Numbered observations on enclosed plants: 1. a 'Rosa' which he proposes naming 'R. nivalis'; 2. a 'Rosa' he proposes naming 'R. glauca'. Going to mountains of Bredalbane and Ben Lawers tomorrow in hope of finding rarities.
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Numbered observations on enclosed plants: 1. a 'Rosa' which he proposes naming 'R. nivalis'; 2. a 'Rosa' he proposes naming 'R. glauca'. Going to mountains of Bredalbane and Ben Lawers tomorrow in hope of finding rarities.
Sends specimen of 'Festuca' which he has cultivated for 3 years, lists marks of distinction from 'F. elatior', proposes name 'F. longifolia' or 'F. altissimo'. Also encloses piece of stem of 'F. elatior'.
Sends two more packets from "the wonderful man" [George Don], thinks Don's 'Rosa glauca' should be named 'Rosa sanguisorbifolia' on account of the leaf. His field containing 'Galium witheringii' has been mowed but will search for more and send to [James] Sowerby if successful, did not realise it was so rare to Smith.
On first looking at the 'Rosa glauca' he thought it had the exact leaf of 'Sanguisorba officinalis'.
Thanks for Smith's letter of 13 June but still waiting for "the handsome present", blames White [publisher] for not following his advice. Found that the best market for the serges he wanted is in Bristol; thanks Smith for his assistance. Knows little of [Thomas] Andrew Knight and does not share the same opinion "which he seems to have of himself".
Always though D'Eon "a man, & that it was a gambling trick of that scoundrel de Morande to gain money by the policy", and all has now turned out as he expected. Discusses [William] Windham's [(1750-1810), politician] death and his former friendship with him; received a letter from him just before the event. Returned to Hafod first week of June but workmen still here and has no bed to offer anyone. Satisfied to find that all he planned surpasses his expectations, "both for comfort & magnificance", and it is far superior to the old house.
Recently dispateched fresh and dried specimens of 'Galium witheringii' for [James] Sowerby to figure. The plant grows in moist but "barrenised" part of Bank meadow, near Rose Castle, alongside 'Linum catharticum', small 'Agrostis vulgaris', and 'Potentilla anserina'. Believes the sparse vegetation of this part of the meadow is due to eing fertilised late in the season with coal ash. Brief description of appearance of 'Galium witheringii'. Sent Smith two letters from [George] Don.
Had a successful botanical excursion to Ben Lawers, though was sorry to just miss [William] Borrer.
Encloses lichens and mosses. Numbered remarks on enclosed specimens: 1. 'Carex ustulata' of Wahlenberg; 2. 'Erioparum gracile' of "Annals of Botany"; 3. 'Cerastium' proposes name 'nivalis'; remarks on 'Festuca' he sent in last letter; 4. 'Dicranum longifolium'; 5. 'Gymnostomum luteolum'.
Intends to visit mountains of Clova soon. 'Andromeda caeruleo' has been found in Scotland, though not by himself.
Mr Drummond just returned from tour of western County Cork where he found a new 'Ophrys'; sends specimen and transcript of Drummond's account of it [extant]. Drummond "much obliged" by Smith's notice of his 'Pinguicula'; Miss Hutchins thought it 'P. vulgaris' of Withering and "English botany"; Drummond's acquisition of this and 'P. grandifolia'.
Drummond's account and description of new 'Ophrys' [3 pp, Smith has annotated on recto of third folio 'Neothia gemmipara']
He has just received two specimens of 'Andromeda caerulea', one of which he encloses and the other he sends to [James] Brodie; discovered by his friends Messrs James and Brown, nurserymen, who accompanied him on his first Highland excursions on his return from England, where they discovered: 'Juncus castaneus', 'Carex pulla', 'Festuca calamaria', 'Spergula saginoides', 'Bartsia alpina', 'Veronica saxatilis', and 'Convalaria verticillata', between 1786 and 1792, "long before the late [John] Mackay [(1772-1802), nurseryman and gardener] knew anything whatever about plants", they sent specimens to both Mackay and Dickson.
Numbered observations on enclosed plants: 2. 'Carex leptalea' of Wahlenberg; 3. 'Eriophorum scheuchzeri', only specimen he has found of it, requests its return; 4. 'Spartum'; encloses specimen of 'Carex diocia' for comparison with the 'C. leptalea'l; 5. 'Carex'; 6. 'Poa' possibly 'P. pumilis'.
Asks Goodenough to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith.
His sarcastic review of Smith's "Introduction to Botany" in the "Edinburgh Review" a mistake as it was published before he could edit it, and that it was written years ago for another purpose. Stands by his remarks on its "delicacy", having found [Carl Ludwig] Willdenow's translated work ["The principles of botany"] unsuitable for "young ladies". Believes Smith incorrect on gases and that whilst odours may be products of natural bodies atmospheric air is not. About to embark on a mineralogical tour [of the Hebrides]. Has seen the "very splendid and costly "Hafod Tour"".
Specimens and seeds for Lambert, Smith, [Robert] Brown, and Liverpool Botanic Garden from [William] Roxburgh. Received letter from Francis Buchanan just returned from two year absence to Calcutta, India. Received specimens from Nevis from [James Webbe] Tobin [(d 1814)] including 'Sophora [...]sperma' in flower. Met Lord Grenville [William Wyndham Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville (1759-1834)] at Whiteknights [home of George Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford] who is creating large collection of plants and arboretum of pines. Lord and Lady Essex, Countess Brühl, and Sir Walter Scott were also in attendance. Blandford has spent £7000 on his garden in last three years including £3000 on hardy shrubs. Describes a 'Convolvulus' at Englefield, Berkshire, bearing thousands of flowers, sent specimen to Soho Square [home of Sir Joseph Banks], "they know nothing of plants". Describes an 'Anneslea' of Roxburgh's in White Knights aquarium. Has found amongst [Edward Daniel] Clarke's Egyptian specimens 'Mimosa lebbeck', believes it is 'Mimosa speciosa'. Mr Baker intends to buy Sudley [Sudeley] Castle Estate, Gloucestershire.
Thinks German botanist [Johannes] Flüggé [(1775-1816)] is correct in use of 'Paspalus' over 'Paspalum'; discusses the etymology, there can be "no dependence upon Linnaeus for learned criticism". 'Datura stramonium' is "equally efficacious with the foreign plant [unspecified]" for curing the "asthma with paroxysms". His yellow carnation has not flowered this year. Harvest now in great activity, they have had a few days of curious weather. Recently endured a very wet botanical excursion with his family into the high mountains, gathered 'Lycopodium selago', 'Lycopodium clavatum', 'Lycopodium alpinum', 'Empertum nigrum', 'Pteris crispa', 'Aspidium thelypteris', 'Parnassia palustris', and a few Lichens. Growing very fond of Rose Castle and area.
Sending portfolio of drawings soon but Stadler wants them a little longer. Has not had his copies of his [Enguerrand de] Monstrelet [(1400-1453), French chronicler] translation; describes the contents. Discusses a poem and biography of [Emperor] Maximilian [I (1459-1519)] with curious wood cuts by same engraver; lost copies of both in his library fire and replaced former but not the latter yet.
Employing himself in "all the luxury of complete idleness". Though books in Britain are selling at "immense" prices surprised by prices in France, citing recent publication of three part work on Egypt containing 840 prints on vellum paper costing 5400 francs [pencil annotations of other figures]. Had some fine drawings for French edition of Monstrelet but they arrived too late. Decoration of his hall.
Recalls time spent together; asks JH for information about Cambridge colleges, especially St. John's.
Returns sheets. Does not doubt Patrick Neill's sorrow, but he shows "how foolish a figure a man makes who does any thing he would be ashamed to own". Glad that "our other foolish friend", [Edward] Rudge, has withdrawn the two disputed plants from his paper [suspected to have been stolen from Sir Joseph Banks' herbarium]. He and [Dawson] Turner are going to Holkham [Hall, Norfolk, home of Thomas William Coke] for a week.
Mr Walker has arrived at Oxford, unfortunately the scholarship he enquired after will be occupied for some time but it is noted he has "more discretion than his unfortunate father and [...] his very ingenious but most indiscreet relative already resident". Sorry he missed Smith in London, had a severe illness in the spring which has caused the [Oxford Botanic] Garden to suffer but thanks Smith for the seeds. Received a copy of "Flora Graeca" for the Radcliffe library; the Bodleian Library have declined to purchase a copy in part due to expense, recent heavy expenditure on manuscripts, and conviction that [John] Sibthorp's executors will gift a copy anyway. Actions of the executors of Sibthorp's will respecting money. Does not believe the Bodleian will make any more natural history acquisitions.
Received Winch's letter of 1 June [1810] via [James] Sowerby; uncertain whether it was lost in his "multifarious museum". He has been working on the 'Lichen' part of his fourth volume [of "Flora Britannica"] but cannot begin it for the press until [William Jackson] Hooker comes to a conclusion with his 'Jungermanniae' ["British Jungermanniae" (1816)].
Numbered observations on Winch's plants: 1. 'Lichen rupestris'; 2. 'L. pruinosus'; 3. 'Hypnum rugosum'; 4. 'Gymnostonum'; 5-9. marked doubtfully by [Dawson] Turner, not confident of any of them. Uncertain who told them that 'Pyrola media' was found at Studley, [Warwickshire]; they must always be on guard against such erroneous information and mistaken species; determined to admit nothing into the sequel to his "Flora" of which he has not a specimen himself to examine and keep as an authority. 11. 'Chironia littoralis'; 12. a 'Juncus', possibly his 'J. maritimus'; 13. 'J. campestris'; 14. 'Agrostis fascicularis' Curtis; 'A. pumila', does not think it a species.
Turner, Hooker, and himself all "truly concerned" that Winch should have any "gloom" in his prospects, and hope they soon brighten.
[On recto of second folio] List of 15 plants sent 10 June 1810, corresponds with Smith's observations above [in Winch's hand].
No summary available.
[Jonas] Dryander dead following an operation on a chronic abscess of the rectum and unrelated peritonitis. To be buried in St Ann's, Soho, London. Excited about printing of Linnaeus' "Lachesis Lapponica".
Condolences on death of "our rough diamond", [Jonas] Dryander. Smith can recommend a new librarian [unnamed] for Sir Joseph Banks but he has "the unsteadiness of a genius", and was educated for "a Moravian minister, but has left that bigotted & tyranical society".
Sends copy of [Lewis David de] Schweinitz and [Johann Baptist von] Albertini's "Fungi Niskienses". Explains the genesis of the work; well received in Europe and by Persoon.