Thanks for Smith's criticisms and approval of his manuscript; his intention for it not to claim attention but to be useful. Altered the section on bats following Smith's comment that he had made free with [George] Shaw's work. Preparing second edition of his Welsh tour; spent four months there this summer; intends to include sketch of [Thomas] Pennant's life in style of anecdote, which seems to lay "the greatest hold on the attention of the public".

Thanks for first 2 volumes of "Flora Britannica". Gave the seeds of British plants sent by Smith to Mr John McKay; Dr Rutherford pleased, has made many changes to the interior of the Botanic Garden. Notes on horned cattle. Account of [James] Playfair's [(1738-1819), Church of Scotland minister] findings from his study of honey bees, particularly regarding drones. Great changes in the Edinburgh Natural History Society this winter, which is now entirely experimental chemistry. Dr Waltner extremely ill. College classes well attended.

Has been in Fife but did not find any plants of interest. Dr Rutherford ill this season; hopes it is not serious on account of the great contributions he has made. Dr Waltner continues very ill. Joy of the country; "peace and the prospect of plenty shines in every face".

Communicated Smith's favourable opinion on [James] Playfair [(1738-1819), Church of Scotland minister] experiments on honey bees and drones to Playfair; further details of this, including frustrations of establishing experimental hive. Charles Morse very agreeable young man. His and Smith's opinions of war and peace accord. Health of McKay, Dr Rutherford, and Dr Waltner. Industry of [George] Don; if Sir Joseph Banks gave him £100 a year he would make many more discoveries.

Sending small parcel of plants, numbered descriptions and observations of the specimens, including: 'Lichen hymenis', 'L. gelasinatus', 'L. calvus', 'Sphaeria gregaria', 'L. polyrhiza', 'L. vernalis', 'L. scriptus', 'L. ripicola', 'Peziza bicolor' [Smith has annotated many in pencil and ink].

Has found 'Scandix adorata' in Yorkshire; probable that 'Turritis hirsuata' is taken for 'Cardamine bellidifolia'; glad his 'Saxifraga palmata' proves to be variety of 'S. hypnoides'; 'Lycoperdon stellatum', 'Lycoperdon fornicatum', and 'Lycoperdon recolligens' grow abundantly in his neighbourhood; has found 'Agaricus alneus'. Intends to send [James] Sowerby duplicates of the lichens.

Descriptions of two new species of 'Carex' [Smith has annotated "'C. acuta' JES" in left-hand margin of verso of first folio and "var. of 'ampullacea'? JES or a mule?" at top of recto of first folio]. Has found 'Dianthus barbatus' growing indigenous in Studley Woods. Discussion of 'Carex gracilis', which he took to be 'C. lavigata'. Has found 'Actaea spicata', 'Ribes petraum', 'Lichen saluminus'. Catalogue [extant] of 'Carex' and 'Lichen' species growing locally; offers to send specimens of any and requests specimens of any not listed.

[Letter incomplete: top third of second folio cropped, presumed destroyed]

Sent plants to [James] Sowerby, listed, with details of habitats, including: 'Mentha gentilis', 'Hieracium umbellatum', 'Impatiens noli-tangere', 'Mentha arvensis', 'Poa distans'. Has found but not sending specimens of 'Bromus secalinus', 'Bromus multiflorus', 'Hypericum lubium'; has specimens in herbarium of 'Potentilla aurea', resisted persuasion to call it 'P. verna'. Asks if the fern he encloses is the 'Cyathea incisa' of "English botany" [Smith has annotated "'fragilis'"].

Received balance of Smith and [James] Crowe's subscriptions to Linnean Society charter. He has been at Dover, [Kent], and all along the coast to Margate. [George] Shaw returned Huber's paper "without altering it in the least degree".

Dispatched Professor [Eugen Johann Christoph] Esper's [(1742-1810)] FMLS diploma several months ago. Congratulates Smith on the return of peace [between Britain and France] with the ratification of the preliminaries [of the Treaty of Amiens, signed 25 March 1802]; "the mob" took the horses from the Consuls carriage and drew them home.

Asks after the Linnean Society's charter, understanding that had been at Weymouth to received the royal signature. Received letter from Dr Walter Wade of Dublin informing him of discovery of 'Eriocaulon septangulare' in Ireland, never before seen outside the Isle of Skye; details of Wade's habitat; encloses specimen for the Society.

He and Mr Poulter have determined that what they once thought 'Zamia pumila' is in fact 'Zamia cycadis' of "Hortus Kewensis"; flowering in his garden, possibly for first time in Europe.

Contents of Linnean Society charter satisfactory, with the only remaining difficulty being the number of names in it; the Attorney and Soliciter General suggested the first Council, which was rejected by himself, [Thomas] Marsham, and Sir Joseph Banks on account of cost, so they are now examining precedents to include as few names as possible, or to otherwise limit Council names to 15.

Encloses letter, to be returned, which has recently caused much discord at the Society; account of the business, apparently related to nomination of [Johann Karl Adam] Murhard [(1781-1863)] as a FMLS.

[Richard] Pulteney has left his museum to the Society provided they keep it as a separate collection, or that it be sold at auction, the price being made up to £200 if necessary, and given to the Society for purchase of an annual medal of 5 guineas for best botanical paper. Banks has behaved "handsomely" to the Society.

Thanks Macleay for this care and attention to him. The plant Macleay sent from [John] Fairbairn is a new 'Cissus', not in Willdenow, if he gets the flowers will write a specific character to go at end of "Linnean Transactions".

Congratulates Macleay, [Thomas] Marsham, and Sir Joseph Banks on success of the Linnean Society charter; agrees that 15 Council names would be enough. Regrets Society discord, suggests course of action for allowing [John] Parkinson to produce testimonials in favour of electing [Johann Karl Adam] Murhard [(1781-1863)] a FMLS, and for Macleay to regulate [Jonas] Dryander until he comes to London, he is an "indifferent person, & fear[s] neither". Unable to decide on [Richard] Pulteney's legacy until they see what it consists of. Sending Macleay a turkey.

Thanks Smith for the "excellent Alderman" he sent [a Norfolk turkey]. Present [Walter] Wade's specimen of 'Eriocaulon septangulare' and extract from his letter to the Linnean Society. [John] Fairbairn unable to to acquire flowering specimen of the 'Cissus' until May.

Pleased to state that the recent discord at the Linnean Society between [John] Parkinson and [Jonas] Dryander over the election of [Johann Karl Adam] Murhard [(1781-1863)] as a FMLS has been satisfactorily settled; has always been of opinion that it was a personal quarrel originating in words spoken after the Chair had been left. The Society has decided to accept [Richard] Pulteney's museum on condition of its being kept a separate collection.

Encloses fructification of a palm new to him; describes the fructification. The Bishop [of Winchester, Brownlow North] has asked [James] Sowerby to visit to draw it. Description similar to 'Zamia pumila' [Smith has annotated "'Zamia cycadis' in margin of recto of second folio].

["Spec 20" written in pencil at top of verso of first folio]

Asks if the 'Fucus fastigiatus' of the Linnaean herbarium has any fruit on it as described in "Linnean Transactions" vol 3 p200, and if so requests smallest sample possible in order to draw it under microscope; he has made some important discoveries respecting fructification in this species and its affinities.

Requests to become a subscriber of "Flora Graeca". Does not wish the remaning volume of "Flora Anglica" ["Flora Britannica"?] to come out until the modern cryptogamists are more advanced. Has much to add to the physiology of 'Fucus' from parcels of winter specimens in fruit sent from Cornwall, Bognor, [Sussex], and the Isle of Wight.

Has sent letterpress of his third fasciculus [probably "Nereis Britannica"] to [Dawson] Turner for Smith's opinion. Hopes Smith received specimen of 'Lichen vulpinus'; observations. Encloses specimens of 'Byssus fulva', observations; drawings of 'B velutina v aurea', observations. Sent specimen of 'Auricularia papyrina' to Turner; observations.

[Spec 25 written in pencil at head of verso of first folio]

Having being requested by Government General of Bengal to gather informtion on the cultivation of cotton in China, he met with the subject at considerable length in a Chinese work, which has been translated and is now enclosed as a paper for the Linnean Society [see RelatedMaterial below].

Thanks for Smith's "authentic & decisive" information in response to his queries; leaves all his specimens in Smith's hands. Was not aware he sent specimens of 'Carex flava' intermixed with those of 'C. fulva'; encloses further spikes of the latter; observations. [Samuel] Goodenough sent him a copy of his "Linnean Transactions" paper on "British species of 'Carex'" but found no reference to himself for variety of 'C. muricata', but confirms the specimens Smith received are the same as the ones he formerly sent Goodenough.

Observations on other plants and specimens, including: 'Carex' resembling 'C. ampullacea', 'Dianthus caryophyllus', 'Mentha gentilis', 'Chara flexilis', encloses specimen of 'Trifolium striatum', saw 'Conferva aegagropila' hopes to acquire specimens soon. Intends to send Smith list of his desiderata.

[Spec 29 written in pencil at head of folio]

Thanks for Smith's letter of 2 March [1801] and 'Drosera' specimens. Botany has "afforded [him] a most agreeable relaxation" from more severe study; preparing fourth edition of his father's [William Withering] work ["An arrangement of British plants", first published 1776], though warns not much alteration or improvement can be expected; thanks for Smith's offer of assistance. Requests Smith's assistance regarding an "indifferent specimen" of 'Ranunculus gramineus' gathered in North Wales; observations, will send it. He recently applied to join the Linnean Society.