Encloses lichen resembling 'Lichen leucomelas' found at Babbicombe, [Devon], for Smith's opinion. Tempestuous weather but his brother's health improving.

[Smith has annotated 'Lichen leucomelos' on recto of folio]

Sends plants from [Olof] Swartz for confirmation. Thanks for Smith's remarks on his "Flora Londinensis" work. About to publish a periodical work on "exotic mosses"; requests specimens.

Had intended to speak to Smith in person until hearing of death of Smith's mother. Offered position of Professor of Botany of Glasgow University; requests assistance and information from Smith on lecturing, asks for any book recommendations or published botany lectures.

At Smith's request informs him of cost of the new series of "Flora Londinensis"; offers to exchange set of the 18 published numbers, "Musci exotici", and Sternberg's "Saxifrages", for "Flora Graeca". Requests any duplicate exotic specimens from Smith's herbarium. Pleased to see Smith's "Grammar of Botany" announced.

Thanks for plants; had previously received some of the species from Nepal through [Nathaniel] Wallich, but unnamed. Comments on inconveniences of this "place of banishment", particularly there being no botanical library but his own, nor any botanical friends to consult with. Asks Smith to remember him should he receive interesting specimens; in return sending copy of his "Musci Exotici". Asks if he sent 'Lyellia crispa', and if Smith has seen 'Primula scotia', to be figured in "Flora Londinensis". Blackwood of Edinburgh keen for him to publish a periodical on exotic botany ["Exotic flora"]; requests access to [Francis] Buchanan's East India drawings.

His students have increased by 18 compared to last year, a total of 75 though only 52 were paying students. Expects [Robert] Graham [(1786-1845)] at Edinburgh to make over £1200 from his [botany] professorship, besides his practice as physician; they have formed a new garden of 14 acres, with stoves and greenhouses. Death of Dr Stuart.

Difficulties in communicating with Smith. Concerned to find that expressions of his in "Flora Scotia" have been misconstrued as attacks on Smith; will ensure offensive passages are expunged from second edition; apologises for and explains his wording of pages 132 and 279; praises Smith's botanical skills. Discusses differences in leaf shape of 'Salix purpurea', 'S. helix', and 'S. amygdalina'. Disagrees that economical merit should give place to scientific character in reference to 'S. caerulea', discusses authors on 'Salix' including Candolle and Sprengel.

Criticises [Samuel Frederick] Gray's "Natural Arrangements of British Plants", which seems "calculated to give the death blow to the study of natural orders, if not to botany altogether", remarks on plant names and attack on Linnaeus in preface, thinks [Richard] Salisbury has assisted with the natural orders. Refutes Salisbury's article on [Jonas] Dryander in October "Monthly Review".

Hopes Smith's work on "English Flora" in earnest; if Smith had declined it would have undertaking it himself. Return from his professorship not enough to support his family; supplementing by publishing books; proposes a "Species plantarum" in English, though concedes it would largely be a translation of Candolle, asks Smith's opinion. His intended "Exotic botany" work delayed by lack of able Scottish artists; difficulties with publisher. Thanks for duplicate specimens.

He had applied to [Robert] Maughan [(1769-1844)] for specimens of his 'Salix livida' but found that his herbarium was about to be auctioned for a debt; intends to compare [Georg] Wahlenberg's [(1780-1851)] description to Maughan's herbarium on discovering the purchaser. Asks if Smith has seen [Nicolaus Tomas] Host's [(1761-1834)] "great work" on willows, published at Vienna.

Reiterates that if a new edition of "Flora Scotia" is published, as he expects, offensive references to Smith will be removed. Smith's progress on "English flora". Comments on worth of [Robert Kaye] Greville's work on fungi. Difficulties finding a publisher for his "Exotic flora". Visited [Francis] Hamilton at his home at Lenny; his ill-health and beauties of his lands. [Dawson] Turner averse to his proposed "Species Plantarum" in English.

Enquires lowest price of "Flora Graeca". Anxiously awaiting publication of "English flora", hopes it is before second edition of his "Flora Scotia".

After delay has received a specimen of Mr Maughan's 'Salix livida', gathered near Moffat. Encloses the specimens for Smith, they agree with Swedish plants he has had from [Olof] Swartz and confirmed by Christian Schmidt. Also encloses 'Juncus arcuatus' found in Grampian mountains with [George Arnott Walker] Arnott [(1799-1868)] and [Robert Kaye] Greville of Edinburgh, new to Britain and in [Georg] Wahlenberg's [(1780-1851)] "Flora Lapponica". Has heard from [Dawson] Turner that Smith is progressing well with the "[English] Flora". Five members of his family have suffered from scarlet fever, including himself, describes symptoms. Hopes Smith has not been suffering from the severe winter.