| Ref No | GB-110/JES/COR/17/96 |
| Title | William Roscoe, Liverpool, [Lancashire], to Sir James Edward Smith, Norwich, [Norfolk] |
| Description | Describes his journey after leaving Smith at Narford [home of Andrew Fountaine], travelling from Ely to Cambridge, before journeying on to Allerton [Hall, Lancashire] through a tremendous storm which on returning home he found had ripped up trees of 60 or 80 years growth. At Cambridge dined with Professor [William] Smyth [(1765-1849), historian] and recommended Smith to him [for his Cambridge botany professorship candidature] but he is under a "promise"; hears from multiple sources that Smith is considered the best qualified for the position, but rivals have either been ahead of Smith in their applications or are taking advantage of "supposed indecision" on Smith's part; St John's College the most adverse to Smith, but he believes if Smith maintains his high ground he will either succeed or "attach no small share of disgrace to the university".
Will send Smith tracings of [Charles] Plumier's [(1646-1704), botanist] drawings, but only copy two of the 'Scitamineae' not given in [Nikolaus von] Jacquin's "Fragmenta". Thanks Smith for the visits to Holkham and Narford [homes of Thomas William Coke and Andrew Fountaine, respectively]; on his return found his wife in much better health. |
| Date | 24 Dec 1814 |
| Level | Item |
| Extent | 4 pp |
| Language | English |
| Related Material | For Smith's reply of 2 January 1815, see JES/COR/17/98.
Jacquin, N J v, (1809). "Fragmenta botanica figuris coloratis illustrata, ab anno 1800 ad annum 1809 ... edita." Viennae: Austriae, Schmidt. |
| Notes | Smith replied 2 Jan 1815 |
| PrevRefNo | 17.191 |
| 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 | Roscoe, William (1753-1831) |
| Access_Status | Open |