Title:
William Withering, Edgbaston, [Warwickshire], to James Edward Smith, Norwich, [Norfolk]
Type:
Image
Licence:
Contact [email protected]
Repository:
The Linnean Society of London
Collection:
Smith Correspondence
Reference number:
JES/COR/26/66
Archival level:
Item
Creator name:
Withering, William (1741-1799)
Date:
31 Oct 1798
Placement:
Volume 26
Extent:
4 pp
Language:
en
Description:
Informs Smith he is "not quite implacable" on account of Smith's critique in preface to seventh volume of "English botany", and that he is not "intemperately [...] friendly to reform"; wishes Smith had kept him a little more detached "from the furious reformers of Germany, whose zeal has carried them to adopt measures which can never be defended". His only statement on subject is that it renders "the business of investigation more easy", for sake of the ladies who "cannot fail to be shocked at the abominable & indelicate idea of the females riding the males".Encloses specimen of "fungi parvi globosi" of "English botany"; observations. Asks that Smith delay figuring English 'Drosera' until he has sent specimens as he believes there are 5 species of that genus in the country. Encloses two Portugeuse species of 'Trifolium'; one may be 'T. angustifolium' [Smith annotation: "HL"] and the other belongs to subdivision of 'T. venicaria', if new suggests name 'T. umbellatum' [Smith annotation: "'resupinatum' HL"]; observations. In great hopes that 'Bromus diandrus' will prove valuable addition to agriculture, providing a much needed pasture in late March, though uncertain of expense of tillage; will send seed to any farming friend of Smith's.Thanks for Smith's praise of his "Botanical Arranagement" and for the "many corrections which it owes to [Smith's] superior knowledge". Thanks for invitation to Norwich, but his health complaints do not allow him to travel, hopes Smith will visit him instead. "The very flourishing state of the Linn[ean] Soc[iety] must be highly flattering to its Founder".
Sender:
Withering, William
Sent from location:
Edgbaston, Warwickshire
Recipient:
Smith, Sir James Edward
Sent to location:
Norwich, Norfolk
Notes:
Smith replied 18 Feb 1799
Related material:
Smith, J E, and Sowerby, J, (1790-1814). "English botany" London.Withering, W, (1796). "An arrangement of British plants; according to the latest improvements of the Linnean system... Third edition..." Birmingham: [privately].
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.
Previous reference number:
26.115
