From:
unknown
To:
Royal Society
Date:
8 February 1790
Source of text:
MM/3/28, Royal Society
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Royal Society
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At Smith's request has sent an "imperfect draught" [extant] of a bird he supposes "non descript" and possibly a variety, not having seen a drawing corresponding exactly with it, and has only referred to Edward and Albin's "Natural History [of birds]". Requests Smith's opinion from his "perfect knowledge of natural history".
Coloured figure of bird [Smith annotation: "'Loxia enucleator'", "'Loxia curvirostra' female" crossed out and replaced with 'enucleator']
Passifloraceae'; 'Smithia'; De Jussieu; L'Héritier.
Collecting plants; presents his works; new plants from Mexico; will send Spanish plants.
Comments on information sent by Smith.
'Passiflora biflora'; new plants from Peru and Mexico; sends seed for determination. ["Pallasia, J.E.S."].
Cost of work supported by Government; doubts about Smith's determination of the seed; Lamarck and Linnaeus; a great fire.
Introduces Mr Scassi, a young doctor and bearer of the letter, who is travelling to further his studies. [Gregory] Boraston of Oxford visited two months ago, gave him a copy of his work on hearing organs for Smith. Forced to be both author and bookseller on account of inefficient printing works.
Plants found in the last month in Westport, County Mayo, [Ireland]: 'Andromeda daboecia', 'Empetrum nigrum', and 'Saxifraga umbrosa', remarking of the latter "the London Pride not in Hudson" ["Flora Anglica"]. Hopes to send an account of Mayo plants. Met Patrick Browne [(c 1720-1790) Irish botanist], "quite a cripple with old age" who showed him a copy of his "Flora Hibernica", believes it not much more than a catalogue [this remained unpublished until 1995]. Browne discussed Jamaican plants [Browne's "The civil and natural history of Jamaica"] and his correspondence with Linnaeus. At Lord Altamont's saw a "true Irish wolf dog", the seven Altamont owns are the only ones left in Ireland. The sheets of a botanical work left with Smith are from [Walter] Wade's intended "Flora Dubliniensi". Parliament have given £300 for Wade's campaign to establish Dublin botanic garden. Wade would like to correspond with Linnean Society and establish an Irish counterpart, requests copy of rules. Hopes [John] Fairbairn received West Indies seeds he sent. Will return to County Mayo for a few more months. Found 'Andromeda polifolia' growing in a bog near Althone.
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Thanks for Smith's letter and the promise of an ongoing correspondence. Will try and send some Indian and Cape [of Good Hope] plants for Smith's herbarium; enclosing a catalogue of his plants for Smith to select from. Many people will be pleased Smith has the Linnaean collections as he is making them available to scientists. New edition of "Systema vegetabilium" has corrected errors in previous edition.
Studying the plants of the Cape [of Good Hope] for publication; his concerns for the work and figures. Intends to send paper "The botanical history of the genus Dillenia" for "Linnean Transactions" once he has an accurate address for Smith. Recently received Jussieu's "Ordines naturales"; thinks the genera extremely complicated; he always strives to keep natural genera together, lists examples.
Thanks for election as FMLS. Sending his paper on genus 'Dillenia' for "Linnean Transactions". Received a specimen of 'Ternstromia', a species of his 'Cleyera'. Awaiting list of Smith's plant requirements, but in meantime enclosing specimes of 'Hovenia' and other grasses. Whilst he was in Africa received specimen of 'Wachendorfia graminifolia', and brought back from Japan nuts of 'Gingko bilboa', but has been unable to obtain flowers from it.