| Ref No | GB-110/JES/COR/17/7 |
| Title | James Edward Smith, Norwich, [Norfolk], to William Roscoe, Allerton Hall, near Liverpool, [Lancashire] |
| Description | Studied mosses and lichens with Dawson Turner at Yarmouth, [Norfolk], earlier in month, Turner also relieved him from the burden of dealing with "those indefatigable writers and questioners the German naturalists". Turner to publish a book on the "Mosses of Ireland" ["Muscologiae Hibernicae spicilegium" (1804)]. Visited his wife's family in Lowestoft and Saxmundham, [both Suffolk]; discusses the country and weather; the summer has "burnt up this whole eastern country" with no rain from April till September.
Frustrations with printing of "Flora Britannica" and some "knotty points" on mosses; the difficulties with this group chiefly caused by the inaccuracies of preceeding writers; the jungermanniae and lichens will be even more variable and uncertain. The lichen from Roscoe's house is 'Lichen orostheus' of [Erik] Acharius and never observed in this country before. About to send parcel to Roscoe, including his "Tour on the Continent", [James] Sowerby's "Fungi", Paul Jovius de Piscibus, and "an imperfect copy" of Rivinus' botanical plates, which will be a useful addition to Roscoe's collection of "Icones Plantarum". Expecting visit by [John] Shepherd [(c 1764-1836, curator Liverpool Botanic Garden] and has promised him a "harvest" of 'Salix'.
Asks if Roscoe's ['Crinum latifolium'] is not 'Crinum erubescens' of Redoute's "Plantes liliacees" fasc 5, as the 'C. latifolium' figured in Rudbeck and copied from ["Hortus Indicus Malabaricus"] is broader in the leaves and petals. Discusses transformation in [William Fitt] Drake's reading material and political beliefs since meeting Roscoe. Details of Roscoe's election to Linnean Society. Discusses health of Roscoe's son and inflammatory disorders. |
| Date | 23 Sep 1803 |
| Level | Item |
| Extent | 4 pp |
| Language | English |
| Related Material | This is a reply to Roscoe's letter of 28 August 1803, see JES/COR/17/6.
Turner, D, (1804). "Muscologiae Hibernicae spicilegium." Yermutha: Black.
Smith, J E, (1800-1804). "Flora Britannica" London: Davis.
Smith, J E, (1793). "A sketch of a tour on the Continent in the years 1786 and 1787" London.
Sowerby, J, (1797-1809). "Coloured figures of English fungi or mushrooms ..." London: [printer:] J. Davis.
Rheede Tot Draakestein, H A V et al, (1678-1703). "Hortus Indicus Malabaricus ..."Amstelodami: Joannis van Someren et Joannis van Dyck, 12 vols.
Redoute, P J, (1802-1816). Les liliacees. Paris: [privately]. |
| Publn_Note | Smith, P (ed.), (1832). "Memoir and correspondence of... Sir James Edward Smith" London: Longman, vol 2, pp.312-314. |
| PrevRefNo | 17.9 |
| 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. |
| Creator Name | Smith, Sir James Edward (1759-1828) |
| Access_Status | Open |