, expecting in a few years for it to be worth hundreds, independent of the trees; he shall be "a better compatriot than either Pall Mall or Manchester Square [both in London] can boast of". Comments on an event that was a "total dereliction of principle & of all honourable feeling" and is very sorry for his country.
Has known [Thomas William] Coke since childhood at Eton [College, Berkshire], but ashamed to have never taken up any of his many invitations to Holkham, [Norfolk]. Struggling to catalogue his books. The weather is "miserably wet". Does not think his wife will ever regain her spirits to enjoy company.
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[Addressed to WN as 'Editor of the Journal of Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, and the Arts from 'A Lover of Modern Analysis' [JH], this letter] derives by a new method various analytical formulae for the sine and cosine.
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Is coming to visit JH at Slough.
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Experienced a mild winter with primroses in full flower on 30 January, though March was severe. His apricot trees which he protected with copper plate printers' canvas, recommended by Sir Joseph Banks, [Thomas] A[ndew] Knight [(1759-1838)], and [James] Dickson as being superior to Buntine, have many flowers.
Unconvinced by some authors claims that ivy is injurious to trees as it dies if separated from the root; plants of his cut three months ago are showing no sign of decay and neglect of ivy in his gardens has caused much injury but they are now attacking it on trees and transferring it to walls. Mr Knight's peas are not worth cultivating, they produced inferior quantity of seed over two seasons which is now all saved for a third crop. Knight's method for obtaining large onions failed twice as they always run to seed in second year.
Smith's 'Conferva urceolata' is [William] Hudson's 'nigrescens' but could not find it in his drawings as [Lewis Weston] Dillwyn [(1778-1855)] still has them, complains he has had them too long and requests Smith's assistance in recovering them.
Encloses note [extant] from Mr [James] Hoy dated Gordon Castle, [Scotland], 18 Dec 1811, thanking Frankland for specimen of 'Scheuzeria' and detailing the extent of the [Alexander Gordon, 4th] Duke of Gordon's [(1743-1827)] estates.
Recently "whip grafted" 'Ilex' on common oak, having been unsuccessful in the common way, and has one 14 feet high plant cleft-grafted on common oak in uncommon health. They were taken from 100 year old wild trees which are much more hardy than his native trees of beech, lime, sycamore, and horse chestnut, which have graudually died since an unmerciful thinning in 1785, though the 'Ilex' seems uninjured.
Smith's 'Glaucium' was in flower last November, and some raised from seed had yellow flowers. Packed 'Nuphar' seeds received from [James] Brodie in earth, paper, and matting, and sunk with stone in a hard water stewpond secreted by planatation.