Item data
Item Type:
Document
From:
Smith, Sir James Edward
Sent from:
Matlock Bath, Derbyshire
To:
Davall, Edmund
Sent to location:
Orbe, Switzerland
Summary:
Following pleuritic attacks in spring and summer has come to Matlock Bath for air and waters. Sending locally gathered mosses and lichens with this letter. Responds to Davall's letter of 18 May 1792: has not yet received Davall's two packets; recommends he take the Bath waters or similar for his stomach; condolences on death of his baby; entreats him not to overexert himself in the garden or fields, to avoid damp and evening air, and wet feet; thanks for seeds of 'Carduus crispus'; spending two or three weeks at Windsor soon [teaching Royal Family botany]; [Dominique] Villars correct in what he says, he [Smith] will write preface for his paper on 'Arenaria' for second volume of "Linnean Transactions" in which he will fully explain his method of ascertaining the Linnaean species from original numbered and marked specimens, and show in what cases synonyms are to be greater authority than the herbarium, citing example of 'Carex pilulifera'; thanks for quotation from Schreber, pleased with his praise and has written to him on the strength of it.
[Joseph] Gaertner has died but finished his book in second volume ["De fructibus et seminibus plantarum" (1788-1805)], he is very severe on Linnaeus "but a good author may be pardoned for a few prejudices'. Surprised at the attention his "introductory discourse" has received; Father Gregorio Fontana, mathematical professor at Pavia, has translated it into Italian.
Received parcel of plants from Botany Bay, many unknown to [Sir Joseph] Banks and others, with coloured drawings of most, and if Banks will not publish his work sees no reason not to publish these. Paper on 'Filices' not quite finished. Considers it settled that 'Trichomanes canariense' is to be 'Davallia'. Sending Davall a "choice copy" of second part of "Icones pictae", a present from Lady Rockingham, and second part of "Spicilegium Botanicum"; hopes he approves of 'Ligusticum cornubiense'. Encloses part of 'Byssus aurea'. Also encloses for Mrs Davall a small smelling bottle made of the "beautiful spar of this place".
Note at end of letter: "to remark that 'Poa salina' of Pollich is = distans as well as the retroflexa of Curtis".
Letter date:
27 Jun 1792
Languages:
English
Prev Ref No:
14.125
Additional Information:
| Note type | Note |
|---|
| Finding Aids | Dawson, 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. |
| Related Material | For Davall's letter of 18 May 1792, to which this is a reply, see JES/COR/14/49. For Davall's reply of 14 September 1792, see JES/COR/14/51.
Smith, J E, 'Additional Observations relating to Festuca spadicea and Anthoxanthum paniculatum', "Transactions of the Linnean Society of London", 1794 2(1), pp.101-102.
Gaertner, J, (1788-1805). "De fructibus et seminibus plantarum "... Stutgardia: Typ. Academia Carolina.
Smith, J E, 'Introductory Discourse On The Rise And Progress Of Natural History', "Transactions of the Linnean Society of London", 1791 1(1), pp.1-55.
Smith, J E, (1790-1793). "Icones pictae plantarum rariorum descriptionibus et observationibus illustratae auctore Jacobo Edvardo Smith. - Coloured figures of rare plants ..." London: [privately].
Smith, J E, (1791-1792). "Spicilegium botanicum, Fasc. I & II." London: [privately]. |
| Additional | Davall replied 14 Sep 1792 |
