Text Online
From:
Revd J. T. Huntley
To:
J. S. Henslow
Date:
18 Feb 1824
Source of text:
Cambridge University Library MS Add. 8176: 18
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Henslow Correspondence Project
No summary available.
Is sending a letter from Dr. John Brinkley, and the corrected elements of the comet.
Comments on some ideas of J. B. Lamarck, and about large fossil remains apparently found.
No summary available.
[Aylmer Bourke] Lambert in "raptures" over [Augustin Pyramus] de Candolle's new work "Prodromus syst[ematis] nat[uralis]" though Cullum disappointed Candolle is unlikely to continue his "Systema Vegetabile".
Observations on changes of chemical names of medicines in the "London Pharmacopoeia" and other: 'Elettaria' has changed to 'Matonia', as recommended by Smith'; in the "Dispensatory" "cantharides" has reverted from "lyttae"; the three species of 'Arichona', the 'cordifolia', 'lancifolia', and 'oblongifolia' continued; and camphor still said to be produce of 'Laurus camphora' though [Philip] Miller told him that the best camphor comes from very large trees timber trees at Sumatra, wonders if the Dutch controllers of the trade make it from the 'Laurus' or undersized trees.
Lord [John Rous, 1st Earl of] Stradbroke [(1750-1827)] sent him specimens of the insects killing his Scotch firs for identification; thinks them 'Sirex juveneus' and reminded that some years ago several oaks were cut down in Mr Port's garden plantation at Ham, Derbyshire, because of boring 'Sirex gigas' hornets. Does not think 'Sirex' are labelled a pest of 'Pinus sylvestris' in Lambert's "[A description of the genus] Pinus". Offers to send bark specimens of Stradbroke's trees to Linnean Society.
Cannot find observation of comet of 1759 in [James] Bradley's papers. Discusses eighteenth-century astronomical observations. Can send JH particulars if he wants them.
No summary available.
Had hoped to send Cullum his "[English] Flora" for his patronage but held up by 'Rosa' and 'Rubus', has doubled the number of species of latter. Has now completed more than half his work on "Flora Graeca". Yet to receive [Augustin Pyramus] de Candolle's new work ["Prodromus systematis naturalis..."] but observed many errors in characters and references his "[Regni vegetabilis] Systema [naturale]" and his adoption of names according to date means he cannot be an authority.
Cullum correct about the two species of 'Sirex'. Received seeds and roots from [John] Denson [(fl 1820s-1870s, curator of Bury botanic garden], and intends to send Cullum willow cuttings from Mrs Crowe's. Dr [Martin] Davy of Caius [College, Cambridge], [William] Roscoe, the Duke of Sussex [Prince Augustus Frederick (1773-1843)], and [John Dunn] Hunter [(c 1798-1827)], an American brought up "among the wild Indians", whose narrative he recommends ["Memoirs of a captivity among the Indians of North America..." (1823)], all at Holkham, [Norfolk, home of Thomas William Coke] during his last visit.