Ref NoGB-110/JES/COR/17/147
TitleWilliam Roscoe, Lodge Lane, [Liverpool, Lancashire], to Sir James Edward Smith, Holkham [Hall, Norfolk]
DescriptionHis infirm health and increasing debility prevent him from joining the Smiths at Holkham, [Norfolk, home of Thomas William Coke]; reflections on approaching death. Endeavouring to finish his literary work with all reasonable speed: revising his catalogue of Holkham manuscripts for last time, including Mr Madden's additions; finishing his "Mondandrian Plants" with the 15th number; and finishing his pamphlet on American penitentiary system with advocation for a system equally desireable in this country if not for its "old institutions & inveterate prejudices".

Thanks for Smith's remarks on his descriptions of Monandrian plants and assents to Smith's opinion regarding 'Renealmia'; will place in it the 'Cardamom' plant, radical flowering 'Alpinia', and other plants which according to their system are not in any other genus. Received from [William] Carey [(1761-1834)] in Serampore four flowers of 'Curcuma' preserved in spirits. Had been anxious about [Nathaniel] Wallich after hearing he had remained behind the embassy among the Burmese, but now hears he is expected in about a month with an "immense cargo" of living and dried plants including 'Curcuma' and 'Crina'; the 'Scitamineae' Wallich promised him will be too late for his purposes now.
Date23 Oct 1827
LevelItem
Extent4 pp
LanguageEnglish
Related MaterialFor Smith's reply of 27 November 1827, see JES/COR/17/148.

Roscoe, W, (1828). "Monandrian plants of the order Scitamineae, chiefly drawn from living specimens in the Botanic Garden At Liverpool ... With descriptions and observations." Liverpool: [printer:] G. Smith.
NotesSmith replied 27 Nov 1827
PrevRefNo17.295
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.
Creator NameRoscoe, William (1753-1831)
Access_StatusOpen
Persons
CodePersonNameDates
GB/110/1/31Roscoe; William (1753-1831); historian and patron of the arts1753-1831
GB/110/1/62Coke; Thomas William (1754-1842); 1st Earl of Leicester of Holkham; politician and agricultural reformer1754-1842
GB/110/1/116Wallich; Nathaniel (1786-1854); botanist1786-1854
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