Edmund Davall, Orbe, Canton de Berne, [Switzerland], to James Edward Smith, 12 Great Marlborough Street, London

Item data

Ref No GB-110/JES/COR/14/23
Title Edmund Davall, Orbe, Canton de Berne, [Switzerland], to James Edward Smith, 12 Great Marlborough Street, London
Letter date 14 Sep 1790
Author(s) Edmund Davall 1763-1798
Number of Pages 8

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GB-110/JES/COR/14/23 from Edmund Davall, Orbe, Canton de Berne, [Switzerland], to James Edward Smith, 12 Great Marlborough Street, London (14 September 1790)

Metadata for GB-110/JES/COR/14/23 from Edmund Davall, Orbe, Canton de Berne, [Switzerland], to James Edward Smith, 12 Great Marlborough Street, London (14 September 1790) Close

Item data

Item Type: Document
From: Davall, Edmund
Sent from: Orbe, Switzerland
To: Smith, Sir James Edward
Sent to location: London
Summary:

His wife gave birth to a daughter. He suffered from diarrhea for last three weeks. Collected 'Schoenus ferrugineus' and 'Satyrium repens' for Smith. Will send Smith 'Bartsia alpina' every year. Frustrated that out of paternal concern Mr Mandrot refused to pay more than 10 guineas for [James] Sowerby's work on his plates. Work on his book very slow and does not feel capable of producing a second and in future will send his notes to Smith or publish them through Linnean Society; feels he would be more useful to Smith botanising in his garden and in the wild. [Werner de] Lachenal is not jealous of the book and encourages him as it will be useful for his own intended "Flora Helo. Linnaeus ordine". [Jacob] Wyttenbach and young [Albrecht von] Haller [(1758-1823)] have offended himself and Lachenal in pursuit of their work [new edition of elder Haller's "Icones plantarum Helvetiae"] and transcribes, in French, long extract from offensive letter sent by Wyttenbach who wishes to use Davall's plates in the new edition.
Observations on various Alpine plants: 'Arenaria striata', 'Arenaria liniflora', 'Hypericum babatum', particular observations on 'Hypericum richeri', 'Saxifraga ajugifolia', 'Arenaria grandiflora' and 'Arenaria triflora', 'Arenaria laricifolia' and 'Arenaria liniflora' of Bauhin, now thinks what he thought were two plants of 'Chenopodium polyspermum' are the same plant in different stages of growth. Discusses in detail 'Cerinthe' from one of his previous packets. No longer thinks Haller is correct to name 'Alium angulosum' the same as 'Alium senescens'; compares with plants of [Nikolaus von] Jacquin's "Flora Austriaca" t423 and Gmelin's ["Flora Sibirica"] t11 f3. Discussion of Haller's plants 30 and 31. Anecdote relating to sale of Haller's library: in the same year it was sold to the Emperor there was a fireworks display costing £1500, when a smaller sum would have kept the library. Developing an area in his aunt's garden for shelter and a different exposure for about 800 plants in pots. Convinced Haller's plant number 30, in his parcel of 27 February 1790, is 'Salsola prostrata' of Jacquin's "Flora Austriacta". Plant 59 'Euphorbia gerardiana'.
In postscript down left-hand margin of recto of first folio Davall has written that he has been very ill since writing this letter, and hopes Smith received a letter from Mrs [Henriette] Davall [letter is dated "by post of 14 Sept 1790" but was evidently written before].

Letter date: 14 Sep 1790
Languages: English
Prev Ref No: 14.52
Additional Information:
Note typeNote
Related MaterialFor Davall's letter of 27 February 1790 containing systematic list of plants sent to Smith, see JES/COR/14/14. For Henriette Davall's letter of 9 September 1790, see JES/COR/14/24. For Smith's reply of 28 September 1790, see JES/COR/14/25. Haller, A v, (1795). "Icones plantarum Helvetiae, ex ipsius historia stirpium Helveticarum denuo recusae... Additis notis editoris (Jac[ob] Sam[uel] Wyttenbach)." Berna: Societas Typographica. Jacquin, N J F v, (1773-1778). "Florae Austriacae, sive plantarum selectarum in Austriae Archiducatu sponte crescentium, icones..." Viennae Austriae: [printer:] Kaliwoda. Gmelin, J G, (1747-1769). "Flora Sibirica sive historia plantarum Sibiriae. (-Tomus III ... editore D. Samuel Gottlieb Gmelin. -Tomus IV ... ex recensione D. Samuel Gottlieb Gmelin); Flora sibirica sive historia plantarum Siberiae ..." Petropoli: Ex Typographia Academiae Scientiarum.
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.