Recalls journey with Smith from Lyons to Montpellier which created his interest in botany; project to found National History Museum.
Recalls journey with Smith from Lyons to Montpellier which created his interest in botany; project to found National History Museum.
Thanks for election as honorary member of the Natural History Society.
His trip to Paris: Broussonet took him to the Académie des Sciences in Paris and has enabled correspondence with Montpellier, [France]. [Jean Louis Antoine] Reynier [(1762-1824), botanist] meddling with politics and may end up in the Bastille; he is an observer of "considerable perspicacity" having determined 'Sonchus canadensis' without the the knowledge Smith had communicated. Purchased [Johan Daniel] Leers' ["Flora Herbornensis"] but plates are bad impressions.
In Paris Broussonet took him to Académie des Sciences and established correspondence between him with [Jacques] Dorthes in Montpellier, [France]; no time for the Société d'Agriculture. Deep snow drifts on journey from Pontarlier, [France], to Orbe. Insulted by [Jean Louis Antoine] Reynier's [(1762-1824), botanist] criticism of his Latin. Found 'Carex tomentosa' for [Samuel] Goodenough. Ordered six copies of the new edition of Leers' ["Flora Herbornensis"] being published in Berlin. The lesser 'Caryophylla' in his herbarium could be worth Smith's attention. Believes they both hold 'Arenaria striata' and 'Arenaria liniflora'; the first is alpine and the second is Jurane and answers to plant at Kew. What he thought was a 'Colchium montanum' in his garden may be 'Bulbicodium', and if so an addition to the Swiss flora. Asks Smith's advice on 'Chenopodium' of Linnaeus and [Albrecht von] Haller with detailed reference to various publications. Has been sent Leers' 'Hypericum dubium' and a friend found Jacquin's '[Hypericum] barbatum'; offers to send these and 'Phaca australis' from Reynier's herbarium.
Flights of 'Ampelis garrulus'; received shot specimen of 'Oriolus galbula'. Examined insect 'Hister quadrimaculatus', thinks it rare. Has specimen of 'Ribes alpinum' for Smith; 'Astragalus monspessulanus' coming into flower in garden. Thinks the 'Thilco' in Feuillée's "Description of the medicinal plants of Chili & Peru" (1709) is 'Fuschia coccinea'. Pleased Smith is figuring 'Sonchus alpinus' in his first fasciculus ["Icones plantarum"]; found '[Sonchus] canadensis' in his garden. Will send specimen of [Albrecht von] Haller's 1338. Wishes François [Borone, Smith's assistant] to put aside as many plants for him as possible.
[Jean Louis Antoine] Reynier [(1762-1824), botanist] should be expelled from Linnean Society "as an arrogant & foolish enemy of Linnaeus"; [Jacob] Wyttenbach, [Berthout] Van Berchem and others in Switzerland despise him for his manner during sale of his herbarium, and he is now renaming plants. Will send specimen of 'Carex tomentosa'. Praises [James] Sowerby's artistry. Leaves definition of 'Choenopodium polyspermum' to Smith. Has one specimen of the 'Hypenica'. Has a pair of chamois horns for Smith. Thanks for Sir Joseph Banks' fruits for Wyttenbach. Apologises to [Joseph] Jacquin for almost naming the [Nikolaus] Jacquin's 'Draba stellata', 'Draba saxatilis'. L'Heritier spoke to him about 'Spartium' and Swiss flora though Davall is shamed by Smith's report of his behaviour. Hopes print his work at Berne rather than Lausanne.
Sending a hurriedly prepared package of plants including 'Cistus' and 'Carex tomenstosa'. An error in 'Spartium'. Sends box of cryptogamia for [James] Dickson from Ducros. Visiting convent at top of St Bernard in August, said to be the most elevated habitation known and higher than plain of Mount Cenis. Forgot to pack 'Valeriana montana' and 'Crocus vernus'.
FMLS diplomas sent by Smith arrived safely. His affection for Smith. Has a parcel of plants for [Samuel] Goodenough. Had a cabinet made up to same specifications as Smith's. Has drawing of 'Micropus erectus' but no conveyance for sending; easier to send from Jamaica than Switzerland. The engraving he had made of 'Crepis' no longer correct having read [Werner de] Lachenal's [(1736-1800), professor of botany at Basel] "Observationes botanica medicae" (1776) and realised a mistake made by [Albrecht von] Haller; consulted Lachenal's plants in person in Basel. Possible specimen of 'Lichen cucullatus' to send Smith, as well as 'Aretia alpina', 'Achilla moschata', 'Laserpitium simplex', and the 'Gentiana' 652 Hall[er's] "Hist[oria stirpum]", suggests the name 'Gentiana pedunculata', the same as "Flora Danica" tab 318 [extant]. Now has more specimens of 'Turritis carulea'. Only satisfied with Smith's botanical figures after seeing his "Plantarum Icones"; remarks on 'Stellaria dichotoma'. Haller's no.890 without doubt 'Stellaria cerastoides'.
On left-hand margin of recto of first folio Davall has written that he thinks [James] Sowerby's figure for 'Spartium decumbens' "excellent", though there are errors with the vexillum.
Specimen, labelled 'Swertia carinthiaca'.
Asks if Smith received collection of 'Arenaria' from [Dominique] Villars. Davall can obtain 'Sonchus canadensis', 'Ribes petraeum' of Jacquin, and 'Hypericum dubium' of Leers. Requests copy of fasciculus [of "Icones pictae plantarum rariorum"] containing Smith's 'Antirrhinum reticulatum', and specimen.
Numbered remarks on Swiss plants sent to Smith 22 May to Smith, requests the specimens be returned, plants include: 'Antirrhinum genistafolia', 'Potentilla opaca', a 'narbonense', a "hairy variety" of 'Arenaria tenuifolia', 'Arenaria liniflora', 'Schoenus ferrugineus', and 'Senecio paludosus'. Smith should determine 'Arenaria'. Thanks for Linnaean specimen of 'Diapensia lapponica', "a piece of the Cross is less precious to a bigot catholic", and for 'Aristolochia pistolochia'. Found 'Lichen flauescens' of [Nikolaus von] Jacquin's ["Miscellanea Austriaca"]. His marriage. Wants to send Smith Chamouny honey, hopes he received the Chamois horns and seeds of 'Aquiligia alpina', 'Stellaria cerastoides' and others.
Thanks for favours Smith has gone out of his way for. Requests any of Smith's writings on Linnaeus he might have produced since returning from his travels, and will advertise "Icones pictae plantarum rariorum". He has searched in vain for [James] Barbut's [(1711-1788), naturalist] "Genera insectorum" and "Genera vermium", and [James] Bolton's [(1735-1799), botanist] "History of fungusses".
80 anatomical wax models now complete, but many remain before the work is completed, and he has decided to publish it as a whole rather than in sections. Requests Smith's assistance in procuring a copy of Sir Joseph Banks' just published "sketches of plants".
Thanks for parcel of books; returning copy of [James] Barbut's [(1711-1788), naturalist] "Genera insectorum" as the title page is damaged and plate 14 not coloured.
Paid 8 florins for Murray's "Frutribus" for Smith, which he will annotate for him at some point, and offers to send copies of his anatomical works. Thanks for parcel of plants and copy of "Reliquiae Rudbeckianae", as thanks for which he is including plates of a pregnant womb and parturient womb, and which are not to be found on sale. Requests third part of Barbut's "Genera vermium" and third of second book of [James] Bolton's [(1735-1799), botanist] "[History of] fungusses [growing about Halifax]".
Dr van der Wympersse, of whom Smith writes, died 18 months ago.
Hoping to send some dubious plants for identification. Dedicating himself to botany and the 'Cryptogamia' class, will send a list of desiderata to Smith. Requests any species of 'Hypnum'. Offers to send following plants found around Paris: 'Lobelia urens', 'Sison verticillatum', 'Phalaris oryzoides', 'Spergula sagimoides', 'Sium repens-jacquini', 'Buxbaumia foliosa', 'Jungermania multifida', and several lichens, 'Bryums', and 'Jungermanias'.
Thanks for plants, particularly pleased with 'Juncus jacquini'; 'Juncus pedatus'; 'Dianthus alpinus'; and 'L. croceus'. Encloses his list of desiderata [extant]. Sends specimens of 'Orchis coriophora'; 'Lobelia urens'; a new lichen he names 'Lichen atrocuber'; a 'Boletus' described in Murray's "S N" as 'Botelus rugosus' of Jacquin and the 'Boletus demidiatus' of [Carl Peter] Thunberg; and 'Botelus aubliquatus' of [Jean Baptiste François Pierre] Bulliard [(1742-1793) botanist] (no.2293), details on its worldwide habitat. Also sends some dubious plants for identification, listed. Will send 'Sium repens'. Asks Smith to construct a list of French desiderata from [Thomas François] Dalibard's [(1709-1799) physicist and botanist] "Florae parisiensis prodromus".
Received Smith's letter of 19 September 1788. Thanks for book by Mr Ellis and one of Smith's Latin dissertations. Shall send copies of his dissertation on the propagation of fish in which he discusses two hermaphrodite fish, 'Perca' and 'Canna'. Is following this publication with one on propagation of cartilaginous fish and one on propagation of crabs, asks whether it is preferred for them to be written in Latin or Italian. Admires Smith's own work on the propagation of the species and his notes on Linnaeus. Not convinced by [Johann] Hedwig's arguments.
His botanising is limited to the "rude mountains" of his locale and mists have made the season unfavourable to Highland botanists. Will pass through London on his way to East Indies this summer. Studying Persian in Edinburgh in a month; intends to send Smith "some small fruit of [his] botanical labours". Hopes Smith has received a copy of his thesis. Smith's opinion of 'Lichen gelidus' well founded; hopes to send specimens but difficult to procure. The moss he thought to be a 'Splachnum' may be 'Bryum capsulis nutantibus' and the 'Lichen caeruleo-nigricans' appears doubtful, believes it may be a variety of 'Lichen calcarius'. Sending specimens of [William] Hudson's 'Helvella plana' and a similar fungus. Will give Smith the [Robert] Morison book before leaving for the Indies.
Will send a parcel once he receives instructions from Smith. Encloses '[Hypnum] proliferum' in fructification. Offers to send the 'verticillatum' of [John] Lightfoot; believes his attribution is wrong as it totally differs from those of Linnaeus and [William] Hudson. Similarly, Dr [John] Walker [(1731-1803) professor of natural history] showed that Lightfoot's 'Salix arenaria' is Linnaeus' 'Salix fusca', from specimens of [Daniel] Solander's. Offers to send Smith '[Ptilium] crista-castrensis'. Has found '[Sphagnum] palustre' and a 'Boletus' with a "delightful smell" he believes to be the 'suaveolens' of Linnaeus ['Trametes suaveolens'], Lightfoot describes one under the same name but with no odour. The society [Natural History Society, Edinburgh] "rather low" but has received a great addition in Mr Alexander. Hopes to submit a paper soon.
Smith elected FM of Society des Botanophiles; Lamarck.
Thanks Smith for introducing him to [Jacques Philippe Martin] Cels. Asks Smith when he is in Paris to find out the titles of contributors to his "Delicia Florae et Faunae" so he can dedicate plates to them in the third volume.
Intends to winter in Nice; also considered Florence and Pisa. His indisposition prevents him from settling at a university. Requests introductions and advice.
[Smith has noted his reply on verso of second folio]: comments climates of Nice, Florence, and Pisa, notes names of friends and accomodation recommendations.
Requests specimens, presumably collected during Smith's northern tour, of 'Juncus spicatus', 'Juncus biglumis', 'Juncus triglumis', 'Gnaphalium supinum', 'Anthericum calyculatum', 'Salix lapponum', 'Polytrichum alpinum', 'Lichen polyphyllos', 'Polypodium rhoeticum', and a fructifying 'Lichen fasciularis', some are marked in pencil with a cross. Has sent a specimen of 'Lichen parellus' that may differ from Smith's. A list of plants he has found in the summer. Turnip crop in Norfolk devastated by black caterpillars, has been unable to find the fly that produces them, but [Eleazar] Albin's "A Natural History of the English Insects" relates how a similar blight in 1719 was caused by the 'Ichneumon' fly, which Bryant disputes. The only flies collected from the turnip fields are possibly the 'Tenthredo rosae', sends two specimens for Smith for information and asks which fly Albin's black caterpillar produces.
Thanks Smith for "the very agreeable" description of the genus 'Monachorum' and praises the purity of the language. The very harsh winter has prevented him from botanising. Concern for the misfortunes of [William] Hudson [his collections were lost in a fire in 1783]. Criticism of writing capabilities of [James] Dickson and his intention to "publishing something new in the Cryptogamian way".