Informed of Smith's illness by his "new & valuable correspondent", [James] Brodie. Regrets that any dispute "should have arisen with a man who having proved himself capable of premeditated, & continued, deceit must have ever remained a charatcer for mistrust" [presumably a reference to Richard Salisbury's dispute with Smith]. Recommended Loudon to Mr Price of Foxley as he was going into that neighbourhood, but Price objects to much of Loudon's book.

Wrote paper for Linnean Society testifying [William] Hudson's "Flora Anglica" in response to so many of the marine plants in "English Botany" not conforming with Hudson's. Received 'Pyrola uniflora', the last he wanted, from Brodie. His only botanical neighbour, Archdeacon Pierson, has died of pleurisy in very bad circumstances; his herbarium of 1500 English and 2000 exotic dried plants on paper 18 inches by 12 to be sold at York, he would always go back and improve his specimens whenever he found better.

Asks Smith's opinon of value of his late neighbour Archdeacon Pierson's herbarium, due to be sold in York, comprised of 1745 British plants, 866 exotic, 130 miscellaneous, and 25 Corallines, on paper 18 inches by 11, finically neat and luxuriant, with each order arranged in a neat portfolio-like case encased in spacious wainscot chest. Smith previously valued a larger herbarium at £30, hopeful for similar value.

Has been examining mosses and pleased with Smith's genera and English names, especially preservation of [William] Hudson's specific names even when obliged to alter the genus.

Lady Frankland's sister, Mrs Courtney, died of a pleuritic cold last Christmas and her husband shortly followed her, dying of a "broken heart" "literally & anatomically". Archdeacon Pierson's herbarium still unsold and his collection of 800 portrait prints, including "semi-caricatures of Dr Cullen, & other Scotch physicians, & men of eminence" will be be sold in London.

Had difficulties securing hotel rooms in London for this spring which shows "how popular this kind of residence is become".

'Ulva rubra' just figured in "English Botany" is definitely the plant [William] Hudson named to him. Anxious to hear whether rumours of [James] Brodie's death are true or not. Archdeacon Pierson's herbarium did not sell so is now to be raffled with sixty guinea tickets. Bad harvest weather.

Apologises for the passage in his paper ["On the marine plants described in the Flora Anglica"] which referred to Mr [Lilly?] Wigg [(1749-1829), clerk in Dawson Turner's bank] and was "confessedly to produce a laugh"; suggests how the passage could be removed and additions to be made if it is printed.

Recent weather: snow followed by rain. Norfolk "a most unpleasant state from [political] contest", some details. His brother, now in the Admiralty, will frank letters for Smith.

Thanks for Smith's letter and condolences, "the blow has been most severe, and more so, from bring so very unexpected" [possibly death of his sister, Elizabeth, wife of Hanbury Williams]. Will assist Smith in the publication of his "Tour of Hafod", though warns his circle of friends has reduced considerably. Not surprised by [Richard] Salisbury's conduct. Glad Smith likes [Benjamin] Malkin's [(1769-1842), antiquarian] book ["The Scenery, Antiquities, and Biography of South Wales" (1804)], who is a friend of his. Mariamne [Johnes, his daughter] is well and walks 5 to 7 miles daily. news. Asks that they be remembered to the Mr and Mrs Kindersley; "had our strange sister [Charlotte] followed his advice it would have been better for her".

Received Smith's letter yesterday, remarks on potatoes. Heard from [Benjamin] Malkin [(1769-1842), antiquarian] that Smith's book ["A tour to Hafod" (1810)] was in a "fair way of being made publick". Discusses views and drawings of Hafod, a plan of house, drawing of the mosaic "with its proper colours", internal rearrangements he has made, an engraving of the obelisk he erected to the late [Francis Russell, 5th] Duke of Bedford [(1765-1802)], has no drawing of the "charming chain bridge" on a new walk he has made.

They are all in good health except for [Hanbury] Williams [his brother-in-law], who seems "on the decline", though "if he would not give such way to his grief" [following death of his wife and Johnes' sister, Elizabeth] he would "last some time". Delightful weather and fine foliage, though the "urns of my river gods are almost dry".

Thanks for Smith's letter of 13 [August]. Will miss Smith's friend Colonel Purton as he will be at the Cardigan assizes. His wife has had a return of her spasms. [Thomas] Beddoes [(1760-1808), chemist and physician] has been dangerously ill but now convalescing; he is their "sheet anchor" as he knows all their constitutions so well. Describes interior and exterior improvements at Hafod; has let out the farm he had in hand at three times the rent as when he took it on, and has now begun improving 2000 acres of wildground to let out in four or five years time.

Hopes Smith's health is good. Intends to send copy of his Monandrian essay but busy correcting his "[Life and Pontificate of] Leo [the Tenth]" for second edition; defends the book against criticism in journals and "Critical Review" by stating the critics' ignorance of the period.

Sends draft of his paper [on 'Scitamineae']; if Smith agrees with principal points he can improve it with Smith's herbarium and library. Comments on a "sullen & ungracious" critique of his "[Life and Pontificate of] Leo [the Tenth]" in the "Edinburgh Review", pointing out its errors and his determination to respond to the "volumes of abuse". Pleased by Mr Reeve's "favourable opinion" of the book.

Responds to Smith's remarks on his Scitamineae paper, transcribes a new opening paragraph and makes other additions and corrections. Smith and himself should take strength against their attackers: [Richard] Salisbury's pamphlet ["Generic characters in the English Botany"] attacking Smith, and his own criticical reviewers in "Critical Review" and "Edinburgh Journal"; has written a paper against the latter. Thanks for numbers of "Exotic botany" but insists on purchasing the rest.

Thanks for Smith's and [Jonas] Dryander's remarks on his 'Scitamineae' paper; plans to add some notes before it is printed and other corrections based on fifteen Scitamineae plants sent by Lord Seaforth [Francis Humberston Mackenzie] from Barbados. Details some of the corrections he is making for second edition of "[Life and Pontificate of] Leo [the Tenth]".

Returns his revised paper on 'Scitamineae'; details some of the changes including rearrangement of genus 'Canna' after observations and thinks all the varieties marked in "Hortus Kewensis" are distinct species. Has been making improvements to his lands and buildings since start of the year. Encourages Smith to investigate difficult genus 'Amomum'. Has no interest in critical reviews of "Exotic botany" and encourages Smith to continue it, thinking that it will "answer much better in the result" than "English Botany".

Further remarks on his 'Scitamineae' paper; transcribes note to be added explaining Smith's discovery which has abolished 'Colebrookia', and discusses possibility of abolishing 'Globba'. Agrees that Smith should reprint the first sheet of "Flora Graeca", on basis that Smith is the editor, not the author, and to make other corrections. Has not seen issue of "Exotic botany" containing the plant named after him ['Roscoea'].

Thanks Smith for naming plant ['Roscoea'] after him in September issue of "Exotic botany"; discusses its claims to be a distinct genus based on his system. Unsure whether he should include the synoptical table in his 'Scitamineae' paper on account of it being "in the very teeth of Lin[naeu]s".

Ready to receive first parcel of herbarium Smith is preparing, and though [Liverpool Botanic] garden funds currently low is confident of success of a subscription for the herbarium. Has orders for several quatro copies of "Exotic botany"; asks [James] Sowerby to send direct rather than through booksellers. Suggests Sowerby and his son tour England to draw rare plants in private collections as research for "Exotic botany". Still considers Smith the "destined Editor of the works of Linnaeus"; discusses whether Smith should publish them by subscription. Proposes Lord [Edward Smith-]Stanley as FLS and requests certificate for his nomination.

Elected MP for Liverpool by a majority over both the other candidates.

Envelope, addressed to Smith, with note in red ink "Mr Roscoe's first Frank".

Encloses Lord [Edward Smith-]Stanley's FLS nomination certificate and asks Smith to find two signatories. Asks for copies of his last arrangement of genus 'Canna' and the first copy of of his paper on 'Scitamineae' plants; agrees that the genus needs investigation; wishes he had seen Smith's 'Canna glauca' in "Exotic botany" as Smith's figure differs entirely from 'Canna glauca' of "Hortus Elthamensis"; his knowledge of the two kinds of the genus, the nerved leaved kind, including 'Canna lutea', 'Coccinea', 'Canna latifolia', and the glaucos kind, including 'Cannacorus' of "Hortus Elthamensis", Smith's 'glauca', 'Maranta arundinacea' and 'Maranta sylvatica', which both agree with 'lutea' of [Nikolaus von] Jacquin; small ink sketch of detail of plant. Intends to distribute 'Monandrian' plants to friends with stoves.

[Parts of this letter appears to have been written some time before its dating, as Roscoe mentions being called to offer himself as a candidate in the election, which he won in early November].

Forwarding packet for Smith from [Olof] Swartz. Encloses a catalogue of Northumberland and Durham plants; vouches for authenticity of habitats should Smith wish to quote them. Sent a rose growing in local hedges to [James] Sowerby last summer, uncertain whether it was worth drawing; observations. Asks Smith's opinion of numbered specimens in Swartz' packet.

Smith's last 6 weeks completely occupied "in body & mind", whilst she has been enjoying "complete repose". Asks if Smith has seen his admirers Mr Nicholls and [Thomas James] Mathias [(1754-1835), satirist], if the latter is author of "Pursuits of Literature" [a satirical poem published 1794, Mathias was the author] his praise is "no mean commendation". Sorry to observe in note to that work a question on how ladies could be "modestly instructed in botany", believes Dr [Erasmus] Darwin to be thanked for this censure; will be glad to see "this beautiful & innocent study rescued from all objection" by Smith' pen, further discussion of this. If Dr [Henry] Reeve settles at Norwich it will preclude all of Smith's ideas [possibly regarding practising medicine], but she would be happy for them to be in a cottage than have the collections sold for a carriage. Her excursions around Lowestoft, including discharge of cannon by the fleet at Yarmouth, [Norfolk], in commemoration of 29 May. Recommends seeing Mr Angerstick's collection of pictures, going to Gisleham, [Suffolk].

By direction of Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the East India Company sends set of [William Roxburgh's] "Plants of the Coast of Coromandel"].