Offers specimens for Smith and Banks; proposed establishment of a local Linnean Society; his correspondence with Linnaeus; desiderata.
The Linnean Society of London Collection
The scientific and personal correspondence of James Edward Smith (1759-1828), purchaser of the collections of Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) and founder of the Linnean Society of London in 1788, was presented to the Linnean Society between 1857 and 1872 by his widow Pleasance Smith (1773-1877). Since then, it has been complemented by additional series. The collection was catalogued, conserved, and digitised from 2010 to 2013, thanks to the generous support of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Letters can be searched through Ɛpsilon, with links to images and summaries available on the Linnean Society’s Online Collections (http://linnean-online.org/smith_correspondence.html).
Offers specimens for Smith and Banks; proposed establishment of a local Linnean Society; his correspondence with Linnaeus; desiderata.
Sends letter for Banks and list of desiderata; offers exchange.
Thanks for specimens; requires "Sparrmannia" to be engraved with Tournier's portrait of Sparrman; progress of his work.
Thanks for specimens; his "Genera" completed; foundation of Linnean Society
Viborg visiting London; presents Smith with his "Genera".
The genera 'Turrea' and 'Passiflora'.
Introduces Viborg; has finished work on 'Passifloraceae'.
Requests copy of Smith's "De Generatione". Does Smith know in what [Peter Simon] Pallas published about discovering the hearing organs of crayfish. Has translated [John] Hunter's "Memoir on the Digestion" [(1728-1793), surgeon], as well received as Hunter's "Animal economy" and work on venereal diseases. Plans to publish third, fourth, and fifth volumes of his own "Annotations Anatomiques" this year.
Still awaiting the works Smith sent, in addition requests transcription of [Johan Christian] Fabricius' 1783 memoir on the hearing of insects and tracings of the plates for his own work. Congratulations on establishment of Linnean Society, gratified by invitation to join. Highlights errors in [Lazzaro] Spallanzani's [(1729-1799), Italian physiologist] work on digestion by comparing it with [John] Hunter's [(1728-1793), surgeon] memoir on same. Chair of Chemistry and Botany at University of Pavia still vacant since death of [Giovanni Antonio] Scopoli.
[On separate folio] List of plant names, possibly in a different hand, no reference to this in the rest of the letter.
Thanks for the tracings from [Johan Christian] Fabricius' 1783 memoir on the hearing of insects; notes that Fabricus does not seem to have looked into the internal structure of the hearing organs of crayfish. Notes a dissertation by Mr Minasi titled "Dissertazione dei Timpanetti dell'udito scoperti nel Granchio Paguro" (1775) that may predate Fabricius' work. [Giovanni Antonio] Scopoli's successor at University of Pavia is Brusatti, previously Professor of Chemistry at the Theresian College in Vienna.
Translating Pulteney's work on Linnaeus and adding a supplement of vindication.
Shortly leaving for Connaught [Connacht, Ireland], hopes to be more successful with his natural history researches than on his last visit. Asks after a "Flora Hibernica" he believes he heard of in London. Extract from unnamed book recently published in Ireland on discovery of elk antlers and skeleton in 1783 on the "sea lands of the Bishop of Dromore". Encloses drawing [not extant] of a "Borer" insect causing damage to West Indies sugar canes as the Hessian fly does in America, sent larvae to [Thomas] Marsham.
Thanks for courtesies Smith showed to his pupil. Shall see that Smith's pupil [probably François Borone] is educated in drawing and Latin. [Fulgenzio] Vitman [(1728-1806)], professor of botany in Milan, is publishing a book of all known plants, his previous work on medicinal plants was derided by a French newspaper.
Smith's pupil [François] Borone was to be taken into service of the Archduke, then to study botany at Pavia university, both of which would have left him unable to learn Latin as Smith desired, and is now to return to England instead. Had hoped to cross Smith's path next May at Mount Cenis but told by Borone that Smith is no longer making the journey. Heard that Smith's brother is fond of architecture, sends gift for him.
Thanks for Smith's remote "uncommon care" and medical advice; his current state of health.
Has sent a box of plants from the Italian Alps. Will shortly print the "Auctarium ad floram Pedem". Asks Smith to forward a business commission.
Business matters and sale of books in London.
Thanks Smith for executing business commissions in London and gives instructions for further arrangements with Mr Elmesly, bookseller. Believes that it is only through Smith that the public can expect a good reprinting of the "Systema Vegatabilium". Requests "American seeds", will send seeds from the Alps in return.
Grateful for election as a member of the Linnean Society. Will soon send copies of an "Auctarium" published the previous summer, one for Royal Society, one for Sir Joseph Banks, one for Smith, one for Linnean Society and twelve to be sold.
Will send plants Smith has requested through Mr Malanotte, plus any other plants desired from "Flora Pedemontana", for a stated price. Prevented from publishing fascicules by conditions in the "Clinica", but with [Carlo] Allioni's consent will publish "Nomenclatura Stirpium Pedemontana", and asks Smith to check new plants against Linnaeus's herbarium. Requests rules of Linnean Society following his election as a correspondening member. Asks for a selection of exotic seeds for two amateur botanist friends of his, a complete series of lichens and seeds of 'Rheum rhabarbarum', 'Rheum palmatum', 'Rheum ribes', 'Rheum tataricum' and 'Rheum hybridum'. The Agrarian Society he is a member of has been appointed a Royal Society by the King. Has received the specimen of 'Lichen cucullatus' Smith found at Mont Cenis, Savoy, but believes it may be 'Lichen rivularis'.