Andrew Caldwell, Dublin, [Ireland], to James Edward Smith

Item data

Ref No GB-110/JES/COR/3/3
Title Andrew Caldwell, Dublin, [Ireland], to James Edward Smith
Letter date 23 Sep 1793
Author(s) Andrew Caldwell 1733-1808
Number of Pages 6

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GB-110/JES/COR/3/3 from Andrew Caldwell, Dublin, [Ireland], to James Edward Smith (23 September 1793)

Metadata for GB-110/JES/COR/3/3 from Andrew Caldwell, Dublin, [Ireland], to James Edward Smith (23 September 1793) Close

Item data

Item Type: Document
From: Caldwell, Andrew
Sent from: Dublin, Ireland
To: Smith, Sir James Edward
Summary:

Progress made in the establishment of a Botanic Garden, under the patronage of the Dublin Society and a Parliamentary committee headed by the Speaker of the [Irish] House of Commons, [John] Foster [(1740-1828) 1st Baron Oriel] , with a suitable ground for purchase being found. Description of the land, which once belonged to [Patrick] Delany [(1686-1768) writer] and was frequented by Jonathan Swift "and all the people of literature of that day". Uncertain about Foster's proposal that it should also be a garden for "agricultural experiments", relates a similar, unhappy, experience of the Dublin Society's several years ago in which Wynne Baker almost bankrupted the Society with additional costs. Has found 'Parnassia', 'Hypericum elodes', 'Pinguicula', and 'Gentiana amarella' with [Walter] Wade, praises accuracy and clarity of figures in "English Botany". Has not seen "Doctor Martin's Botanic Dictionary" but bemoans the fact that botanic dictionaries are "generally loaded compilations", and gives his opinions on how they could be truly useful, including clarifying ambiguous terminology. States reasons why he is dissatisfied by the described difference between 'Ranunculus flamula' and 'Ranunculus lingua'. Believes 'Salvia' in the "Systema Vegetabilium" may be incorrectly described, possibly due to a printing error. Complains that [William] Curtis procrastinates with the publication of his "Flora Londinensis". Observes a possible error in "Curtis's Botanical Magazine no. 77".

Letter date: 23 Sep 1793
Languages: English
Prev Ref No: 3.4
Additional Information:
Note typeNote
Related MaterialFor further discussion of the Dublin Botanic Garden see JES/COR/3/2; JES/COR/3/4; JES/COR/3/12-13; JES/COR/3/16. Smith, J E, Sowerby, J, (1790-1814). "English Botany" London. Linnaeus, C, (1774). "Systema vegetabilium" Gottingae et Gothae: Jo. Christ. Dieterich. Curtis, W, (1777-1798). "Flora Londinensis" London: [privately], 2 vols.
Finding AidsDawson, 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.