652 
president’s address. 
to him than any other. Smith was breakfasting there on 
December 23rd, 1783, when the letter from Sweden arrived, 
offering to Sir Joseph the whole collection of Linnean books, 
manuscripts, and Natural History specimens for ^”1,000. Sir 
Joseph declined to become the purchaser, but strongly urged 
James Smith to acquire the treasure. 1 ’ The latter persuaded his 
father to advance the money, and in 1784 the collections w r ere 
purchased ; the total cost, including freight, being ^”1,088 5s. Od. 
In March, 1784, the father, accompanied by his son John, 
went to London to enquire for himself into the matter. In 
April, James Smith wrote to Messrs. Woodward, Bryant, and 
Pitchford, and sent messages to Messrs. Crow r e and Rose, as 
he thought it a piece of respect, due to his old botanical friends, 
to inform them of his purchase before they heard of it by other 
means. “ I mentioned particularly that my medical studies 
were to go on as before ” : he intended to settle as a physician 
in London, and to read lectures on Natural History. 6 
On May 2nd Mr. Pitchford sends his reply. After con- 
gratulations, he says : — Mr. Woodward was here this week, 
and acquainted me with some essential particulars not men- 
tioned in your letter. You may imagine the surprise we were 
all in. We dined at Mr. Crowe’s, who I imagine will talk with 
you a great deal about it. He was for desiring me to write to 
you immediately to beg you would by no means make any 
agreement as to the disposal of your purchase, but as he sets 
off for London on Monday, May the 3rd, he can better make 
you acquainted with his intentions himself. Poor Mr. Rose 
(who has lost Mrs. Rose) commissioned me in particular to 
return you his thanks for your kind remembrance of him. . . . 
I shall now look up to you as a second Linnaeus, and without 
any compliment I think you highly deserving of being the 
possessor of such remains. . . , The English Botanist will now 
have an opportunity of knowing what natives of his own 
country are in the Species Plantarum,” 6 a book of which 
Linnaeus himself had said “trivial names had never been 
heard of before ; affixing them to all vegetables was like putting 
a clapper to a bell ; Botany acquired new life.” 39 
