Title:
William Withering, Birmingham, [Warwickshire], to James Edward Smith, 12 Great Marlborough Street, London
Type:
Image
Licence:
Contact [email protected]
Repository:
The Linnean Society of London
Collection:
Smith Correspondence
Reference number:
JES/COR/26/64
Archival level:
Item
Creator name:
Withering, William (1741-1799)
Date:
28 Jun 1793
Placement:
Volume 26
Extent:
6 pp
Language:
en
Description:
Despite an arduous voyage home benefited greatly from his visit to Portugal; avoided a fresh attack of periprieumony, though the climate is not suitable for consumptive patients. Stayed with the Abbe Corrêa, much pleased with his company; transmitted Smith's message of his being a bad correspondent, he has been busy planting and establishing a Portuguese Royal Society; announcement of elections of Smith and Sir Joseph Banks delayed on account of ceremonial matters; the Society's intentions, fears ignorance and bigotry of the nobles and princes will crush Corrêa's "seeds of free enquiry".Fears the specimens of 'Fucus stipulata' he collected for Smith will no longer be fresh. Professor Vandelli has had to give up some of his natural history and chemistry studies on account of his government post and advancing age. Father Mariana, a native of Brazil, has brought extensive collections of fish, insects, and plants from that place to Portugal, accompanied with drawings made by himself; to be published in 12-14 volumes at Venice, though Portugal is ignorant of the value of the collections.In spite of [Francis] Masson [(1741-1805), Kew plant collector] having twice "rifled the Flora of Portugal" believes he found a few new plants, offers them for "Plantae rariores" or "Spicilegium botanicum". Encloses seeds of a new grass he calls 'Bromus diandra', to be shared with Banks and [William] Aiton [(1731-1793), director Kew Gardens 1759-1793].Intends to begin work on new edition of the "Botanic Arrangement" soon; asks Smith's opinion of best and most authentic edition of Linnaeus' "Species plantarum". "English botany" "does much credit to its author, & must find an extensive sale in the present fashionable rage for the study"; pleased to see so few of the more common plants which have been so often figured before.
Sender:
Withering, William
Sent from location:
Birmingham, Warwickshire
Recipient:
Smith, Sir James Edward
Sent to location:
London
Notes:
Smith replied 30 Aug [1793]
Related material:
Withering, W, (1796). "An arrangement of British plants; according to the latest improvements of the Linnean system... Third edition..." Birmingham: [privately].Smith, J E, (1790-1793). "Icones pictae plantarum rariorum descriptionibus et observationibus illustratae auctore Jacobo Edvardo Smith. - Coloured figures of rare plants ..." London: [privately].Smith, J E, (1791-1792). "Spicilegium botanicum, Fasc. I & II." 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.Smith, J E, and Sowerby, J, (1790-1814). "English botany" London.
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:
26.11
