Thanks for ["Compendium florae Britannicae"]; praises Smith's writing and "unassuming display of knowledge", which is the opposite of modern authors, who "promise mountains, & very often produce not even molehills". Recently suffered from gout in his left hand. Sending copy of rare [John] Ray work after noticing scarcity of his works in Linnean Society library catalogue [see RelatedMaterial below].

Difficulty of acquiring good specimens of 'Lichen tenuissimus' to send [John] Pitchford after the banks of it were so "thoroughly pillaged" by Dawson Turner and Dr Nöder; observations. Glad Smith liked his pamphlet of letters [subject unclear].

Pleased Smith's purchase of the Linnaean collections will probably exceed his expectations and that he is keeping the greater part; understands that the Professor of Botany at Oxford [John Sibthorp] offered a large sum for the herbarium. Suggests Smith write a "Flora Britannica" by comparing Smith's specimens against Linnaeus'.

Recently moved house. Commissions Smith to purchase the Aberdeen merchant's fossils before leaving London, directions for sending.

Postpones their visit to Smith until the weather is more settled and warmer. Suffering from bad digestion and irregular bowels; prescribed pills of half-soap, half-rhubarb, but thinks analpetic pill or more rhubarb would be better. Should Smith still wish to visit Roche a literary call would be sufficient. Smith's discovery of 'Lichen floridus' "curious", concludes much is still wanting understanding the physiology of the Cryptogamic class; discusses tubercules and fructification in detail, with reference to Hedwig and 'Fucus' species.

Sends Smith remainder of his Bulliard ["Histoire des champignons"], found in confusion of removing his books [to Walcot Hall, Diss]. Asks after Smith's works, as he is more out of the world here than he was at Bungay, [Suffolk]. [John] Stackhouse to publish third fasciculus [of his "Nereis Britannica"]: he sent it to [Dawson] Turner for review, who was to forward it to himself, before he forwarded it onto Smith, but Turner never sent it on. Received letter from young Withering concerning claim made by [John] Stokes [(1755-1831)] for profits of third edition of [William] Withering's ["Botanical arrangement"]; thinks he has no right; either 15,000 or 1,500 copies sold; notices a fourth edition has since been published, probably rushed out before Smith completes his book ["Flora Britannica"].

Received alarming accounts of Smith's health from Sir Thomas Cullum and brother-in-law, R Reeve, and that it was not Smith's lungs but an erysipelas affecting his head and rendering his eyes weak, preventing him from going to Liverpool. Sends two varieties of 'Potamogeton natans', one approaching close to 'P. lucens' and other to [Richard] Relhan's 'P. palustris'. 'Ophrys beselii' growing in boggy ground near his house; peculiarities of its habitat.

Requests garden plants from Mackays [nursery], including: Liquidamber, Catalpha, Tulip tree, Oriental plane, and several 'Ilex'. Describes conditions for march he made to Yarmouth, [Norfolk], and back [Woodward was lieutenant-colonel of the Diss Volunteers]; spent his evenings with [Dawson] Turner, who is busy correcting his "Muscologia" proofsheets.

Sends this before Smith leaves Norwich. Thanks for parcel and trees, though some in poor condition. Intends to attend Linnean Society anniversary meeting. Thanks Smiths for congratulations on his military honours [Lieutenant-Colonel of Diss Volunteers], though he would prefer to be one step lower, as his current one involves great trouble and responsibility; reassures Smith his position does not involve any hard riding, though suffered from "gravel" recently, but it passed through.

Discusses reports of the dissolution of Parliament; worries that it will give Bonaparte opportunity to attack whilst the country is in confusion of a general election. The volunteers have had a great influence in preventing invasions, and in the last war and at the time of the Mutiny were the "salvation of the country".

Death of his mother-in-law, Mrs Manning; account of her last hours and death on 6 March, day of his and Mrs Woodward's birth. Thanks for introduction to [William] Roscoe, who made a short visit. Glad Smith's mother is to make a visit to Liverpool. Expects to attend Linnean Society anniversary meeting.

Received Smith's letter of 31 January [1809]. Postponing their visit to Norwich on account of the miserable weather. Expects to see second fasciculus of "Flora Graeca". Uncertain whether [James] Sowerby's supplement to his "Fungi" is published. Never received 'Fucus' specimens from Sowerby, would be sorry to lose the 'F. abrotanifolius'; it needs to be carefully examined by Smith before it appears in "English botany" as the Linnaean specimen is old and broken, and [Dawson] Turner has not examined it and others with enough care; observations on the young leaves.

Replies to Smith's letter of 15 December [1810]. Seldom sees [Dawson] Turner since leaving Bungay, [Suffolk]; has made observations on Turner's 'Fucus simpliciusculus' and its resemblance to his 'Ulva decorticata'; notes. Comments that Turner's work ["Fucus sive plantarum fucorum"] seems to relax as it approaches its end; a number has not come out for two months; criticises its unpleasant arrangement.

"Most severe loss" to Linnean Society and students of natural history all over the world in death [Jonas] Dryander; repsumes [Robert] Brown will succeed him at Sir Joseph Banks'. Death of Windham and the loss to residents of Earsham, [Norfolk]; obituaries.

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

Unable to attend Linnean Society anniversary meeting as the situation of the country is such that it is "expedient for every person [...] to be at home to secure their own property"; reports of fires in vicinty of Bury, [Suffolk], "almost all malicious & wilful, from the discontent of the people". Poverty of the smaller farmers means that in every parish there are labourers out of employ and discontented, and rises in price of corn "only serves to irritate the poor". Describes a mob he saw in Norwich, but hopes recent falls in corn prices will quiet things.

[John] Stackhouse to republish his "Nereis Britannica" in which he will attack [Dawson] Turner for a "want of candour" in his own work ["Fucus sive plantarum fucorum"]. Criticises Turner for leaving his work in an unfinished state.

Sends specimens of 'Lycoperdon coliforme', 'Pervia cyathoides', and 'Lycoperdon phalloides' for [John] Pitchford, 'Lobelia urens' for Dr [John] Hope, and 'Lichen vulpinus' and a grass; observations and habitats. Reminds Smith of various promises regarding acquisition of mineralogy specimens and books in London.

Encourages Smith to extend his visit to them. Fears current bad weather will spoil the corn remaining in the fields and add to the other agricultural distresses; reports of similar situations in Newcastle and Berwickshire; although not superstitious almost thinks "a mark was set this devoted country, from the illconduct of the person who is at the head of it" [presumably George IV (1762-1830), Prince Regent for George III from 1811-1820]. Upset to see accounts of sale of [William] Roscoe's library, having hoped his affairs were not so bad.

Thanks for catalogue of fossils and minerals [from the London "fossilist"]; queries and places orders for several items. Hopes the specimen of 'Lycoperdon coliforme' he sent was useful; will gather more information before Smith presents it to the "Edinburgh society". Fears a parcel of specimens he sent to Norwich is lost. Examined 'Liquidambar styraciflua' but found no gum. Details of Smith's payment for [Richard Relhan's] "Flora [Cantabrigiensis]".

Annotation at head of of recto of first folio on "mountain green" and "iron with arsenic" [presumably in reference to Woodward's mineralogy specimens]

Congratulates Smith on arrival of the Linnaean collections; considering visiting London to see them. Understands that the Linnaean mosses have thrown the British mosses into "entire confusion", and expects the same for the grasses, Umbelliferous, and Syngensious plants, and 'Salix'.

Received letter from [James] Dickson on 'Lycoperdon coliforme', which he is including in ["Fasciculus plantarum cryptogamicarum Britanniae"]; asks if Smith has seen [James] Sowerby's drawing of the specimen he sent. Asks how numerous 'Fucus' are in comparison to number in "Systema vegetibilium", and whether it is worth buying the new edition. If Smith disposes of any book duplicates requests [Peter] Artedi.

Details his preparations for visit to London to view the Linnaean collections; asks for a list of duplicate books. Discusses possible works that Smith could base on the collections, including a "Flora Britannica" and a selection of Linnaeus' correspondence. Supposes the new edition of "Systema vegetibilium" not as useful as the former, which is now scarce.

Details of his and [Robert] Stone's [(c 1751-1829), botanist] pending visit to London. Received [William] Hudson's specimen of 'Corrigiola' from [John] Pitchford; totally unlike 'Illecebrum verticillatum' of Vaillant's figure and "Flora dan[ica]".

Thanks for Smith's London hospitality and the valuable books. Notes on his specimens following comparison with Linnaean plants, including: 'Silene conica', 'Urtica baleanica', and 'Turritis hirsuta'. [John] Pitchford keen to compare Linnaeus' specimens with Ray's. [William] Withering does not expect information from the Linnaean collections and as Smith intends to publish offers to return the observations Smith previously sent. Smith's father wants Smith to finish his medical studies before doing anything with the collections; Woodward recommends publishing now so Smith's name as proprietor is known.

Recommends Smith leave the 3 herbarium cases at Norwich during his Edinburgh absence for security and so that he can compare the grasses for Smith; recommends not consulting [James] Crowe as he is unwilling to hear any difference of opinion. If he intends to recommends selling the fossils now; comments on fossils he wants from Jeans. [John] Lightfoot suggests that 'Saxifraga autumnalis' and 'S. aizoides' are the same. Requests specimen of 'Anthericum calyculatum', observations on 'Arenaria larcifolia' not being 'A. verna'.

Sends coloured drawing of 'Lycoperdon coliforme' [extant] from [William] Withering's "Botanical Arrangement", found near Bungay, [Suffolk]; observations with reference to [John] Ray's and [Joseph Pitton de] Tournefort [(1656-1708)] figures and descriptions; differences between 'L. fornicatum' and 'L. stellatum'. Dissatisfaction at [Charles] Bryant's [(d 1799)] forthcoming 'Lycoperdon' monograph [see RelatedMaterial below]. Discusses 'L. pedunculatum' of [William] Hudson with reference to Ray, Tournefort, and [Albrecht von] Haller [(1708-1777)], and 'L. fraxineum', 'L. pisiformis', 'L. nigram', 'L. varialossum', 'L. fuscum', and 'L. epidendum'.

Thanks for the books Smith acquired for him, particularly the "Plantae Capenses"; his own recent sales and acquisitions. Accepts offers of Scottish pebbles and marbles. Recommends [John] Latham's "History of Birds"; comments on vastness of modern discoveries in ornithology. Possible visitors to Smith in Edinburgh. Directions for sending books and specimens of lichens, 'Fucus', and 'Conferveae'.

Drawing of 'Lycoperdon coliforme' [on verso of first folio]

Replied to Smith's letter of 19 May [1785]. Remarks on Smith's proposed "Flora Britannica"; can wait for Smith to finish his Edinburgh studies to ensure it is perfect; convinced many plants not in [John] Lightfoot will be found in Scotland; Smith may finish before [William] Withering's ["Botanical arrangement"]. Withering publishing a pamphlet on medicinal properties of 'Digitalis'. Received [James] Dickson's "Fasciculus", remarks on plants: 'Hypnum stellatum', 'Targionia hypophylla', 'Sphaeria maxima', 'Lycoperdon fraxinum'. Dickson and Smith's Oxford journey postponed. Fossils: commissions Smith to purchase books for him.

Finds that the 'Melampyrum sylsaticum' in woods near Bungay is 'M. pratense'; 'Scleranthus perrenis' plentiful here and near Norwich. Minerals. Discusses Linnaean collections; glad Smith is not disposing of the fossils yet. Commissions for White's [bookseller]. Account of a balloon ascent at Norwich, by Mr Decker, in stormy conditions. He and [Robert] Stone [(c 1751-1829), botanist] are to botanise on Suffolk coast in July.

Postscript at top of verso of first folio: has two young plants from seed of 'Rumex paludosus' from Dr [John] Hope's garden; observations.