Item data
Item Type:
Document
From:
Roscoe, William
Sent from:
Liverpool, Lancashire
To:
Smith, Sir James Edward
Sent to location:
Norwich, Norfolk
Summary:
The severe winter confined him to home. Dissuades Smith from undertaking a cryptogamic flora after conclusion his present work ["English Flora"] on account of the enormous extent, minuteness of research, and Smith's bad eye-sight; believes such a work unworthy of Smith's station and talents.
Unable to finish his description of 'Amomum melegueta' despite use of Smith's observations and article on 'Melegueta' in "Cyclopedia"; will wait for Smith to see his observations and drawing, with Mr Graves, the colourer, at Peckham, [Surrey]. Included 'Cardamom' plant and 'Renealmia/Alpinia exaltata' in his genus 'Matonia'; defends the latter with references to Smith's "Cyclopedia" article, [William] Roxburgh's "Plants of the Coast of Coromandel", and White's "Linnean Transactions" vol 10 paper ['A Botanical Description and Natural History of the Malabar Cardamom']. Disappointed to not join the Smiths at Holkham, [Norfolk, home of Thomas William Coke].
Letter date:
11 Apr 1827
Languages:
English
Prev Ref No:
17.287
Additional Information:
| Note type | Note |
|---|
| Related Material | Smith, J E, Hooker, W J, and Berkeley, M, (1824-1828). "The English flora", London: Longman.
Rees, A (comp.) et al, (1819-1820). "The cyclopædia, or, universal dictionary of arts, sciences, and literature." London: Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme & Brown.
Roxburgh, W (1795-1821). "Plants of the Coast of Coromandel, selected from drawings and descriptions presented to the ... Company, by William Roxburgh. Published ... under the direction of Sir Joseph Banks ..." London: Nicol.
White, D, 'A Botanical Description and Natural History of the Malabar Cardamom', "Transactions of the Linnean Society of London", 1811, 10(2), pp.229-255. |
| 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. |
| Additional | Smith replied 14 [Apr 1827] |
