From:
Matthew Guthrie
To:
unknown recipient
Date:
28 January 1795
Source of text:
L&P/10/120, Royal Society
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Royal Society
No summary available.
Sends leaves for identification from each of the plants he managed to grow from 5 of the 6 Sierra Leone seeds Smith sent last spring, and leaf of 'Stelitzia', the most thriving plant in his stove with habit quite different from Lady Rockingham's. new 'Ulva' found at Weymouth; elected FLS.
[Spec 23 written in pencil at head of verso of folio]
Thanks for Smith's letter. Laments death of [James] Lee [(1715-1795), gardener] and loss of his friendly communications. Pleased that Smith's trip to Wales was a success, believes it will be "for the general benefit of science" for Smith to have similar opportunities. The negligence of his gardener has forced him to give up cultivating stove plants and convert his stove into a forcing house for grapes and peaches. The stove plants have been sent to a cousin in Yorkshire but has reserved for himself 'Strelitzia', 'Pulmeria rubra', 'Xylophila latifolia', and 'Portlandia', offers to send any to friends of Smith; half of the 'Strelitzia' is already in Lady de Clifford's stove [Sophia Southwell]. Lady Rockingham [Mary Watson-Wentworth] recovering only very slowly from her illness, believes it originated from repeated "injudicious" bleedings several months ago.
Happy that Smith has accepted his 'Strelitzia'. Reassures Smith he has not lost his partiality for plants in disposing of his stove but has only tired of being disappointed by "ungrateful and worthless" gardeners. Thinks his new gardener will be better. Hopes that Smith's move to Hammersmith will not deprive him of his company.
Sending Siberian plants delayed by the war in Holland.
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Writes in reference to 'Pyrola uniflora', specimens of which he once sent to [James] Hoy of Gordon Castle and which has since been included in a work of [James] Sowerby's, but believes Sowerby has not succeeded in correctly documenting it and will send more specimens for further attention. Relates that John Mackay [(1772-1802) employed at Dickson nursery, Edinburgh] has discovered many plants in north and west Scotland overlooked by [John] Lightfoot, list sent to Sowerby along with specimens of 'Eriocaulon decangulare', Mackay to send seeds of same shortly. Recommends Mackay as a collector. Has received from Dominica seeds and drawing of plant sent as the true 'Iecacuanha' but believes it to be 'Asclepias curassavica' as does [Daniel] Rutherford, will send specimen if desired.
Has reminded [John] Mackay [(1772-1802), employed at Dickson nursery, Edinburgh] to send specimens of 'Eriocaulon decangulare'. Thinks [James] Hoy an excellent botanist. Behaviour of 'Pyrola uniflora' on island of Harris leads him to believe that [Richard] Gotobed's account is wrong. His woods plentiful with 'Satyrium repens' and 'Ophrys cordata', sending specimens of both to [James] Sowerby. Has been unable to find 'Satyrium albidum'. 'Linnaea borealis' flowering well in his botanical garden but has never found it wild, will ask [James] Beat[t]ie about it.
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