Item data
Item Type:
Document
From:
Wentworth, Mary Watson-
Sent from:
Hillingdon, Middlesex
To:
Smith, Sir James Edward
Summary:
Thanks for drawing of ['Smithia sensitivia']. Requests copies of [James] Sowerby's drawings of 'Portlandia' and 'Catesbaea', on vellum if possible. Argues for inclusion of her specimen of 'Catesbaea' in Smith's ["Icones pictae plantarum rariorum.."] as although it is only for plants never figured in colour before, the one in [Mark] Catesby's [(1683-1749)] work is badly done. Smith has not mentioned 'Euphorbia wallinea'; she is most interested in it as her husband was its first possessor. 'Aralia capitata' coming into flower for what she believes is the first time in England; hopes Smith will consider it for inclusion. Complimented by Smith's intention to dedicate book to her, which she hopes refers to her collection of plants "once amongst the earliest & choicest, of this country, & would have been carried on to perfection" but for her want of skill and opportunity.
Encloses unknown species of lily from [William] Curtis [Smith annotation: "'Lilium philadelphium'"]
Letter date:
2 Jul 1789
Languages:
English
Prev Ref No:
15.148
Additional Information:
| Note type | Note |
|---|
| Related Material | Smith, J E, (1790-1793). "Icones pictae plantarum rariorum descriptionibus et observationibus illustratae auctore Jacobo Edvardo Smith. - Coloured figures of rare plants ..." London: [privately]. |
| 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. |
