John Hawkins, Bignor Park, near Petworth, [Sussex], to James Edward Smith, at Sir Joseph Banks', Soho Square, London

Summary

Residing at Bignor Park, former home of Charlotte Smith, "whose little poems on subjects of natural history must have engaged your attention", purchased from her sister [Catherine Ann] Dorset [(d 1816) children's author]. Pleased to hear of imminent publication of "Flora Graeca Prodromus" and satisfied with second part of first volume of "Flora Graeca" which is free from the errors in the first part. In reference to 'Briza elatior' clarifies use of Greek "or" instead of Latin "in" in forming names. Cautions Smith in use of Sommarera as a source for names as the vulgar modern Greek names are so "barbarous" that some are shamed into using names taken from Matthiolus [Pietro Andrea Mattioli (1501-1577)] and others and passing them off as the real names, although they are not strictly neo-grecian. List of Greek plant names [with Hawkins' corrections and comments].

Letter details

Record number

LINNEAN2844

From

John Hawkins

To

Sir James Edward Smith

Date

16 Apr [1808]

Sent from

Petworth, Sussex

Sent to

London

Source of text

GB-110/JES/COR/5/36, 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.

• John Hawkins
• Sir James Edward Smith