James Edward Smith, London, to Edmund Davall, Orbe, Canton de Berne, [Switzerland]

• Main Author: Smith, Sir James Edward
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Subjects: Saxifraga cernua
• Online Access: http://linnean-online.org/62938/; http://linnean-online.org/62938/1/JES-COR-14-54_001.tif; http://linnean-online.org/62938/2/JES-COR-14-54_002.tif; http://linnean-online.org/62938/3/JES-COR-14-54_003.tif; http://linnean-online.org/62938/4/JES-COR-14-54_004.tif

Writing on gilt paper to express his joy at Davall's escape [from threatened invasion of Switzerland by French forces]. Hopes that France "will settle into that manly rational liberty at which they professed to aim", only wishing that they has "some principle of religion & less debauchery". His lectures to the Royal Family: the Queen takes his notes to copy and asks questions, followed by half hour conversation, "nothing can be more easy, polite or pleasing". Numbered comments on plants in Davall's sent July 1791: 'Geranium sanguineum biflorum', 'Pyrola secunda'; notes that 'Pyrola uniflora', Convallaria verticillata', 'Saxifraga cernua', 'Gentiana nivalis', and 'Stellaria cerastoides' have been found in Scotland; 'Mespilus amelanchia', '[Ranunculus] thora', 'Hypochaeris helvetica', 'Potamogeton marinum' H L, 'Veronica praecox' Allioni, 'Andropogon distachyon' and 'Andropogon ischaemum' extensive comments, 'Cerastium manticum' H L, 'Globularia cordiflora' H L, 'Thesium linophyllum' H L, 'Lotus angustissimus' H L, 'Cistus fumana' H L, 'Linum angustifolium', 'Linum tenuifolium' H L, 'Juncus bulbosus', 'Tussilago paradoxa', and 'Salix [incubacea]' [note H L probably signifies Herbarium Linnaeus]. Received faint congratulations from Sir Joseph Banks on his royal lectures. Wishes that if either of them should die their letters be returned to the other. [Adam] Afzelius and François [Borone] doing well in Sierra Leone and sending plants, bulbs and roots home but no specimens.