William Jones, London, to James Edward Smith, chez Mons Oriani, Astronome Royal, Milan, [Italy]

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Ref No GB-110/JES/COR/5/105
Title William Jones, London, to James Edward Smith, chez Mons Oriani, Astronome Royal, Milan, [Italy]
Letter date 9 Apr 1787
Author(s) William Jones 1745-1818
Number of Pages 4

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GB-110/JES/COR/5/105 from William Jones, London, to James Edward Smith, chez Mons Oriani, Astronome Royal, Milan, [Italy] (9 April 1787)

Metadata for GB-110/JES/COR/5/105 from William Jones, London, to James Edward Smith, chez Mons Oriani, Astronome Royal, Milan, [Italy] (9 April 1787) Close

Item data

Item Type: Document
From: Jones, William
Sent from: London
To: Smith, Sir James Edward
Sent to location: Milan, Italy
Summary:

Received Smith's Rome letter of 19 February. Was worried Smith was offended with him for not embracing his "scheme" [formation of Linnean Society] with same ardour as Smith and others. Confesses he feels too much ignorance when with the "ingenious and scientific" to be a part of it. Repeats remark by [Conyers Middleton (1683-1750) Church of England clergyman] that the journey to Italy is like the "the common stages and journey of life". Mentions a traveller in Sciliy who though the large 'Aloes' there were indiginous, recalls Smith's remarks and his own observations of plants on the coast being able to survive severe weather. Request from [John] Latham for Smith to acquire a good description of the "Courier" bird, described by several but seen only by Aldrovandus [Ulisse Aldrovandi (1522-1605) Italian naturalist]. Looking forward to Smith and [William] Younge's return to London, [Samuel] Goodenough and [Thomas] Marsham are well.

Letter date: 9 Apr 1787
Languages: English
Prev Ref No: 5.2
Additional Information:
Note typeNote
Related MaterialLatham, J, (1821-1824). "A general history of birds." Winchester: [privately]. Middleton, C, (1729). "A letter from Rome, Showing an exact conformity between popery and paganism : or, the religion of the present Romans to be derived entirely from that of their heathen ancestors" London: Printed for W. Innys; please note not available from Linnean Society Library but available in British Library. Extract from Smith's letter dated 19 Feb 1787 to Jones, and Smith's reply to Jones letter dated 7 July 1787 are printed in Poulton, E B, Hobby, B M, Hemming, F, and Edelsten, H M, 'English names regularly used for British Lepidoptera up to the end of the eighteenth century, with a biographical account of William Jones of Chelsea', "Transactions of the Society for British Entomology", 1934 1(2), pp.139-184, reprint available from Linnean Society Library.
Publn NoteSmith, P (ed.), (1832). "Memoir and correspondence of... Sir James Edward Smith" London: Longman, vol 1, pp.224-226.
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.
AdditionalSmith replied 7 Jul [1787]