Received visit from General [Thomas] Hardwicke. Advises Smith not to hurry [Francis Leggatt] Chantrey [(1781-1841), sculptor], though wishes Smith was being painted rather than sculpted. Details of coaches coming to Bury from London in anticipation of Smith's visit.
His son and family have returned from Paris but daughter-in-law still very ill despite having tried all the celebrated baths on the continent; they plan to leave again in autumn without trying Mahomed's steam baths in Brighton, [Sussex]. Plans to visit Ramsgate, [Kent]. Invites Smith to Bury on his return from London.
Hopes Smith remembers him from their acquaintance of 6 or 7 years ago; he retains "a most grateful impression of the very valuable attentions" Smith showed him. Sends copy of his "Diplomacy of the United States".
Invites Smith to view his collection of plants at Bury Hill.
No summary available.
Account of his and Charles' [nephew of Smith's] excursion to Sunninghill, [Berkshire, home of Smith's Kindersley cousins]; a violent storm with hail, which they collected for iced water; visited Mr Barclay's grand house, including stoves and botanic gardens; searched in vain for tomb or memorial of his uncle Ireland in Reigate, [Surrey], church, the sexton had known his uncle and knew of the "incestuous anecdote". Everyone praises his improved looks and colour. Looked at carpet patterns; his opinion. Sitting for last time for [Francis Leggatt] Chantrey [(1781-1841), sculptor] tomorrow.
[Letter incomplete: folio[s] missing or destroyed, fragment of second folio pasted to end of recto of folio]
Only just received Smith's letter of 7 April [1826]. Pleased by Smith's opinion of his "Monandrian Plants". Discusses plants to be included in his proposed genus 'Matonia', the true 'Cardamom' of the East and 'Renealmia/Alpinia exaltata'; notes on character. Obtained specimens of an 'Amomum' nearly related to Smith's 'A. macrospermum', the 'Zingiber melegueta' of Gaertner. Hopes Smith's family are relieved from the "vexation & anxiety" arising from the character of Mr Martin's business partner; defends himself for not saying anything of it at the time.
Postscript in margin of recto of first folio: on Smith's recommendation giving his synoptical tables in Latin, not English.
Appointed Professeur au Jardin du Roi.
Sends roots of the "new everlasting pea" 'Lathyrus grandiflorus'. Compliments to Sir Thomas [Gery Cullum].
Thanks for Smith's letter on his rare 'Fenillia'. Safely received seeds from Van Diemen's Land [Tasmania].
Sending a copy of [Antonio] Bertoloni's "Amoenitates Italicae". Compared the collection of plants he gathered from Corfu and other islands with Bertoloni's herbarium, the best in Italy, but still has doubts which he can only clear up by consulting [John] Sibthorp's original specimens. [David] Don [(1799-1841), botanist] wants him to communicate his Ionian flora observations to Linnean Society but does not think them interesting enough. The Ionian 'Umbelliferae' are "numerous & extraordinary" and seem little known, could not even apply genera to many of them, although a copy of "Flora Graeca" in the Grand Duke's Library in Florence was helpful.
Delaying his Ionian flora paper for Linnean Society until next spring as expects to go to Paris soon. Frustrated by botanical travellers who do not mention in their "Floras" what plants chiefly abound in a district; it is not the few rare flowers that characterise a region's vegetation. Lists the plants that are strikingly abundant on Corfu: 'Phlomis fruticosa'; 'Asphodelus ramosus'; 'Ornithogalum exscapum' Tenore, thinks it the 'Ornithogalum nanum' Sibthorp; 'Geranium umbrosum' Tenore; 'Scilla maritima'; 'Lycopsis variegata'; 'Scrophularia peregrina'; 'Phalaris [ariculata]'. On island of Zante: 'Salvia triloba'; 'Hedysarum humile'; 'Hedysarum caput-galli'; 'Chrysanthemum coronarium'; 'Cynara humilis'?; 'Anthericum graecum'; 'Poterium spinosum'; and 'Cistus salicifolius'.
Has discovered two varieties that may be new species: a 'Lithospermum orientale' which on Corfu always has white flowers, and 'Trifolium stellatum', which elsewhere has pink flowers but on Corfu bright yellow. Found specimen of 'Cytinus hypocistis', it resembles a wax model more than a living plant. An 'Umbelliferae' on Zante with a triangular stem, [Antonio] Bertoloni calls it 'Laserpitium triquetrum'. 'Staehelina chamaepeuce' grows on cliffs on Zante. Did not see 'Veronica chamaedrys' on Corfu but a 'Veronica' very like it. Also found two "very singular" 'Euphorbia', one described by [Felix de Avellar] Brotero [(1744-1828)] as 'Euphorbia [pterococca]' and 'Euphorbia sexangularis' by Sprengel, the other would have been new but it was discovered by [Giovanni] Gussone [(1787-1866)] in Sicily last year.
Disappointed by trip to Ramsgate, [Kent], and only stayed fourteen days; also visited Dover, [Kent], but too old to climb hills for 'Brassica oleracea'. Dr [Pelham] Warren [(1778-1835)] prescribed for Lady Cullum two grains of James's powder and two of rhubarb taken nightly, and neutral saline draughts. Attended Horticultural Society meeting; few in attendance but pines, grasses, peaches, and cherries dealt out. Called on a busy [Robert] Brown in Soho Square. Accusations against [Richard] Salisbury in the newspapers; he is to appear at the Old Bailey though Cullum imagines he will flee to Italy where his charges are "scarce reckoned any crime", informed he has resigned membership of Linnean, Royal, and Horticultural Societies. Thanks for plants of 'Lathyrus grandiflorus'. Comments on produce and prices at Covent Garden market produce, including gourds, Siberian crabs, elder berries, walnuts, and sloes; recalls when he importuned [James] Dickson to give an account of everything sold in the market with their names, uses, and prices.
No summary available.
In Brighton for a change of air as the gout in his knees and suppression of urine prevented him from returning to Rose Castle, [Carlisle], recovered a little after treatment from [William George] Maton and [Thomas] Copeland [(1781-1855), surgeon]. Has not attended any of his Societies and has no news since the death of Sir [Thomas] Stamford Raffles [(1781-1826), founder of Singapore]. Presumes the "S" in Smith's letter refers to [Richard] Salisbury. Admires Smith's "English Flora" and especially the work on the umbelliferae.
Sends Smith copy of newspaper [not extant] reporting the incident involving "an unworthy member" of the Linnean Society [Richard Salisbury]. His son and family leaving for London and then Paris for winter for Mrs Cullum's health, against his recommendation of Bath, [Somerset]. Lady Cullum still suffering from an intermittent fever. Visited by Revd Dr Thomas Frognall Dibdin [(1776-1847)], author of "Bibliomania", "Decameron", and others, he is now working on a life of Thomas à Kempis [(c 1380-1471)]. Glad to hear of Mr Freeman, a young botanist, but laments to hear of so many persons being shot by "spring guns" placed in woods a botanist should not enter. Received specimen of 'Centaurea solstitialis' from Dr [William] Webb growing near St Edmund's Hill, Bury.
Thanks for Yates' letter of 29 March 1825, no longer sure of where Yates is living but hopes this gets to Liverpool, [Lancashire], free. Thinks Yates' 'Linum' is 'L. arboreum'; observations. Read account of Dr [Samuel] Parr's [(1747-1825), schoolmaster] funeral "with very great pleasure", presumes it is Yates' own composition. Returns a letter; believes the item Yates saw is a "Chinese device for reckoning" but was unable to consult Mr Donce at Kensington about it. Admired Yates' friend [Howard] Ryland "very much", saw his uncle in Bristol and London in 1825. Going on with fourth volume of "English flora", which all his time this spring is devoted to.
Looking over Roscoe's "great work" ["Mondandrian Plants"] with a botanical friend; very satisfied with it and eager to see all his species of 'Costus', which has previously been in complete disorder. No 'Amomum' amongst [Francis] Hamilton's drawings and collections; made use of own little-known ones in "Supplementum" to Rees' "Cyclopedia".
Unable to accept [Thomas William] Coke's recent invitation to Holkham, [Norfolk], as he needs to finish his "[English] Flora"; cannot write letters or attend to other people's concerns, either. Hopes to see Roscoe at Holkham and Norwich before winter sets in; already suffering from rheumatism. Suggests very great heat, drought, or starvation for 'Amomum granum paradisi' to flower.
Sends specimens of willows ['Salix'] in leaf he previously sent in flower. Recommends forgetting names quoted from Mertens, who named them in his garden without reference to specimens or books, particularly unsure on 'S. tetrapla'. Forster's opinion of 'S. wulfeniana' derived from foreign specimen.
He is exiled from his country and family; intends to generate an income by creating and selling a hortus siccus of London plants; his progress. Sending parcel of specimens to Smith for opinion and so his hortus siccus will be more valuable through association with Smith's herbarium, and copy of his second book, edited by Dr de la Llave of Mexico. Observations on some of the specimens.