Edmund Davall, Orbe, [Switzerland], to James Edward Smith, 12 Great Marlborough Street, London

Summary

FMLS diplomas sent by Smith arrived safely. His affection for Smith. Has a parcel of plants for [Samuel] Goodenough. Had a cabinet made up to same specifications as Smith's. Has drawing of 'Micropus erectus' but no conveyance for sending; easier to send from Jamaica than Switzerland. The engraving he had made of 'Crepis' no longer correct having read [Werner de] Lachenal's [(1736-1800), professor of botany at Basel] "Observationes botanica medicae" (1776) and realised a mistake made by [Albrecht von] Haller; consulted Lachenal's plants in person in Basel. Possible specimen of 'Lichen cucullatus' to send Smith, as well as 'Aretia alpina', 'Achilla moschata', 'Laserpitium simplex', and the 'Gentiana' 652 Hall[er's] "Hist[oria stirpum]", suggests the name 'Gentiana pedunculata', the same as "Flora Danica" tab 318 [extant]. Now has more specimens of 'Turritis carulea'. Only satisfied with Smith's botanical figures after seeing his "Plantarum Icones"; remarks on 'Stellaria dichotoma'. Haller's no.890 without doubt 'Stellaria cerastoides'.

On left-hand margin of recto of first folio Davall has written that he thinks [James] Sowerby's figure for 'Spartium decumbens' "excellent", though there are errors with the vexillum.

Specimen, labelled 'Swertia carinthiaca'.

Letter details

Record number

LINNEAN911

From

Edmund Davall

To

Sir James Edward Smith

Date

27 Oct 1789

Sent from

Orbe, Switzerland

Sent to

London

Source of text

GB-110/JES/COR/14/10, 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.