Disappointed not to see Smith in London. Several of the seeds Smith sent have germinated but not 'Trilium erectum'. Requests any spare seeds from [William] Roxburgh's parcel to Smith. [Thomas] Butt grateful for mention Smith made of him in "Flora Britannica" though puzzled at Smith's doubts over 'Gnaphalium margaritaceum'. 'Pattersonia' coming into flower.

His popular natural history work ready for the press. Asks Smith's opinion on value of a "Synopsis of British Zoology" in manner of [William] Withering's botanical work. Asks generic name of the "ligneous ropes" growing on trees of tropical forests, called 'Nebees' in Stedman's "Account of Surinam" and 'Bejucos' in another. Asks Linnaean names of the hooded-serpent, cobra di Capello, and locust of the eastern countries. Asks for verification of [John] Latham's statement that cygnets are fed for Christmas table in Norwich and sold for a guinea each. Asks for verification tale of a New Holland insect still living after being pinned for duration of voyage. Requests Smith's assistance with his Royal Society of Edinburgh candidature. Intends to visit North Wales again soon.

Dedicating his "Tour Through North Wales" to Smith, designed to aid future tourists. Proposes writing a popular book on Natural History ["Animal biology" ?]; his plan for the work; aimed chiefly at women; asks Smith's opinion.

Details of the Matlock, [Derbyshire], 'Achillea', acquired from person who communicated it to [James] Sowerby. Mrs Sherbrooke cautions against adopting new plants from Matlock neighbourhood as several years some gentlemen had scattered seeds of exotics in various places. Does not consider the 'Fumaria lutea' of "English botany" a native of Fountains Abbey, [Yorkshire]; thinks the 'Impatiens noli-tangere' on banks of river at Studley Park was purposely sown; doubts over 'Daphne cneorum' of Snowdon._x000D_

Writing a history of music and then to work on his popular natural history book. Asks if Linnean Society books can travel into the country. Requests exotic plants for Mrs Sherbrooke's almost completed greenhouse.

As Smith takes pleasure in "promoting botanical researches" requests his assistance in obtaining best possible edition of Linnaeus' "Species Plantarum" from London. Sends specimens of 'Syena' in fruit, seeds of red-flowered 'Digitalis', and seeds of 'Bigonia crucigera'. He has found 50 new genera near the city, he has named and sends seeds of: 'Conapetalum elliptifolium', 'Stellandria integrifolia', and 'Jeffersonia semparviens'; observations on each. His best "Genera plantarum" is Schreber's of 1791 but is "too minute & particular"; asks if a better edition is available. Asks that he be kept informed of botanical discoveries. Tea plants from China thriving here, they are the true hyson tea.

Requests letter of introduction to [Benjamin Thompson], Count Rumford [(1753-1814), physicist], for Mr Frost, "a very intelligent workman".

Received Smith's letter of 10 May [1800]. Comments on discrepancies in 'Astragalus' specimens sent by Mr Cullum. Comments of the Linnean Society on his paper on horned cattle "just"; further observations. Hopes to live to see completion of "Flora Britannica". Account of Mr [Charles] Morse, young botanical protege introduced by Smith; introduced him to Dr Rutherford. Thanks for curious collection of seeds of plants he has never seen; has given them to the Botanic Garden.

Pleased the plant he sent from Revd Mr Williams of Eaton, near Shrewsbury, [Shropshire], proved a valuable acquisition. 'Potomageton' nothing more than 'P. natans'; observations. Has no more specimens of the 'E. hydropiper'; extraordinary that Dillenius confused 'Centunculus' for 'Eltaine alinastrum'.

Thanks for seeds from Calcutta. 'Myrtus pimento' and 'Cordia coccinea' flowered during summer at Farnham, [Surrey].

Has engaged [James] Sowerby to colour and engrave his daughter's drawing [of a 'Cycas']; asks Smith to advise on any additions needed, and offers use of it to Linnean Society.

Sending "English botany" as usual, and including 3 bills. Sending prints for "Linnean Transactions" vol 5 tomorrow. Encloses a "rude bit" of [Charles] Abbot's 'Chenopodium urbicum'. Hopes for the 6 drawings for ["English botany"] no.100 soon.

[Spec 20 written in pencil at head of verso of folio]

Pleased Smith is satisfied with new volume of "Linnean Transactions", though he thinks some of the papers might have been omitted without reducing its value; convinced that they must give up the idea of publishing every year; explains his and [Jonas] Dryander's decisions in listing books donated to the Library.

Asks when Smith will be in London and when "Flora Britannica" will appear. There were no new papers at last general meeting of the Linnean Society, so they were forced to read an entomological paper by [Samuel] Goodenough previously read before; they now have enough for the next two or three meetings. Persoon's fungi paper has been found.

News for Dryander to relate to the Linnean Society: consulted Sir Joseph Banks on propriety of the Society applying for a charter from the King [George III (1738-1820)], Banks thinks it would be favourably received; Bishop of Winchester [Brownlow North] pleased by his nomination as an Honorary Member; Marquis of Blandford [George Spencer-Churchill] requests that M. de Tremear's nomination certificate be withdrawn as he has returned to France for time being.

Glad Smith sent the two volumes of "Flora [Britannica]" and the "Compendium" to Sir Joseph Bank's house. Grateful to Smith for wanting to publish a paper in the "Transactions" of the Lisbon Academy but warns that it will not receive very wide notice. Outraged that [Jacques Julien Houton de] la Billardière has renamed Smith's genus 'Correa' to 'Mazeutoxeron'.

Has heard of Smith's ill health from [Richard] Salisbury. Reassures Smith that the parcel he sent for [Rodrigo] de Sousa [Countinho] has not arrived too late and it will sail on the "Hero of the Nile". Ensures Smith that the paper he writes for the [Lisbon] Academy will be safely conveyed. Grateful for Smith's having looked at the 'Mazeutoxeron', and although his paper is much earlier than [Jacques Julien Houton de] la Billardière's [Antoine Laurent de] Jussieu has decided to support the old name, however he is going to speak to Billardière about it.

Relates "melancholy news" of a girl who has been the "victim of too much sensibility and inexperience" who became acquainted with "an imprudent young man, now shut up in the Tower". Has not yet looked into "Flora Britannica", believes it is generally a "dull period for botany". Regrets that "Flora Graeca" is not to proceed as intended in Bauer's essay. Delayed replying to a Linnean Society letter regarding obtaining a charter.

Asks Smith whether he should be silent and look over the mistakes he finds in other authors, or publish them; points out several errors in [William] Withering's last publication ["An arrangement of British plants" (1796)], including 'Sphagnum alpinum' and 'Phascum repens'.

Sends list of subscriptions [extant] to cost of a charter for Linnean Society; little doubt of their raising the required £300, though some Fellows, including [Erasmus] Darwin, Dr Thomas Young, Lord William Seymour, [Thomas] Rackett, and [George] Shaw have refused to contribute in various manners. Concerns that [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert has changed his opinion on the matter, though [Thomas] Marsham has listed him for £20 according to earlier understanding. Asks Smith to encourage his friends to contribute. Main reason for acquiring the charter is for it to act as a Deed of Trust for every Fellow, and thus authenticate the bonds for membership dues.

List of subscribers and amount pledged.

Adiantum nigrum pinnulis cicutarviae divisurâ' as rare as 'Polypodium arvonicum', describes having once found it with [William] Hudson on Snowdon, Wales, and described in "Hist. Ok. III", sending specimen for Smith's opinion. Also sending specimens of 'Filix montana' and Bolton's 'rhaeticam' via [James] Sowerby. Remembers seeing 'Filix pumila-saxatilis-altora' 30 years ago on a tour of Snowdon with [William] Sheffield [(c 1732-1795) Keeper of Ashmolean Museum, Oxford] where ['Polypodium] oreopteris' was pointed out as 'Thelypteris', refers Smith to [Johann Jacob] Dillenius' description of it as an accurate description of '[Polypodium] oreopteris'; believes 'Filix pumila' to be the true 'Thelypteris' and should be '[Thelypteris] saxatilis' and that 'oreopteris' should be '[Polypodium] querna'. 'Polypodium ilvense' one of the numerous different appearances of 'Polypodium fragile'. 'Tremella vagans' did not resume its form after an undisclosed experiment but believes Sowerby could still make a drawing of it. Pleased that Smith has reversed [Samuel] Goodenough's classification of 'Carex fulva' as a variety only. Wishes Smith well with the "Flora Graeca". Believes habitat for [William] Withering 's 'Ulva lanceolata' should be Anglesea rather than Isle of Man. Queries Withering's 'Polytrichum hercynicum' referring to Hudson's, which is a 'Bryum'. Remdinder for Sowerby that 'Hydnum daviesii' is a pure white, [Smith has marked this with a tick].

Believes Smith is right to include an index of the genera for "Flora Britannica" but that the English index should be at the end and approves of the title. [John] Sibthorp's plants have now been laid out in the herbarium.