Jacques Gay (1786-1864), Franco-Swiss botanist.... - Lot 27 - Conan Belleville Hôtel d'Ainay

Jacques Gay (1786-1864), Franco-Swiss botanist. 2 L.A.S. to a fellow member of the Academy of Sciences. Paris et s.l., 1 May and 4 October 1854. 6 pp. in-8 and in-12. Small effrangures to a courier. The central folds of the two sheets are damaged (tearing). Beautiful letters relating to his candidacy to the Academy of Sciences and the foundation of the Botanical Society of France. He secured the votes of a "beautiful core, composed of the most beautiful scientific names, including the two perpetual secretaries", but he has in front of him a number of scientists, a real competitor and a cunning competitor. To make himself known, he does some reading. He evokes his fellow scientists Mathieu, Laugier, Mauvais, whom he would like to conquer. "As for Mr. Duperrey, from the geography and navigation section, it would be a precious conquest for me, who is completely unknown to him []". He asked his pen pal for help in doing so. He adds: "Are you familiar with a free botanical society which we have just founded with Brongniart as president, Decaisne, Delessert, Gay and Moquin [-Tandon] as vice-president? I'm sending you the flyer...". He then mentions the names of French and American botanical species (notably Potamogeton gayi and Densus, which bears his name) and adds "Greenland is the name of a young Danish naturalist who is currently lending me the help of his pencil for the plates to be added to my new memoirs, and who is moreover an excellent observer, capable of preparing the work of a second memoir while I am absorbed in writing the first one. I am going to ruin myself in the cost of drawings and engravings [...]". In a second letter, six months later, Gay talks about his memoirs and bibliographical notes. He mentions the death of several relatives, who took up his time before the election.