From:
James A. Gordon
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[26 May 1818]
Source of text:
RS:HS 8.159
Summary:
Has been visiting Gibraltar, Malta, and the Vatican City. Comments on the sights.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
Has been visiting Gibraltar, Malta, and the Vatican City. Comments on the sights.
No summary available.
JG's wife is seriously ill.
Making arrangements for a visit to JH at Slough.
No summary available.
No summary available.
Depressed over wife's serious illness.
Sorry to not have seen Smith yesterday. The general election and debate over arrangements for a visit, including accomodation of his indigestion. Keen for [Jacob] Bigelow to become a member of Linnean Society and a Foreign Member of the Royal Society.
No summary available.
Financial embarrassments; asks Smith's help to obtain British employment; encloses a specimen.
Informs JH of the place of Simon Stevin in the history of the idea of a parallelogram of forces. Has heard that JH is investigating polarized rays.
Smith's canvassing for Cambridge professorship. Will shortly visit Smith in Norwich if the Norfolk election is not contested. [Jacob] Bigelow and his possible elections to Royal Society and Linnean Society. A "large serpent" has appeared in the sea "again", although changed enough in appearence for no notice to be taken of the "lumps upon his back" and with a head 14 feet long, relates remarks from Bigelow who compares it to a serpent that appeared off Cape Ann, Massachusetts. Explains how he came to miss Smith the last time he was in London.
No summary available.
Has been reading some of Smith's papers, awed by his industry. Will shortly visit Smith in Norwich before going onto Paris with his brother. Has received a letter from Sir Joseph Banks, who thinks the "snake" is the same as that which visited the coast last autumn.
Had always considered that the plates [Nikolaus von] Jacquin gave [John] Sibthorp were a gift and not a loan, following communications from [Joseph von] Jacquin to the contrary; Sibthorp had intended to use them to explain the text of Dioscorides; believes they were destroyed in a fire; on a visit to Vienna in 1798 neither of the Jacquins mentioned the claim now brought. Transcribes a response for Smith to communicate to Jacquin. Leaves decision over 'Mandragora' to Smith.
Parcel of specimens for Smith sent via Captain Williamson, commander of the Larkins. Hopes to send larger collection shortly, including expected Nepalese plants, which he hopes will add to Smith's Nepalese plants received from [Francis] Buchanan. Hopes to send specimens of plants described by Smith in "Exotic Botany" and [Abraham] Rees' "Cyclopedia", including: oaks, 'Orchideae', 'Paris polyphylla', 'Primula', 'Rhododendron', plus other specimens, including: 'Hedychium', 'Andromeda', 'Arbutus', 'Gaultheria', a large number of ferns, 'Ligustrum', 'Fraxinus', 'Gramina', etc. Warns Smith that some of the labels on the first package may be erroneous.
His affairs; thanks Smith for advice, and begs him to approach Banks.
Directions for various parcels for Smith to forward. Reviews [Jacob] Bigelow's "Medical Botany". Invites Smith to visit on his way to Liverpool. Fears he may have been "very presumptuous" with Lady Smith in "thinking so highly of Byron". Planning to ask Sir Joseph Banks to introduce Bigelow as a Fellow of the Royal Society.
Wishes to leave town and spend a few weeks in Torquay. Would JH join him? Has new theorem on functions.
Pleased Smith is in Derby and anticipates their introduction. [Francis] Boott delayed in London.