Joseph Franz von Jacquin, Vienna, [Austria], to Sir James Edward Smith, at Messrs Longman, Hunt and Comp, Pasternoster Row, London

Summary

Received chest of books and letter Smith sent on 6 March. Had hoped to send Smith the last fasciculus of "Eclogae" and "Supplementum Collectaneorum" but prevented by sickness of his father [Nikolaus Jospeh von Jacquin], now sending them with "Synopsis Stapeliarum" in a chest directed to Sir Joseph Banks. In settling their long book account observes the higher price of eighth fasicuclus of "Icones plantarum"; is sending "Supplementum Collectaneorum"; unaware that Smith already had "Oxalis"; a mistake by the bookseller is the reason for Smith not receieving the fourth volume of "Hort. Schöenb.", urges Smith to take the copy at Mr Boydell's. Itemised accounts for Smith and Jacquin. Requests [William] Sole's "Menthae" and Smith's edition of Linnaeus' "Journey to Lapland". Next summer publishing last fasciculus of his father's "Stapeliarum" and continuing publication of "Eclogae" and "Grasses" ["Eclogae graminum rariorum"]. Thanks for "Compendium Florae Britannicae", "a model of a flora as every country should have one". Enquires after "the only perfect copy existing" of ["De Materia Medica"] of Dioscorides [(c 40-90) Greek physician] that Nikolaus von Jacquin lent [John] Sibthorp in Vienna before his first trip to Greece, to be returned after his journey, and whether Smith could claim it at the executors. Explains that the notes in "Eclogae" were written in German to evade Bonaparte's higher import tax on Latin books. Defends the right of German botanists to write in their own language as the French and English do. Received "Flora Graeca". [Abraham] Rees' "Cyclopedia" is in Vienna but has not yet seen a copy.

Letter details

Record number

LINNEAN2795

From

Joseph Franz von Jacquin

To

Sir James Edward Smith

Date

6 Apr 1818

Sent from

Vienna, Austria

Sent to

London

Source of text

GB-110/JES/COR/5/103, The Linnean Society of London

Language

English

Contributor

The Linnean Society of London[View Ɛpsilon collection]

Also published in The Correspondence of Sir James Edward Smith, The Linnean Society's Archive Catalogue.