James Anderson, 9 Bells Building, Salisbury Square, Fleet Street, [London], to James Edward Smith, Surrey Street, Norwich, [Norfolk]

Summary

Difficulties of training and educating Smith's "young friend", Mr Johnes, in agriculture. Disinclined to send him to Edinburgh or Glasgow as knowledge in philosophy "is of no use in life [and] serves to make a man conceited and dogmatical". Criticises those teachers who speculate on agriculture from a distance and relates his own treatise on the proper education for a farmer. Requests Smith's help in locating a former correspondent from whom he once received a sample of "Peruvian wool". Concern for the health of Miss Johnes. Has just received from Dr [James] Anderson in India a sample of wool of a "bright golden yellow"; had it been found near Colchis it "might have been supposed to be the golden fleece".

Letter details

Record number

LINNEAN393

From

James Anderson

To

Sir James Edward Smith

Date

6 Feb 1797

Sent from

London

Sent to

Norwich, Norfolk

Source of text

GB-110/JES/COR/1/43, 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.

• James Anderson
• Sir James Edward Smith