José Francisco Correia da Serra papers, 1772-1827

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José Francisco Correia da Serra papers, 1772-1827

1772-1827

The collection consists primarily of letters and essays on matters related to botany as well as Correia's role as Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States. They were written between 1772 and 1827. Also included are several letters and notes by Richard Beale and other persons about Davis's research on Correia, dated 1949 to 1957. The collection includes a typed table of contents (1958). The largest single group of letters (25) was written by Correa to John Quincy Adams between 1817 and 1820, when Correia served as Minister Plenipotentiary. They concern official business, including the appointment of various officials and, most prominently, the persistent troubles with American privateers and Correia's efforts to get the American government to do something about it. Other noteworthy items dealing with official business include a letter by Correia to James Monroe in which he protests a number of assaults by American privateers on Portuguese vessels (1816), and several letters to Secretary of State Richard Rush in which Correia expresses his displeasure about the support given by American citizens to "rebels" in the Portuguese colony of Pernambuco (1817). A letter by Rush to Madison testifies to Correia's persistence; Rush writes that among the foreign ministers, "the Abbe Correa was the one with whom my official relations were the least smooth" (1817). Correa, in turn, complained to John Quincy Adams in 1819 that "during more than two years, I have been obliged by my duty to oppose the systematic and organized depredations daily committed on the property of Portuguese subjects." Of interest is also a letter to the Count of Palmela in which Correia assesses the policies of various colonial governments in the West Indies (1820). Another significant body of letters is addressed to James Edward Smith, a botanist and founder of the Linnean Society in London. The letters, which are dated between 1795 and 1821, deal primarily with botanical matters, including news about fellow botanists, such as Antoine Laurent de Jussieu (1800). The letters are friendly and frequently also include personal news. The letter of September 1801 deals with Correia's troubles in Portugal. The collection includes several letters by Correia to Thomas Jefferson. They are friendly letters that reflect their shared interests in the natural sciences. In one letter, for example, Correia writes about his pleasure of sending notes on Captain Lewis's papers to Jefferson (1816), and another one describes Correia's intention of visiting Monticello (1818). There is also an undated list of books forwarded to Jefferson. Items that reflect Correia's interest in the natural sciences generally, and botany specifically, include three letters by Correia to Carl Linnaeus when Correia was still a student in Rome (1772, 1773, 1774). Written in Latin, the letters deal with botanical topics. A letter to Joseph Banks, written while Correia resided in Philadelphia, refers to seeds and papers that Correia had sent to London (1803), and an undated note in French confirms Correia's dinner appointment with Alexander von Humboldt. Several letters shed light on Correia's interest in and affection for the United States. A letter to Fulwar Skipwith refers to Correia's idea of living in America as "the utmost of my wishes" and his belief that only an official invitation by the government would make this possible (1808). There is also a letter of introduction for Correia by J. Dauxion Lavaysse, addressed to Benjamin Rush (1811), and a letter of introduction for Robert M. Patterson by Correia, addressed to Smith (1811). A letter written in 1814 refers to Correia's difficulty of sending money to Paris during Jefferson's embargo. Also of note is a letter to President Madison in which Correia offers suggestions on how the United States could take advantage of its mineral resources as well as lands as sources of revenue (1814). Correia comments extensively on the "new faculty" of the University of Pennsylvania in a letter to William Rawle (1816). A letter of condolence to Elizabeth Mifflin Wistar speaks to his friendship with the Philadelphia physician Caspar Wistar (1818). The collection also includes an obituary of C. Wistar written by Correia (1818). Letters written by individuals other then Correia include one by Joseph Banks (1810, in French), and a letter by Joseph Rademaker, Consul general of Portugal, to Secretary of State James Monroe (1816?). There is a group of letters exchanged between Thomas Cooper and Thomas Jefferson which deal with the University of Virginia, including matters relating to the faculty and Cooper's efforts to secure minerals and works of art (1817-1819). One letter from John Vaughan to Jefferson suggests Landeren Vanapan, who had been recommended by Correia, for a position at the university (1821), and another one by Jefferson to Robert Walsh declines Walsh's request for material on Jefferson's life, due primarily to Jefferson's advanced age and poor health (1823). A friendly letter by Jefferson to Walsh mentions Correia as well as a book on skepticism that Jefferson had recently read (1818). There are also five letters by Henry Muhlenberg to Stephen Elliott, dealing with botanical matters (1812, 1813, 1814). Finally, a particularly heartfelt letter by Francis W. Gilmer informs Dabney Carr of Correia's departure from the United States in 1820. Also included in the collection are essays by Correia on several topics, including the "Natural Family of the Aurantia" (1799), the Doryantes (1800), botany (in Latin, undated), "The case of the Brazilian Indian," and "A description of great English houses and gardens." There are also reports that Correia prepared for the APS, and there is a dedication to several individuals, including Correia, that was included in Thomas Nuttall's Journal of the Travels (1821).

0.5 Linear Feet, 200 items

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fre, Latn

eng, Latn

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