Item data
Item Type:
Document
From:
Smith, Sir James Edward
Sent from:
Norwich, Norfolk
To:
Macleay, Alexander
Sent to location:
Westminster
Summary:
Happy to see Macleay's handwriting, does not complain of him "as of many people for forcing me to write letters, on w[hi]ch subject some people have no discretion". His "whole daylight" devoted to third volume of his "[English] Flora". His health much restored but lost most of his teeth, long account of his recent illness. "Letter-writing is incompatible with Flora-writing", recent progress. Intends to come to London in April or May [1825] after completing third volume. Complains of "puppies chattering about natural orders which they do not understand"; the more that has been done in botany the more mistakes he finds.
Hopes to make "some stay" in London, including sitting for [Francis Leggatt] Chantrey [(1781-1841), sculptor] and fulfilling his engagement of lecturing at the London Institution. [Robert] Brown the only writer he finds "most in the right"; now realises he has praised [Augustin] de Candolle too much, as he has made many errors.
Hopes Macleay favours [John] Frost's election as FLS.
Letter date:
20 Dec 1824
Languages:
English
Prev Ref No:
Sm/M'L 175
Additional Information:
Note type | Note |
---|
Related Material | For Macleay's letter of 18 December 1824, to which this is a reply, see JES/AM/173.
Smith, J E, Hooker, W J, and Berkeley, M, (1824-1828). "The English flora", London: Longman. |
Finding Aids | Correspondence-Smith/McLeay handlist, Linnean Society. |