Item data
Item Type:
Document
From:
Smith, Sir James Edward
Sent from:
London
To:
Smith, Pleasance
Sent to location:
Lowestoft, Suffolk
Summary:
Accouunt of a dinner at William Smith's. Attending Linnean Society anniversary meeting. Lord Valentia [George Annesley] has given him many new shells. His future plans, including visits to Blackheath, and giving 6 more lectures, ending on 14 June.
Account of Linnean Society anniversary meeting; [Richard] Salisbury and others did not vote; the dinner attended by 63 people, the largest number yet, including Bishops of Winchester and Carlisle [respectively Brownlow North and Samuel Goodenough], Lord Valentia [George Annesley], Sir Abraham Hume, Sir Thomas Gage, and [John] Symmons. A toast was made to him by Valentia, stating that whatever the Linnean Society is or has been is owed to Smith, and he presented Goodenough and [Thomas] Marsham as being with him the first 3 projectors of the Society.
Visited Sir Joseph Banks this morning and was discussing botany with [Jonas] Dryander and [Robert] Brown when Salisbury entered; his "Paradisus [Londinensis]" stopped for want of money, though Banks gave Hooker £50; spoke civilly to Salisbury at Linnean Society about a 'Narcissus' that was there; Salisbury looks thin and pale, and Brown "cannot abide him". Thinks his and [James] Sowerby's new work will proceed; details. His "Introduction [to Botany]" praised by all the people he most depends on. Attended opera with [James] Crowe and family. Future visits to Blackheath and Kew; [William Townsend] Aiton was at the dinner.
Letter scented with balm of Gilad.
Letter date:
24/25 May 1808
Languages:
English
Prev Ref No:
19.182
Additional Information:
| Note type | Note |
|---|
| Related Material | Salisbury, R A, and Hooker, W, (1805-1808). "The paradisus Londinensis: or coloured figures of plants cultivated in the vicinity of the metropolis. [The figures] by William Hooker." London: [privately.].
Smith, J E, (1807). "An Introduction to Physiological and Systematical Botany." London: Longman. |
| 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. |
