[Thomas] Marsham agrees with Smith that [John] Symmons is the "fittest man" for Linnean Society's new vice-president, but he [Macleay] is sorry "none more fit can be found"; Symmons has scarcely attended for several years and "his object in attending since the death of poor Dryander is too evident to require any notice", but he cannot think of any better candidate, considering Lord Valentia's [George Annesley] absences; concerned Symmons will not be agreeable to the other vice-presidents.

Defends his choice of [John] Symmons for Linnean Society's new vice-president.

Does not think [William Elford] Leach's vote of censure should be rescinded [Leach initiated a campaign to blackball William Bullock (c 1773-1849), naturalist and antiquary, at the Linnean Society]; intends to give him "a good lashing by letter". Hopes Macleay informed [Edward] Donovan [(1768-1837), zoologist] of what he wrote [apologising for thinking Donovan implicated in Bullock dispute] but reminds him that Donovan "is not clear of misrepresentation as to Hugh Davies" [Donovan was also involved in a dispute with Davies]. Would not approve of [Edward] Rudge for vice-president, and [George Annesley's] absence is an "insuperable objection", additional to "some might find other reasons against him, better kept out of sight".

Dreads a winter journey; he is rheumatic, though freer than usual from his "teazing autumnal headaches".

Thanks for Australian plants; La Billardiere; working on new ed. of the "Genera"; requests information of new genera published in England.

Returns proof sheet [of William Jackson Hooker's paper on 'Andraea'] with an added 'Menziesia'. Warns Macleay not to mention "the private anecdote" from India, which he believes false. Pleased Macleay approves of his plans about the vice-president.

"Sarum Knight" and "Knight Sarum" [Richard Salisbury and Joseph Knight (c 1777-1855), gardener for George Hibbert (1757-1837, merchant] "do not quite agree in their tales" [regarding Salisbury's publication of Robert Brown's names for 'Proteacea' under Knight's name, see RelatedMaterial]. Will send specimens of 'Aegiphyla' and lemongrass. Has or will see [Samuel Goodenough], Sir Abraham Hume, Sir Richard Hoare, and [Robert] Brown. Smith to send specimens of 'Typha minor' and 'Phlomis lunarifolia'. Offers to send specimens of 'Phlomis samia' and the "Cliffortium" plant. [Edward Daniel] Clarke's "Travels" about to be published, he has given the 500 species of plants to Lambert.

Specimens and seeds for Lambert, Smith, [Robert] Brown, and Liverpool Botanic Garden from [William] Roxburgh. Received letter from Francis Buchanan just returned from two year absence to Calcutta, India. Received specimens from Nevis from [James Webbe] Tobin [(d 1814)] including 'Sophora [...]sperma' in flower. Met Lord Grenville [William Wyndham Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville (1759-1834)] at Whiteknights [home of George Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford] who is creating large collection of plants and arboretum of pines. Lord and Lady Essex, Countess Brühl, and Sir Walter Scott were also in attendance. Blandford has spent £7000 on his garden in last three years including £3000 on hardy shrubs. Describes a 'Convolvulus' at Englefield, Berkshire, bearing thousands of flowers, sent specimen to Soho Square [home of Sir Joseph Banks], "they know nothing of plants". Describes an 'Anneslea' of Roxburgh's in White Knights aquarium. Has found amongst [Edward Daniel] Clarke's Egyptian specimens 'Mimosa lebbeck', believes it is 'Mimosa speciosa'. Mr Baker intends to buy Sudley [Sudeley] Castle Estate, Gloucestershire.

His sarcastic review of Smith's "Introduction to Botany" in the "Edinburgh Review" a mistake as it was published before he could edit it, and that it was written years ago for another purpose. Stands by his remarks on its "delicacy", having found [Carl Ludwig] Willdenow's translated work ["The principles of botany"] unsuitable for "young ladies". Believes Smith incorrect on gases and that whilst odours may be products of natural bodies atmospheric air is not. About to embark on a mineralogical tour [of the Hebrides]. Has seen the "very splendid and costly "Hafod Tour"".

[Jonas] Dryander dead following an operation on a chronic abscess of the rectum and unrelated peritonitis. To be buried in St Ann's, Soho, London. Excited about printing of Linnaeus' "Lachesis Lapponica".

Has not received the letter or package Smith sent last year. Sending copy of his recently published book with Ortolani, "Statistica generale di Sicilia", and will send his "Indice d'ittiologia siciliana" once it is published. Corrects errors in the plants he sent with a previous letter: his 'Saxifraga tenella' appears to be 'Saxifraga hederacea' L.; his 'Orabanche rubia' perhaps a variety of 'O. fetida' Desf.; his 'Arum autumnalis' variety of 'Arum augustifolium' L.; his 'Hippocrepis biflora' variety of 'Hippocrepis [multisiliquosa]' L.; his 'Scabiosa sessiliflora' same as 'Scabiosa dichotoma' of Bernardino D'Ucria and 'Scabiosa parviflora' of [René Louiche] Desfontaines. Query on stigma of 'Cistus'.

Asks for the botanical news since 1805 and whether [Carl Ludwig] Willdenow's "Species Plantarum", [Christiaan Hendrik] Persoon's "Synopsis", and "L'Encyclopedie Methodique" are complete and available in England, following interruption of Sicily's communications with the rest of Europe. Requests copy of Smith's "Prodromus flora Graeca". Requests characters of all new plant genera described since 1805, lists the genera he knows only by name and gives an example of the format he would like them in [Smith has annotated in margin: "sent my paper from ann. of Bot."]. The genera are for his "great work", the aim of which is to apply a simple and uniform method to all plant genera in a similar manner as the classfifcation of animals in zoology.

Has sent Smith's letters to "poor Thompson" and commiserates with his apparent frequent misfortunes [possibly Thomas Perronet Thompson (1783-1869), the first governor of Sierra Leone to be appointed by the Crown in 1808, he was recalled in 1810 for exposing the former poor management of the colony]. Glad that Smith does not want him to exert himself for "the other extraordinarily knowing fool", reports a comment made in House of Commons on matter. Sorry he was not of the party in "the so well described library" [probably Thomas William Coke's library at Holkham, Norfolk], jokes that he would have made a better companion for Lord Spencer [George John, 2nd Earl Spencer] than Smith on account of his indoor and outdoor skills.

All students of botany here dismayed to be cut off from contact with British scholars. Has dedicated his new edition of Linnaeus' "Philosophia botanica" to the Linnean Society and is sending it via Hornemann of Copenhagen; currently unable to send his "Historia rei herbariae" (1807-1808).

Commends his friend, the son of Hagen of Königsberg, to Smith; wishes he could accompany him to Britain to study the treasures there. Requests news of Smith's studies and [Sir Joseph] Banks' old age.

Just received Goodenough's letter about 'Avena alpina' and 'Arundo neglecta'; response. Would like to buy Schrader's "Flora Germanica". Observations on Goodenough's remarks on 'Hieracium' and 'Galium', confident he has all the nondescript and new ones described in "Flora Britannica". Thanks for seeds. Goodenough mistaken about 'Chironia' and 'Exacum'; observations. Has grown 'Pinguicula vulgaris', observations. Found 'Chironia centaurium', observed that it takes two seasons to vegetate.

Observations on enclosed specimens: 1-6. specimens of a 'Lichen' in every state of growth possible; further discussion of cryptogams.

Thanks for parcel of seeds. Numbered observations on enclosed plants, locally found: 1. 'Ribes'; 2. 'Orthotrichum affine'; 3. 'Polytrichum'; 4. 'Hypnum'; 5. 'Bryum' like 'B. caespititium', 'B. capillare', and 'B. bicolor'; 6. 'Equisetum' like 'E. variegatum'.

Will look for the new 'Saxifraga', which Smith intends to name 'S. pedunculodes'. Observations on 'Fassilago hybrida'. Asks if Smith received specimen of 'Urceolorea diamarta'. Observations on 'Primula denticulata' in Smith's "Exotic botany" and other exotic plants, lists those in his possession; asks if Smith can facilitate an exchange with [John] Shepherd [(c 1764-1836, curator Liverpool Botanic Garden] when next in Liverpool, lists his desiderata.

Numbered observations on enclosed plants, gathered on trip to Angushire coast in summer of 1809: 1. 'Dactylis glauca', differences between it and 'D. glomerata'; 2. 'Festuca glauca'; 3. 'Aira'; 4. 'Poa' possibly 'P. bulbosa'; 5. 'Poa procumbens' first time found in Scotland; 6. 'Poa' possible variety of 'P. pratensis', proposes name 'P. pubescens'; 7. new 'Poa' proposes name 'P. depaupirata'.

Asks Goodenough to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith.

Numbered observations on enclosed grasses: 1. 'Poa glauca'; 2. a 'Poa' distinct from 'P. glauca' and 'P. gromerata'; 3. a 'Poa' like no.2 but in a different colour; 4. 'Poa' like 'P. memoralis', hopes Schrader's "Flora Germanica" will throw light on it, impatient to hear from Goodenough on that matter; 5. 'Avena' [Goodenough annotation: proposes name 'A. distans']; 6. 'Festuca' like 'F. casia' [Smith annotation: "'rubra'? not near 'casia'"]; 7. 'Poa' possible variety of 'P. pratensis'; has a new 'Rosa' like 'R. involuta' [Smith annotation: "does it differ from 'remota'?"]; 8. 'Carex' possibly 'C. straminea' of Willdenow.

He has 2 varities of 'Chaerophyllum aureum'; observations on plants growing on them. Two different species of 'Rosa spinosissima', one of which would answer to name 'R. glauca'. After further examination convinced the 'Glechoma' he previously sent is a species.

Asks Goodenough to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith.

Sends specimen of 'Festuca' which he has cultivated for 3 years, lists marks of distinction from 'F. elatior', proposes name 'F. longifolia' or 'F. altissimo'. Also encloses piece of stem of 'F. elatior'.

Numbered observations on enclosed plants: 1. a 'Rosa' which he proposes naming 'R. nivalis'; 2. a 'Rosa' he proposes naming 'R. glauca'. Going to mountains of Bredalbane and Ben Lawers tomorrow in hope of finding rarities.

Had a successful botanical excursion to Ben Lawers, though was sorry to just miss [William] Borrer.

Encloses lichens and mosses. Numbered remarks on enclosed specimens: 1. 'Carex ustulata' of Wahlenberg; 2. 'Erioparum gracile' of "Annals of Botany"; 3. 'Cerastium' proposes name 'nivalis'; remarks on 'Festuca' he sent in last letter; 4. 'Dicranum longifolium'; 5. 'Gymnostomum luteolum'.

Intends to visit mountains of Clova soon. 'Andromeda caeruleo' has been found in Scotland, though not by himself.

He has just received two specimens of 'Andromeda caerulea', one of which he encloses and the other he sends to [James] Brodie; discovered by his friends Messrs James and Brown, nurserymen, who accompanied him on his first Highland excursions on his return from England, where they discovered: 'Juncus castaneus', 'Carex pulla', 'Festuca calamaria', 'Spergula saginoides', 'Bartsia alpina', 'Veronica saxatilis', and 'Convalaria verticillata', between 1786 and 1792, "long before the late [John] Mackay [(1772-1802), nurseryman and gardener] knew anything whatever about plants", they sent specimens to both Mackay and Dickson.

Numbered observations on enclosed plants: 2. 'Carex leptalea' of Wahlenberg; 3. 'Eriophorum scheuchzeri', only specimen he has found of it, requests its return; 4. 'Spartum'; encloses specimen of 'Carex diocia' for comparison with the 'C. leptalea'l; 5. 'Carex'; 6. 'Poa' possibly 'P. pumilis'.

Asks Goodenough to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith.

"Wonderful [George] Don! What things he finds!", will forward letter to Norwich. 'Sedum ochroleucum' just on point of flowering and the two carnations growing well. Lists the rarities in his garden, in hope of tempting Smith to visit Rose Castle: 'Orobus sylvaticus', 'Alchemilla alpina', 'Campanula rotundifolia' (Scotch variety), 'Vaccinium oxycoccos', 'Sedum ochroleucum', 'Eryngium alpinum', 'Hieracium mucorum'.