Item data
Item Type:
Document
From:
Symons, Jelinger
Sent from:
Hackney, Middlesex
To:
Smith, Sir James Edward
Sent to location:
Norwich, Norfolk
Summary:
Relinquished his intention to publish "an elementary treatise on botany" and is now working on a "Synopsis of British plants" modelled on the ["Enchiridion botanicum" (1782)] of [Arthur] Broughton [(c 1758-1796), botanist]. Requests Smith's advice: omitting the cryptogamic plants owing to the "inadequacy of the characters" to represent them; wishes to retain the ferns, had hoped to base them on Smith's still anticipated treatise ['On the Genus of Dorsiferous Ferns', published in "Tracts relating to natural history" (1798)], asks whether to present them according to the Linnaean arrangement or to leave them for an appendix with the other cryptogamic plants. Outlines the changes he has made to presentation of characters and synoptic tables.
Asks after announcement of publication of a new "Flora Britannica" and discovery of new British plants recently announced in "Gentlemen's Magazine".
[Smith has briefly annotated his reply]: his volume will appear this year ["Tracts relating to natural history"], thinks it unfortunate that Symons has disturbed natural arrangement of genera in "Species Plantarum" and recommends he studies the cryptogams and compile from his predecessors.
Letter date:
19 Jul 1797
Languages:
English
Prev Ref No:
25.189
Additional Information:
Note type | Note |
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Related Material | Symons, J, (1798). "Synopsis plantarum Insulis Britannicis indigenarum; complectens characteres genericos et specificos secundum systema sexuale distributos." Londinum: White.
Broughton, A, (1782). "Enchiridion botanicum; complectens characteres genericos et specificos plantarum per Insulas Britannicas sponte nascentium..." Londinum: Robinson.
Smith, J E, (1800-1804). "Flora Britannica" London: Davis.
Smith, J E, (1798). "Tracts relating to natural history ..." London: [privately.]
Linnaeus, C, (1753). "Species plantarum, exhibentes plantas rite cognitas, ad genera relatas, cum differentiis specificis, nominibus trivialibus, synonymis selectis, locis natalibus, secundum systema sexuale digestas. Tomus I & tomus II." Holmiae: Impensis Laurentii Salvii. |
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. |
Additional | Smith replied 23 [Jul 1797] |