SOUTH JAMES: (1785-1867)

SOUTH JAMES: (1785-1867)
SOUTH JAMES: (1785-1867) British Astronomer, President of the Royal Astronomical Society, 1831-32. A.L.S., J South, three pages, 4to, Observatory, Kensington, 21st December 1830, to a gentleman [apparently Jules Delessert]. South urgently solicits the support of his correspondent, stating, in part, '…there is a great reason to fear that ''Doctor Wallich the distinguished author of the Plantea Asiaticae Rariores and who is engaged in arranging for distribution throughout Europe the duplicates of the plants composing the East India Company's collection'' will be sent back to India in a few weeks, leaving his works in an unfinished state' continuing '…feeling that our Government ''knows nothing of science, and cares less for it'', we are making every exertion to shame them into acquiescence with our wishes; namely that they will allow Dr. Wallich to remain another year in England to complete his labours. That he has been allowed to remain here till now is mainly to be attributed to the influence of Lord Ashley…' and further remarking '…with the Duke of Wellington's administration he quitted office, but is nonetheless the sheet anchor of our hopes. He has been applied to by all our British botanists, to continue his exertions on behalf of their scientific friend… it is however… important that he should be furnished with as powerful evidence as possible. Will you therefore my Dear Sir, address a few lines to Lord Ashley… You doubtless know that the assembly of Naturalists at Hamburgh (sic) have… a petition to our King ''Requesting that the Doctor may be allowed to complete his work upon his return to India''. It is not however deemed etiquette for it to be presented till it has been preceded by the letters of private individuals - will you therefore use your utmost endeavors to help us, and to illuminate our non-scientific Government.' South concludes by stating 'I also enclose the Report of the Astronomical Society (no longer present) relative to the Nautical Almanac… the press has at length brought our Ministers to a sense of their duty - in one instance - Our Nautical Almanac will be the Nautical Almanac of the world'. In a postscript South sends instructions to his correspondent, 'Pray send your letter to the British Ambassadors (Rue St. Honorè) addressed to the Rt. Honble. Lord Ashley, under cover to The Rt. Honorable Lord Palmerston, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs by whom the packet will be immediately forwarded to Lord Ashley.' A fascinating insight into the scientific world of the early nineteenth century. About EX £400-600 Jules Paul Benjamin Delessert (1773-1847) French Banker and Naturalist. Nathaniel Wallich (1786-1854) Danish Surgeon and Botanist, who worked in India, initially in the Danish settlement near Calcutta and later for the East India Company. He was involved in the early development of the Calcutta Botanical Garden, describing many new plant species and developing a large herbarium collection which was distributed to collections in Europe. Anthony Ashley Cooper (1801-1885) 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, English Politician, Philanthropist, and Social Reformer. Duke of Wellington (1769-1852) Anglo-Irish Field Marshal & British Prime Minister 1828-30, 1834. Viscount Palmerston (1784-1865) British Prime Minister 1855-58, 1859-65, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs 1830-34, 1835-41, 1846-51.