Disappointed that he cannot accept Roscoe's invitation. Rumoured that Roscoe will become the sitting member for Liverpool. Hopes to accompany his mother to Liverpool in early spring and would like to discuss Roscoe's 'Canna' specimens, figures, and synonyms, particularly species Roscoe made out of 'Canna indica', for intended paper on 'Scitamineae' species.

Sent the Linnean Society a "botanico-physiological" on germination of seeds, disproving Gaertner's "vitellus"; further details. Asks if Roscoe approves with his rule of "shall & will" as he discussed in October issue of the "Athenaeum". Will shortly send Roscoe his "Introduction to Botany" for comment and corrections; hopes it will promote the study.

Hopes Roscoe has had the most recent numbers of "Exotic botany" from [James] Sowerby. Has written a lot for [Abraham] Rees' "Cyclopedia", and has enjoyed looking at botanical subjects he might not have otherwise studied. Glad Roscoe's Liverpool [Botanic] Garden is flourishing; had hoped to see [John] Shepherd [(c 1764-1836, curator Liverpool Botanic Garden] in Norwich; apologises for delay in sending the herbarium, which is proving "a long & arduous job". [William Fitt] Drake has entered Caius College, Cambridge, with one of the highest scholarships but will still assist Smith half the year. Continuing work on "Florae Graecae prodomus" but struggles to complete more than 10 to 12 plants from 10 o'clock till 3. Compliments to the Roscoe and Rathbone families. Relates a "curious anecdote" about the King of Prussia, Napoleon, and the Empress of Russia at the conference of Tilsit [ending the War of the Fourth Coalition, 1806-1807].

Disappointed not to see Smith in Lancashire this year. Resolved to never stand as MP for Liverpool again. Will send Smith his notes on 'Canna'; pleased he is investigating 'Scitamineae', expects his own system to be overturned. Enjoyed and agrees with Smith's "grammatical paper about shall & will" [in October issue of the "Athenaeum"]. Pleased that publication of "Exotic botany" is proceeding; after seeing [James] Sowerby in London expected the quatro edition to be continued and the octavo given up.

John Shepherd [(c 1764-1836, curator Liverpool Botanic Garden] has made valuable acquisitions from stoves and conservatories of London, including: Norfolk Island pine, multiple species of 'Banksia', several 'Nymphaea', hopefully 'Cyamus nelumbo', and many new Monandrian plants. Compliments both Mrs Smiths, Mr and Mrs James Taylor, and Dr [Henry] and Mrs Reeve.

Thanks for Smith's "Introdutcion to Botany"; praises the preface, Mr and Mrs Ratham have complimented it with "terms of the warmest approbation", and has already lent his copy to Mr Price, MP for Radnor, an amatuer botanist. Requests to be informed as soon as the herbarium Smith is preparing for Liverpool Botanic Garden is prepared; their finances are much improved and are nearly out of debt with an income of 900 guineas, aided by creation of 100 additional shares. Certain a second edition of Smith's new book will soon be demanded.

[Transcription of letter sent by William Hunter to Anstruther]: sending duplicates of his paper on 'Nauclea', and letter to Smith which accompanied the paper [see RelatedMaterial below].

Sends copy of letter and paper by [William] Hunter of Calcutta, Secretary of the Asiatic Society. Will provide copies of drawings and specimens if required. Also has small specimen of tree which Sir Joseph Banks was anxious for. Received letter from [Francis] Buchanan, who has safely reached the Cape.

Sending proofs of all completed blocks [for "Lachesis Lapponica"], with prices marked.

Honoured by Smith's dedication to his late wife [Jane Barrington] and himself in "Introduction to Botany".

Thanks for Smith's "Introduction to Botany". Reminisces about Dr [John] Hope. His daughter married last summer to Mr Easkell of Thornes House, near Wakefield, his gardens are in the "first style" and arrangement of exotics "magnificent".

Sending letter and "clever" drawings from Dr [Charles] Campbell, who is travelling to Sumatra; understands that knowledge of Sumatran botany would be extremely interesting to European botanists. Campbell was unable to provide description of 'Marsdenia'. If the East India Company establishes a Botanic Garden on St Helena hopes seeds from Sumatra will be naturalised here.

Sending specimens of 'Ectosperma sessilis' and 'E. geminata' of Vaucher to [James] Sowerby; unsure if they will revive; no specimens of 'E. terrestris'; observations on former two including on figures by [Lewis Weston] Dillwyn [(1778-1855), naturalist]. Sends specimens of 'Conferva mutabilis'; observations, including on figures by Dillwyn.

Sending specimens of 'Conferva', of which [James] Sowerby has made drawings. Observations on 'Conferva corallina' and 'C. retacea'; tried to make a genus from them.

Numbered descriptions of 6 of the specimens, some has identified 'C. multifida' Hudson and 'C. pedicellata'.

List of plants found on the North West coast of Devon in the autumn of 1806: 'Hypericum androsaemum', 'Centaurea seabiosa', 'Scilla autumnalis', 'Ranunculus hederaceus', 'Papaver cambricum'; habitats and observations on each.

Received Smith's letter of 12 April [1807]. Currently unable to add to his collection of botanical drawings and has instead been collecting insects. Sorry Smith's "Exotic botany" has not been successful. Laments the loss of his valuable books, papers, and drawings, including of insects, in sinking of the ship "Lady Burgess". Left his collection of bird drawings with a brother at Wisbech, [Cambridgeshire], but laments not showing them to [John] Latham and fears other collectors will discover and publish them in during his absence from England. No longer certain how long he will stay in India following the death of his sister.

Glad that [Francis] Buchanan left his dried plants and drawings with Smith rather than Mr L [Lambert?]; he departed for his statistical mission a month ago; his advantages in being supported by government. Concerned that Sir Joseph Banks will suffer more with gout every returning winter. Long suspected [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert's indisposition. Directions for sending "Linnean Transactions" and other works during his absence, including Smith's "Physiological & Systematical Botany". Asks that he be sent one of [James] Sowerby's "portable cabinets of minerals". [William] Roxburgh's work.

Has found that the plant which produces Columba root is a species of 'Menispermum', as he always predicted. Asks to be remembered to [Thomas] Marsham, [Edward] Rudge, Sir Thomas Cullum, and [Alexander] Macleay. Sent a packet of seeds for [Thomas] Johnes and Marquis of Blandford [George Spencer-Churchill]

Arrangement [of his "Index plantarum" (1807)]. States that should he die before Smith his manuscripts and any part of his botanical library that Smith does not have will be his.

[Note in Smith's hand] "this proved, on enquiry after his death, to be altogether fallacious".

Numbered notes on [Henry] Muhlenberg's North American plant specimens, covering 703-780.

[Note in Smith's hand] "thus far written in letter Dec. 22 1807. Sent by Liverpool to Dr Muhlenberg".

Sorry to hear of Smith's ill-health; he himself has been ill all winter with a very severe bilious attack, which leaves him unable to accept invitation Smith's invitation of meeting at the Freemasons Tavern, sends apologies to Linnean Society. Invites Smith to dine with him at home.

Expects to depart for Bengal next month. Almost finished his work on third volume of ["Plants of the Coast of Coromandel"]; appearance of the next depends much on Sir Joseph Banks' health; has withdrawn his 'Colebrookia oppositifolia' in consequence of Smith's remarks about 'Sussodia' and intending it for "Exotic botany", but still including the other species 'C. ternifolia', and 'Buchananica', despite having searched in vain for the 'Ava launzan' Smith said was already named for him. Smith's 'Globba racemosa' not one of his and does not know Smith's 'Leucosceptrum canum'. Doubts his ability to obtain the original 'Roxburghia' on account of its distance from Calcutta.

Praises turkey received from Smith. Two seeds of the 'Cycas cirinalis' he sent Lady [Amelia] Hume are growing; hopes Smith's are similarly successful.

Thanks for Swiss plants. Condolences on death of Smith's "particular friend", [James] Crowe. Requests that when Smith and [Dawson] Turner again examine plants bearing an external resemblance to known species that they do not "believe [their] eyes" without a more accurate examination.

[James] Dickson "pledges his reputation as a Cryptogamist" that the 'Dicranum' he [Rudge] sent is a new species and has nothing to do with 'D. varium'; characters of each; encloses two specimens examined by Dickson under microscope. Last summer found 'D. scottianum' on rocks near Tunbridge Wells, [Kent].

[Aylmer Bourke] Lambert has "perfectly recovered his health & spirits", and Sir Joseph Banks is better; he has not had a regular fit of gout but slight attacks in leg, knee, and arm, with an erisipalous appearance.

Received Smith's letter of 20 October [1807] today; has not yet received [Johann Baptist von] Albertini's "Conspectus Fungorum" from Germany; hopes Albertini will send a copy as he assisted in collecting materials for it. Encloses specimens of some of the fungi he sent for the work, and hopes to also send the copper plates.

Lists fungi he has found since his last letter to Smith: 'Boletus fimbriatus', 'B. mucidus', 'B. cinnabarinus', 'Thelephora hirsuta', 'T. calcea', 'T. polygonia', 'Tremella encephala', 'Agaricus amesthystinus', 'A. procenus', 'A. violaceus', 'A. fratensis', 'A. luridus', 'A. coccineus', 'A. conicus', 'A. poittacinus', 'A. seracius', 'A. punus', 'A. copinusdomesticus', 'A. frauncilus', 'A. caudicinus', 'A. semiglobatus', 'A. fascicularis', 'A. subdulcis', 'A. anuginosa', 'A. campestris', 'A. collinitus', 'Capninus extinclonius', 'C. candicans', 'Gymnopus latus', 'G. alboviolaceus', 'G. lactillacris', 'Boletus subtomentosus', 'B. fuscus', 'B. deofunctor', 'B. vitneus', 'B. hepaticus', 'Helvella cinerea' (very rare), 'Lycoperdon pratense', 'L. umbrinum', 'L. bovista', 'Filago rusa', 'Spumaria mucilago', 'Stemonitis ovala', 'S. fascicularis', 'Accidium tussilaginus', 'Amanila spadicea', 'Hydnum ochnaceum', 'Clavaria protensis', 'C. cornea', 'C. elurnia', 'C. mirani', 'Peziza sancoides', 'P. anomala', 'Sphaeria hypoxylon', S. digitata', 'S. fusca', 'S. poronia', 'S. deusta', 'S. doliolum', and 'S. disciformis'. Found all of the above with [Henry] Steinhauer at Kirklees Hall, the seat of Sir George Armitage.

Has sent Smith specimen of 'Anemone vernalis'. Will send a fern with the copper plates, variety of 'Cyathea fragilis' from Castleton, which he has been unable to find in "Flora Britannica", which he hopes will be completed.

Discusses his essay, "De Pisolitho", which he sent for Smith's opinion, and quoting of Scopoli's 'Lycoperdon arrizon' as a synonym for 'Pisolithus arenarius'; proposes naming it 'P. scopolii' [coloured drawing extant]. Apologises for delay in sending promised plates of [Johann Baptist von] Albertini's "Conspectus Fungorum", which his friend Mr Steinhaur will now do. Lists recent fungi he has found: 'Xyloma acerinum', 'Agaricus lactifluus var. deliciosus', 'Clavaria ericelorum', 'C. gyrans', 'Sphaeria militaris', 'Hydnum repandum', 'Peziza papillata', and 'Tremella auriformis'; always uses [Christiaan Hendrik] Persoon's names, despite some of them not seemingly appropriate for the plants they are meant to denominate.

He has minutely examined the fern mentioned in his last letter and concludes it is either new or a new variety, possibly of 'Aspidium spinulosum'. Found a variety of 'Blechnum boreale'; observations. Bolton's discovery of 'Hyminophyllum pyxidifenum'.

Coloured drawing labelled "'Pisolithus arenarius'.

Encloses two rare fungi he recently found [extant]: 'Xyloma pini' and 'Trichia reticulata', observations on his finding them. Thanks Smith for offer to send ferns; directions for sending. Will be glad to hear when the fourth part of "Flora Britannica" is published.

Two specimens, labelled, "'Trichia reticulata'" and "'Xyloma pini' Messrs de Albertini & de Schweiniz" [attached to JES/COR/26/26].