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GB-110/JES/COR/14/54 from James Edward Smith, London, to Edmund Davall, Orbe, Canton de Berne, [Switzerland] (9 November 1792)
Metadata for GB-110/JES/COR/14/54 from James Edward Smith, London, to Edmund Davall, Orbe, Canton de Berne, [Switzerland] (9 November 1792) Close
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Writing on gilt paper to express his joy at Davall's escape [from threatened invasion of Switzerland by French forces]. Hopes that France "will settle into that manly rational liberty at which they professed to aim", only wishing that they has "some principle of religion & less debauchery". His lectures to the Royal Family: the Queen takes his notes to copy and asks questions, followed by half hour conversation, "nothing can be more easy, polite or pleasing".
Numbered comments on plants in Davall's sent July 1791: 'Geranium sanguineum biflorum', 'Pyrola secunda'; notes that 'Pyrola uniflora', Convallaria verticillata', 'Saxifraga cernua', 'Gentiana nivalis', and 'Stellaria cerastoides' have been found in Scotland; 'Mespilus amelanchia', '[Ranunculus] thora', 'Hypochaeris helvetica', 'Potamogeton marinum' H L, 'Veronica praecox' Allioni, 'Andropogon distachyon' and 'Andropogon ischaemum' extensive comments, 'Cerastium manticum' H L, 'Globularia cordiflora' H L, 'Thesium linophyllum' H L, 'Lotus angustissimus' H L, 'Cistus fumana' H L, 'Linum angustifolium', 'Linum tenuifolium' H L, 'Juncus bulbosus', 'Tussilago paradoxa', and 'Salix [incubacea]' [note H L probably signifies Herbarium Linnaeus].
Received faint congratulations from Sir Joseph Banks on his royal lectures. Wishes that if either of them should die their letters be returned to the other. [Adam] Afzelius and François [Borone] doing well in Sierra Leone and sending plants, bulbs and roots home but no specimens.
Note type | Note |
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Additional | Davall replied 11 Jan 1793 |
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. |
Publn Note | Smith, P (ed.), (1832). "Memoir and correspondence of... Sir James Edward Smith" London: Longman, vol 2, p.53. |
Related Material | For Davall's letter of 18 May 1792, see JES/COR/14/37. For Davall's reply of 11 January 1793, see JES/COR/14/55. For further comments by Smith on plants sent 22 July 1791, JES/COR/14/38, see his letter of 26 February 1793, JES/COR/14/56. |