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

Summary

Suffering from "a perpetual return of obstructions" and "excessive habit of costiveness" which no remedies will remove. Believes he has found 'Lichen confluens' and 'Lichen cinereo-fuscus' Weber, will send for Smith's consideration, and 'Lichen fulgens' Swartz or 'Lichen citrinus' Hedwig. Regrets his "ill treaty" with [Harvey] Spragg and his copy of Dillenius' "Historia Muscorum"; how many copies are buried in public libraries or in private hands whilst many including him "suffer & linger by the privation". His interest in cryptogams; he sent Smith the common '[Lichen] fagineus' for pleasure of it authenticated by Smith, as he is still a novice.

Recently became acquainted with [Horace-Bénédict] de Saussure [(1740-1799)] and gave him roots of 'Geranium phaeum' and 'G. lividum', Swiss plants he had sought in vain, though he is more a lithologist than botanist. De Saussure collected lichens during an expedition on Mont Blanc, an account of which was published July 1788, and intended to send them to [Georg Franz] Hoffmann for identification but Davall persuaded him to send them to Smith instead. Transcribes, in French, part of de Saussure's letter acceptance, in French. Transcribes, in French, letter received from [Carlo] Bellardi with article for Smith.

Letter details

Record number

LINNEAN947

From

Edmund Davall

To

Sir James Edward Smith

Date

2 Dec 1791

Sent from

Orbe, Switzerland

Sent to

London

Source of text

GB-110/JES/COR/14/43, 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.

• Edmund Davall
• Sir James Edward Smith