William Jackson Hooker, Glasgow, to Sir James Edward Smith, Norwich, [Norfolk]

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Ref No GB-110/JES/COR/23/7
Title William Jackson Hooker, Glasgow, to Sir James Edward Smith, Norwich, [Norfolk]
Letter date 21 Dec 1821
Author(s) Sir William Jackson Hooker 1785-1865
Number of Pages 10

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GB-110/JES/COR/23/7 from William Jackson Hooker, Glasgow, to Sir James Edward Smith, Norwich, [Norfolk] (21 December 1821)

Metadata for GB-110/JES/COR/23/7 from William Jackson Hooker, Glasgow, to Sir James Edward Smith, Norwich, [Norfolk] (21 December 1821) Close

Item data

Item Type: Document
From: Hooker, Sir William Jackson
Sent from: Glasgow
To: Smith, Sir James Edward
Sent to location: Norwich, Norfolk
Summary:

Difficulties in communicating with Smith. Concerned to find that expressions of his in "Flora Scotia" have been misconstrued as attacks on Smith; will ensure offensive passages are expunged from second edition; apologises for and explains his wording of pages 132 and 279; praises Smith's botanical skills. Discusses differences in leaf shape of 'Salix purpurea', 'S. helix', and 'S. amygdalina'. Disagrees that economical merit should give place to scientific character in reference to 'S. caerulea', discusses authors on 'Salix' including Candolle and Sprengel.
Criticises [Samuel Frederick] Gray's "Natural Arrangements of British Plants", which seems "calculated to give the death blow to the study of natural orders, if not to botany altogether", remarks on plant names and attack on Linnaeus in preface, thinks [Richard] Salisbury has assisted with the natural orders. Refutes Salisbury's article on [Jonas] Dryander in October "Monthly Review".
Hopes Smith's work on "English Flora" in earnest; if Smith had declined it would have undertaking it himself. Return from his professorship not enough to support his family; supplementing by publishing books; proposes a "Species plantarum" in English, though concedes it would largely be a translation of Candolle, asks Smith's opinion. His intended "Exotic botany" work delayed by lack of able Scottish artists; difficulties with publisher. Thanks for duplicate specimens.

Letter date: 21 Dec 1821
Languages: English
Prev Ref No: 23.1
Additional Information:
Note typeNote
AdditionalSmith replied 16 Mar 1822
Related MaterialHooker, W J, (1821). "Flora Scotica; or a description of Scottish plants..." London: Constable. Gray, S F, (1821). "A natural arrangement of British plants, ... including those cultivated for use ..." London: Baldwin. Smith, J E, Hooker, W J, and Berkeley, M, (1824-1828). "The English flora", London: Longman.
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.