Samuel Goodenough, Ealing, [Middlesex], to James Edward Smith, chez Monsr le Marquis Ippolito Durazzo, Genoa, Italy

Item data

Ref No GB-110/JES/COR/11/7
Title Samuel Goodenough, Ealing, [Middlesex], to James Edward Smith, chez Monsr le Marquis Ippolito Durazzo, Genoa, Italy
Letter date 3 Nov 1786
Author(s) Samuel Goodenough 1743-1827
Number of Pages 8

See full metadata

See comments

Collection home page

Actions (login required)

Edit Item Edit Item

GB-110/JES/COR/11/7 from Samuel Goodenough, Ealing, [Middlesex], to James Edward Smith, chez Monsr le Marquis Ippolito Durazzo, Genoa, Italy (3 November 1786)

Metadata for GB-110/JES/COR/11/7 from Samuel Goodenough, Ealing, [Middlesex], to James Edward Smith, chez Monsr le Marquis Ippolito Durazzo, Genoa, Italy (3 November 1786) Close

Item data

Item Type: Document
From: Goodenough, Samuel
Sent from: Ealing, Middlesex
To: Smith, Sir James Edward
Sent to location: Genoa, Italy
Summary:

Grief at the death of his daughter. Thanks for Smith's letter of 21 October and its account of the morals of Paris. Envious of Smith for examining [Joseph Pitton de] Tournefort's [(1656-1708)] herbarium, hopes Smith will be able to study [Sébastien] Vaillant's [(1669-1722)]. Recommends [Carlo] Allioni's collections in Italy, and [Albecht von] Haller's in Switzerland [(1708-1777)]; recommends his former pupil, Lord Compton [Charles Compton, 1st Marquess of Northampton (1760-1828)], for the latter. Account of the anniversary meeting at the Society [for the Promotion of Natural History]: a motion was passed to reduce the four presidents to two, Dr Fordyce and Dr Pitcairn, and a new committee was formed of [John] Hunter [(1728-1793), surgeon], Home, [William] Curtis, [William] Swainson, Lee, [Thomas] Marsham, Mithcell and [Dru] Drury [(1725-1804), silversmith and naturalist]. Goodenough so disillusioned has refused to serve any office in it.
The second part of the letter is written on a printed list of his "Desiderata Hudsoniana". Reminds Smith to procure 'Gnaphalium luteoalbum' for him and to look out for 'Origanum' as he hopes to publish a monograph on it. Has purchased an insect cabinet through [Thomas] Marsham. Smith's translation of Linnaeus' "Dissertation on the sexes of plants" well received by the "Monthly Review". Implores Smith to focus solely on scientific matters and not to "berthen the mind with remembrances of houses & churches" whilst in Europe. Using example of a defunct Society in Brussels illustrates the value of "members of wealth" in society "to purchase, reward, publish" and advises increasing members of the [Linnean] Society "as far as may be safe".
Several plants on the printed list of desiderata have been marked or struck through.

Letter date: 3 Nov 1786
Languages: English
Prev Ref No: 11.1
Additional Information:
Note typeNote
Related MaterialLinnaeus, C, and Smith, J E (tr.), (1786). "A dissertation on the sexes of plants. Translated from the Latin of Linnaeus." London: George Nicol for the Author.
Publn NoteSmith, P (ed.), (1832). "Memoir and correspondence of... Sir James Edward Smith" London: Longman, vol 1, pp.185-188.
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 13 Jan 1787