Bracy Clark, Orbe, [Switzerland], to James Edward Smith, Norwich, [Norfolk]

Relates events of [Edmund] Davall's death, which occured 26 September 1798. Davall had been confined to his bed for the last three weeks, describes his health in the run up to his death. Died as the apothecary was applying sinasims [mustard plasters] to his feet. Mrs Davall very miserable at her loss. Shocked by Swiss custom to dress and bury the dead in their best clothes, believes it is strongly insisted on by the lower classes. Davall has left Smith his Herbarium. Clark concerned that Davall's "splendid collection" of books shall be a heavy burden to the family in the current distressed condition of Switzerland and Europe. As he has no prospect of getting to France he shall shortly to return to England, having been away 14 months. Hubert sending his paper on bees soon

Bracy Clark, Lausanne, [Switzerland], to James Edward Smith, Norwich, [Norfolk]

Has obtained Peter Huber's paper on "the natural history of the humble-bees" for the Linnean Society and relates some of its principal discoveries; Huber is the son of William Huber of Geneva who published an "ingenious" work on hive bees five years ago including discovery that the queen bee is impregnated out of the hive whilst on the wing and that it is fatal to the males. Huber intends to publish further observations on bees in a second volume, including on the small pouches between the segments on the undersides of the abdomen, in which wax is inserted, and has also observed that the "yellow matter" found on the legs of bees is "bee bread", as discovered by John Hunter [(1728-1793), surgeon and anatomist] before him, but Huber found that this was known to an "old English author on bees which was translated early in [the eighteenth] century into German". Grateful for Smith's assistance in helping him through France and during his "exile" intends to work on framing much better characters for the division of 'Phalaena' [moths]. Unable to give an account of [Edmund] Davall. Comments that "our revolution" has passed off without bloodshed [French invasion of Switzerland], however at the first moment of its revolt every Englishman except himself left Lausanne as it was expected that the [French] would attack, forcing the cantons to gradually fall off [from the Swiss Confederation] and leave Bern at the mercy of the French. Asks whether [William] Kirby has published on bees as was being reported before leaving England

Of the Insect called Oistros by the Ancients, and of the true Species intended by them under this Appellation: in reply to the Observations of W. S. MacLeay, Esq., and the French Naturalists. To which is added, A Description of a new Species of Cuterebra

Volume: 15Start Page: 402End Page: 41