Item data
Item Type:
Document
From:
Smith, Sir James Edward
Sent from:
Norwich, Norfolk
To:
Roscoe, William
Summary:
Asks Roscoe to visit [Alexander] Macleay at the Transport Office to settle urgent questions regarding his 'Scitamineae' paper waiting to be printed; the law only allows Roscoe twelve copies of the paper. Pleased that Roscoe is finding multiple confirmations of his system; resolves to obtain "Flora Peruviana". Hopes Roscoe will encourage [James] Sowerby, who is "in despair about the work" ["Exotic botany"]; the publishers Longman & Co. were to continue it but withdrew on finding the confusion surrounding it caused by Sowerby's poor business skills; [Smith] is keen for the final two parts of second volume to be published.
Informs Roscoe of how much he is "looked up to by the nation" on abolition of slavery, which is very popular with "all parties, clergy & dissenters, quakers, aristocrats & democrats, if good people", though some people fear Roscoe will compromise or fall short of expectations. Principle wish of the people is for "immediate abolition of the procurring slaves from Africa", and for emancipation to follow in time. Roscoe is taking a "decided lead" and it will lead him to greater political consequence as long as [William Wyndham] Grenville [1st Baron Grenville (1759-1834), prime minister 1806-1807] or another abolitionist does not take the glory. Invites Roscoe and family to Norwich for Easter.
Letter date:
16 Jan 1807
Languages:
English
Prev Ref No:
17.88
Additional Information:
| Note type | Note |
|---|
| Finding Aids | Dawson, W R (1934). "Catalogue of the manuscripts in the Library of The Linnean Society - Part I. The Smith papers: The correspondence and miscellaneous papers of Sir James Edward Smith", London: Linnean Society. |
| Related Material | Roscoe, W. 'A new arrangement of the plants of the Monandrian Class usually called Scitamineae (Imperfect).' Read 1806.
Roscoe, W, 'A New Arrangement of the Plants of the Monandrian Class usually called Scitamineae', "Transactions of the Linnean Society of London", 1807 8(1), pp.330-357.
Ruiz Lopez, H, and Pavon, J, (1798-1802). "Flora Peruviana, et Chilensis, sive descriptiones, et icones plantarum Peruvianarum, et Chilensium, secundum systema Linnaeanum digestae, ... Auctoribus Hippolyto Ruiz [Lopez] et Josepho Pavon." Madrid: Typis de Sancha.
Smith, J E, (1804-1805). "Exotic botany" London: J. Sowerby. |
