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From:
William Frédéric Edwards
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[1820?]-9
Source of text:
RS:HS 7.121
Summary:

Is grateful for his paper, which he has communicated to A. J. Fresnel. Health has been bad so has confined his researches to physiology. Has won the prize of the Academy for his paper on vertebrates. Will send JH a copy. Not much happening as everyone is in the country.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
George Annesley
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
3 Sep 1820
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/7/83, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Thanks for seeds, intends to sow the perennials now so they survive the winter under shelter. Thanks for Smith's observations on his plants. Will ask Smith to acquire aquatic and bog plants for him later in the year. Hopes that the Bishop of Norwich [Henry Bathurst (1744-1837)] will visit. News of learned societies: informed of Royal Society news by [Charles] Babbage [(1791-1871) mathematician], secretary to the "new Astronomical Society", [Annesley] believes this new society will injure the Royal Society; election of [Sir Humphry] Davy as Royal Society president not beneficial, comment on his wife; asks how the Duke of Somerset [Edward Adolphus Seymour] has offended the Horticultural Society. Received letter from [William] Roscoe. The ferns from Trinidad are growing in his garden. Anxious to hear from Dr [Nathaniel] Wallich as there is no news of the plants and seeds collected in the last survey of New Holland [Australia].

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Samuel Goodenough
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
6 Sep 1820
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/12/62, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Thanks for Smith's letter of 28 August. Discussion of several stately homes: enjoyed Smith's account of the Duke of Rutland's old "magnificent" mansion [Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire ?], unsure why noblemen feel it necessary to rebuild such places but concedes that expensive and extravagant houses help the economy; glad to hear Smith speak well of Lord Mountnorris [George Annesley], never understood "how that scoundrel [John Bellenden] Gawler [(1764-1842), soldier] was let into his house" [in 1796 Annesley won damages from Gawler for committing adultery with his wife]. Asks if Smith had to pay 20 shillings for entry to Whiteknights [Berkshire home of George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough]; imagines the 1100 feet long walk of 'Robinia viscosa' must be a wonderful. Shocked by the fall of the once "resplendent" Spencer-Churchills; recalls that his grandfather half ruined himself trying to secure the family and Goodenough thinks the present Duke "below contempt". Glad Smith enjoyed the British portraits in the British gallery. Followed Smith in visiting Claremont [house in Surrey bought for Princess Charlotte and Prince Leopold]; Prince Leopold is "so affable, so very civil, so attentative, & withal truly princely".

Agrees with Smith that Sir Humphry Davy will be chosen as new Royal Society president but doubts it can keep its superior status; believes Sir Joseph Banks was wrong allowing the establishment of the Animal Chemistry Society as now only the chemical and algebraical pursuits are left to it, fears consequences of Davy's wife becoming involved.

The trial of the Queen [Caroline (1768-1821), wife of George IV]: shocked by the "filthy memoirs" about her which are appearing, thinks bishops should not be allowed at such recitals; the radical papers call her "pure as unsunned snow [and] spotless innocence"; fears it will continue till his return to London; relates a jest by one of the lords who when compelled to take off his hat to the Queen said "hurrah, the Queen for ever, & may all your wives be like her".

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Francis Hamilton
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
8 Sep 1820
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/2/144, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Received Smith's letter of 26 August. Shall proceed with the commentary on the "Hortus Malabaricus", has started arranging the specimens and written a preface giving an account of his journeys in India but feels that the commentary will be of considerable length. Perplexed by a 'Boerhavia' which he previously thought a 'Valeriana chinensis', asks Smith to consult his Mysore specimens for a 'Boerharvia elata' so as to see if a mistake was made. Has found two species of Aspidium, one is 'Aspidium dilatatum' and the other he previously thought to be 'Felix femina' but now cannot identify despite consulting "Flora Britannica", sending specimens. Sorry to hear of [Robert] Brown's difficulties at the British Museum.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
William Smith
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
12 Sep 1820
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/9/50, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Presented a petition for the repeal of the Test Acts before adjournment of Parliament, believes he may be called to bring a motion although he would rather wait for a bill "for the relief of the Catholics". Further discussion of this subject and parliamentary affairs. Remarks that Sir Joseph Banks' will "has been thought to breathe the cold spirit of selfish aristocracy"; abstains from further judgement.

Criticises the Queen [Caroline (1768-1821), wife of George IV] for outraging "all the decencies of which she ought to be the fairest example" but many friends think his opinion "rank treason against injured innocence". Reports that his daughter Fanny wrote from Baden that "[Caroline] had exposed herself everywhere. Bemused that "domestic & party intrigues & politics" are distracting attention "from those questions which are of the greatest zeal" including the "lamentable downfall of those 3 species of legitimate monarchy: Spain, Naples, & Portugal". [George and Caroline married in 1795 and had a fractious relationship. After years of estrangement and accusations of adultery a bill was introduced to the House of Lords on 17 August 1820 to strip Caroline of her title and end her marriage to George IV, prior to his coronation. There was massive popular support for Caroline in the ensuing trial, the bill was eventually withdrawn].

[Note in another hand stating that Fanny, William Smith's daughter, was the mother Florence Nightingale (1820-1910), reformer of nursing]

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Thomas Stewart Traill
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
13 Sep 1820
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/26/3, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Forwards copy of a private circular [extant] prepared by a committee of [William] Roscoe's friends detailing scheme to raise funds to buy an annuity for Roscoe, outlines their reasons for not approaching local institutions for funds. Corrects Smith regarding sale of Roscoe's books; the money raised was returned to the subscribers after Roscoe refused the books, and the small part of the library which was purchased was presented to the Athenaeum. Roscoe's opposition to the annuity overcome.

Saw Mr Martin today, all the family well [Smith's brother-in-law].

Handwritten circular dated Liverpool, 8 September 1820 detailing scheme to raise funds to buy an annuity for Roscoe following "the sudden and calamitous reverse [...] in the fortunes of Mr Roscoe" four years ago [2pp].

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Samuel Goodenough
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
16 Sep 1820
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/12/63, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Forwards an accidently opened letter intended for Smith. Does not think Sir Humphry Davy deserves suspicion of being "a talebearer from the continent"; his accounts agree with those of others and witnesses from Italy disclosing upon oath [in the trial of Caroline (1768-1821), George IV's queen ]. If Davy is chosen as Royal Society president it would be best to support him freely to maintain the dignity of the chair. Hopes Smith is completing the final volume of "Flora Britannica" whilst being kept from London in November.

Disheartened that the Queen's trial has so much left, thinks the country will be corrupted by what has so far been disclosed and from being "a sort of outcast" her stubborness is now causing dissension in the House of Lords.

Thinks [Robert] Brown can only let Sir Joseph Banks' Soho Square house left to him; hopes he has not paid legacy tax on all of it. Banks' heirs and executors "keen as razors"; cites their demands for the machine for weighing matter kept at Royal Society and previously considered a gift. Lady Banks' and heir Sir Edward Knatchbull [9th baronet (1781-1849)] making the most of the £25,000 per annum. Bishop of Durham [Shute Barrington] cannot get rid of gout in his hand.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
From:
Thomas Andrew Knight
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
17 Sep 1820
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/6/14, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Agrees with Smith that the seed-spike of the 'Phleum' he sent is a variety of 'Phleum pratense', even though it differs significantly from wild specimens he and its habit of going to seed soon after being sown make it "valuable to the farmer", discusses further attributes that differentiate it. Hopes to prove his Siberian apricot as a common apricot by obtaining a "prolific raised breed".

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London
Text Online
From:
André-Marie Ampère
To:
Jean-Jacques Ampère (fils d'Ampère)
Date:
19 septembre 1820
Source of text:
Correspondance du Grand Ampère (Paris: 1936), p. 561-562.
Summary:

No summary available.

Contributor:
La Correspondance d’André-Marie Ampère
Text Online
From:
Humphry Davy
To:
Michael Faraday
Date:
23 September 1820
Source of text:
IEE MS SC 2
Summary:

No summary available.

Contributor:
Faraday Project
From:
Jean Baptiste Biot
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[26 September 1820]
Source of text:
RS:HS 4.89
Summary:

Further information on his experiments with refraction in various crystals, especially topaz.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Thomas Furly Forster
To:
Sir James Edward Smith
Date:
29 Sep 1820
Source of text:
GB-110/JES/COR/22/41, The Linnean Society of London
Summary:

Found 'Eltaine hydropiper' growing plentifully in Berkshire; offers to send specimens; reluctant to reveal location.

Contributor:
The Linnean Society of London