Smith will receive a copy each of his two new works, one on miliary fever and the other entitled "Conspectus presentaneae morborum conditionis".
Smith has been elected as a foreign member of the Turin Academy. Looking forward to receiving dried plants promised by Smith.
Received from Smith academic dissertations by Linnaeus, plants for his herbarium and seeds, which have been planted in [Rodrigo de] Sousa [Coutinho's] garden, suggests in future Smith sends seeds rather than dried specimens to Sousa. Planning to write to [Edmund] Davall. Hopes to see a new edition of Smith's "Vegetabilium System", a bookseller in Turin would like every book on botany or natural history Smith has published or intends to publish. Satisfied with Smith's observations on the plants of uncertain classification, has consulted Scheuchzer's "Agrostographiae Helveticae Prodromus", is certain that the 'Phalaris' in question is the one described by Linnaeus and not 'Radice perenni', on which he is currently working on a memoir of for the Academy of Sciences. The 'Arenaria' he sent with the name of 'Saxatilis vill' is a perennial. Discussion of 'Arenaria zanoni', 'Arenaria flaccida', 'Arenaria capillacea', 'Arenaria striata'. Asks for advice on 'Allium nigrum', 'Potentilla verna', 'Androsace lactea', 'Ranunculus cuneifolium', 'Campanula rupestris', 'Trifolium aureum', 'Spartium [...]', 'Asperula saxatilis', 'Asperula cynanchica', 'Festuca decidua', 'Radix perennis', 'Polypodium [pessimalte]', 'Anthemis altissima', all of which Smith has received from Bellardi, this list is underlined in pencil.
Introduces Mr Istria, a medical doctor interested in natural history and botany.
No summary available.
No summary available.
Introduces Mr Newton, an "accurate botanist, & skilful mineralogist", who wishes to inspect Smith's lichens. Recently spent time with one of their old Edinburgh friends, Dr Goodwin, who has been abroad with Mr North. Would like to see Smith next time he is in Norfolk. Antrobus sends his compliments.
Account for books, etc.
Account for books, etc.
Thanks for Linnaean dissertations; list of those required; has been elected to Acad. der Sciences; news.
Sale and purchase of books; titles of nobility.
Payment for books, etc.
Civil duties; appointed a judge; recovery of his son.
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No summary available.
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The newly established Académie Delphinale.
Afraid to tell Smith of his marriage lest he thought him "a deserter of the good cause"; tells Smith about his wife.
Botanical queries: is there a good figure of true 'Carex saxatilis'; is the true 'Bromus pinnatus' of L.Fl. the 'Bromus pinnatus' of [William] Hudson; when will Smith publish his volume of "Obs[ervationes] Bot[anicae]"; when is fifteenth edition of "Systema Vegetabilium" published. Intends to send Smith the drawings for his work, though fears it will not be complete before Smith finishes his "Systema Vegetabilium". The young [Albrecht von] Haller [(1758-1823)] and [Jacob] Wyttenbach disapprove of his proposed title "Illustrationes Hall.", proposes "Florilegium Helveticum" instead. Berne booksellers wish to reprint [Abrecht von] Haller's [(1708-1777)] "Historia Stirpium" and have requested Davall's plates; [Werner de] Lachenal [(1736-1800)] declines to edit it as he wishes to keep his discoveries for his own "Flora Helvetica".
Criticises [Nikolaus von] Jacquin's "wretched" figure of 'Arenaria liniflora' in "Collectanea" vol 2. Asks for [James] Dickson to respond to his questions on cryptogamia. Sent Smith 'Lichen cucullatus' and seed of 'Geranium pusillum' for William Curtis, and 'Stellaria biflora' of Linnaeus and 'Stellaria cerastoides'. Has specimen of extremely rare 'Sisymbrium tanacetifolium' for Smith. Requests permission to quote Smith's work on 'Sonchus [alpinus]' and 'Stellaria dichotoma'. Longs to study coloured plates of 'Limodorum', 'Tankervilli', and 'Strelitzia', and for [James] Sowerby to copy Miss Lee's drawing of 'Protea mellifera'. Comments on Jacquin's figure of 'Senecio sarracenicus' and 'Senecio nemorensis' in "Flora Austrica". Seeds of 'Hieracium alpinum' for Smith, discusses this plant with reference to [Carlo] Allioni and [John] Lightfoot and degradation of colour in herbarium specimens including 'Trifolium incarnatum'. Difficulties with 'Chenopodium' and discrepancies with Haller. Offers to send paper with drawings on 'Gentiana pedunculata' for Linnean Society, discusses its flower and similarities to 'Swertia carinthiaca' with five small ink sketches. Will send 'Carex tomentosa'. Asks after Smith's ["Icones pictae plantarum rariorum..."] and [Richard] Salisbury's ["Icones stirpium rariorum..."]. Thinks that Wyttenbach "should stick to his minerals" after sending Smith 'Stellaria cerastoides' for 'Cerastium alpinum' to Smith, and the same to himself as 'Arenaria multicaulis'. Small sketch in ink of his newly made herbarium cabinet in the same style as Smith's; ambitions for his collection. Indebted himself £600 in setting up his library.
Sending parcel of one hundred and thirty plants for Smith via Mr Gooch, some of which are from Smith's desiderata, and with this letter includes systematic list of them [extant]. Explains key to his list: plants marked with a red cross urgently need an answer from Smith; plants marked "S" are gathered in Switzerland and "G" from his garden. Smith has further annotated Davall's systematic list of specimens, marking "Fl" on those incorporated into his herbarium and a series of ticks denoting when he wrote his remarks on the specimens.
Also sends six drawings of his work for [James] Sowerby with the original specimens, and two samples of beadwork from a convent for Smith's sister. 'Smithia sensitivia' and 'Diapensia lapponica' framed and glazed in his study. Requests another copy of "Hortus Kewensis" as the "Flemish affairs" prevent communications between Switzerland and England.
Apologises for his initial silence on his marriage. Briefly outlines contents of a parcel of specimens and drawings for Smith sent via Mr Gooch. His 'Bulbodicum' is being included in [Werner de] Lachenal's [(1736-1800)] "Flora Helvitica". Discusses his correspondents [Jacques] Dorthes and [Dominique] Villars; the latter has not yet conceded on 'Sonchus alpinus' and says the 'Arenaria', number fifty on Davall's list, is his 'juniperina'. Asks Smith to stand godfather to his child.