John Pitchford, Norwich, [Norfolk], to James Edward Smith, 10 Great Windmill Street, Haymarket, London

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Ref No GB-110/JES/COR/24/57
Title John Pitchford, Norwich, [Norfolk], to James Edward Smith, 10 Great Windmill Street, Haymarket, London
Letter date 2 May 1784
Author(s) John Pitchford 1737-1803
Number of Pages 4

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GB-110/JES/COR/24/57 from John Pitchford, Norwich, [Norfolk], to James Edward Smith, 10 Great Windmill Street, Haymarket, London (2 May 1784)

Metadata for GB-110/JES/COR/24/57 from John Pitchford, Norwich, [Norfolk], to James Edward Smith, 10 Great Windmill Street, Haymarket, London (2 May 1784) Close

Item data

Item Type: Document
From: Pitchford, John
Sent from: Norwich, Norfolk
To: Smith, Sir James Edward
Sent to location: London
Summary:

Congratulates Smith on purchase of the Linnaean collections, which "will be a means of making [Smith] much know". Dined with [Thomas] Woodward and [James] Crowe, latter anxious for Smith not to make any agreements as to disposal of collections before speaking to him. Glad Smith has said the purchase will not interfere with his medical studies, as exclusive study of natural history can only be pursued by those with independent fortunes. Advises Smith to buy the herbarium of the younger Linnaeus if not included in the main purchase, for the duplicates. Will now regard Smith as "a second Linnaeus", though afraid Smith's other pursuits will not enable him to make full use of the collections. Opportunity for correcting Linnaeus' incorrect synonyms in "Species plantarum". Many made unwell by "this cruel winter".

Letter date: 2 May 1784
Languages: English
Prev Ref No: 24.96
Additional Information:
Note typeNote
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.
Publn NoteSmith, P (ed.), (1832). "Memoir and correspondence of... Sir James Edward Smith" London: Longman, vol 1, pp.107-108.