Thomas Charles Hope, Edinburgh, to James Edward Smith, 14 Paradise Row, Chelsea, near London

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Ref No GB-110/JES/COR/23/25
Title Thomas Charles Hope, Edinburgh, to James Edward Smith, 14 Paradise Row, Chelsea, near London
Letter date 26 Oct 1785
Author(s) Thomas Charles Hope 1766-1844
Number of Pages 4

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GB-110/JES/COR/23/25 from Thomas Charles Hope, Edinburgh, to James Edward Smith, 14 Paradise Row, Chelsea, near London (26 October 1785)

Metadata for GB-110/JES/COR/23/25 from Thomas Charles Hope, Edinburgh, to James Edward Smith, 14 Paradise Row, Chelsea, near London (26 October 1785) Close

Item data

Item Type: Document
From: Hope, Thomas Charles
Sent from: Edinburgh
To: Smith, Sir James Edward
Sent to location: London
Summary:

Linnaeus' manuscripts "a very great acquisition, [...] the world may wonder that such a collection was ever permitted to leave the country in which it was made"; expecting another volume of "Amoenitates academicae" from Smith. Asks Linnaeus' motive for crediting his dissertations to others, suspects vanity. Praises [James] Dickson, bearer of Smith's letter; hosted him before he left for Highland expedition; account of his time in Edinburgh. Comments on Smith's decision to gain degree from Leyden; "an Edinburgh degree is far superior to & more honorable than any other".
Congratulates Smith on his election as FRS. Discusses recent publications by Sparrman and [Richard] Relhan. Account of debate with Dr [Thomas] Beddoes [(1760-1808), chemist and physician] concerning latter's "joy at seeing commencement of the attack on Linnaeus' system".

Letter date: 26 Oct 1785
Languages: English
Prev Ref No: 23.51
Additional Information:
Note typeNote
AdditionalSmith replied 8 Apr 1786
Related MaterialLinnaeus, C, (1749). "Amoenitates academicae seu dissertationes variae physicae, medicae, botanicae antehac seorsim editae nunc collectae et auctae cum tabulis aeneis." Holmiae et Lipsiae: Apud Godofredum Kiesewetter.
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.