Smith's candidature for Botany Professorship at Cambridge University. Sorry that Smith met with opposition from Dr Clarke, professor of mineralogy, and Mr Cummings in trying to rearrange botany lecture room. Refutes Clarke's claims that he only ever gave one lecture on botany. Dr [Richard] Walker [(1679-1764) founder of Cambridge Botanic Garden] intended that the botanical garden should promote study of medicine with particular attention to poisonous plants and Martyn always read lecture on poisonous plants, inspired by Dr [William] Heberden's [(1710-1801) lecturer at Cambridge] Materia Medica lectures, however the medical quarter of garden has since been destroyed.

Smith's candidature for Botany Professorship at Cambridge University. Outraged by the Tutors opposition to Smith on grounds of his not being a member of the University, gives numerous examples of previous foreign and non-member professors. Glad that Smith is pleased with [George Cornelius] Gorham, details of his botanising. Suffering from vertigo in part due "to the weight of the atmosphere". Flooding from heavy rains.

Smith's candidature for Botany Professorship at Cambridge University. Has found a manuscript copy of Dr [Richard] Walker's [(1679-1764) founder of Cambridge Botanic Garden] donation confirming that the Walkerian lectureship can be granted to a foreigner.

Smith's candidature for Botany Professorship at Cambridge University. Hopes Smith will lecture whilst visiting Cambridge. Recommends Dr [Martin] Davy as advisor for Smith. Update on Trinity College members' inclinations: Mr Powell intends to run for professorship and although his knowledge of botany is slight, as a former fellow many other fellows have promised their votes to him, however junior fellows more inclined to vote for Smith. Confident that Powell shall not succeed.

Smith's candidature for Botany Professorship at Cambridge University. Sorry to hear of the measures the tutors have taken against Smith's proposed lectures. [Several tutors signed a paper addressed to the Vice-Chancellor stating that pupils should not be permitted to attend lectures given by a lecturer who was neither a member of the university nor of the Church of the England].

Smith's candidature for Botany Professorship at Cambridge University. Believes all hope of future success destroyed [with Smith being turned down for professorship], fears it will reflect badly on the university. Asks Smith to recommend Sedgewick to Sir Joseph [Banks] as best candidate for the professorship.

Smith's candidature for Botany Professorship at Cambridge University. Regrets Smith's failure and largely approves of his pamphlet ["Considerations respecting Cambridge, more particularly relating to its botanical professorship"]. Wanted to speak to Smith about the Copyright Bill. The Master of St John's is Smith's "great opponent" [James Wood (1760-1839)].

Smith's candidature for Botany Professorship at Cambridge University. Indignant at failure of Smith's campaign.

Business card for "Lawford, Fletcher & Co, Stock & Share Brokers", and with "M Wood" handwritten on recto.

He does not have a spare specimen of 'Saxifraga palmata'; it is identical to 'Saxifraga decipiens' in Ehrhart's "Herba exsiccata" and "Fasciscules", plant of same name in "Flora Danica" dubious. Apologises for writing on a single sheet, which is on account of the enormous postal charges. 'Schmidtia subtilis' is entirely new to him and most acceptable.

Financial embarrassments; asks Smith's help to obtain British employment; encloses a specimen.

His affairs; thanks Smith for advice, and begs him to approach Banks.

Identification of plants in Dioscorides.

Introduces himself. Encloses specimen of an unknown 'Epilobium' [extant] gathered in the Grampian mountains, Scotland, cannot identify it from third edition of "[Compendium] Flora Britannica". Prasies "Flora Britannica".

Specimen of 'Epilobium'.

Unable to lecture at Cambridge University, despite his lectures being announced and generating considerable interest, as several tutors signified they could not permit their pupils to attend lectures of anyone not a member of the University nor the Church of England, and though the reasons were only "pretence" the Vice-Chancellor did not want to cause dissention. A "great body of the Master of Arts" are to present an address in his favour, but shall probably give up the lectures for this year; his eminent friends. Four of the opposing tutors have since repented; outlines opposition and supporters.

Objects to DeWitt Clinton's candidature to Royal Society on grounds of his never having lived in England, or being as much a man of science as David Hosack, an American who was accepted on his talents. Believes accepting him in his position as President of the New York Society would set a precedent. Enquires after the Peterson family and wonders whether they have been detained at Holkham, [Norfolk, home of Thomas William Coke] "by the charms of the ladies or the talents of the gentlemen".

Encloses letters from Colonel [Thomas] Hardwicke and the Archdeacon of Calcutta [Henry Lloyd Loring (c 1784-1822)] introducing himself to Smith. Offers to send seeds and plants for Smith as well as papers for "Linnean Transactions", possible subjects include: [William] Roxburgh's 'Orchis picta' (his 'Chrysobaphus roxburghii', Rumphius' 'Folium petolatum'); two species of [Robert] Brown's 'Broughtonia' which possibly form a distinct genus, (one is Smith's 'Epidendrum praecox'); and his 'Begonia paniculata'. A parcel of seeds has been dispatched for Smith, containing capsules of Smith's 'Rhododendron arboreum'; a new "arborescent species with snow-white flowers"; and his 'Lida aurita'.

Parcel of specimens for Smith sent via Captain Williamson, commander of the Larkins. Hopes to send larger collection shortly, including expected Nepalese plants, which he hopes will add to Smith's Nepalese plants received from [Francis] Buchanan. Hopes to send specimens of plants described by Smith in "Exotic Botany" and [Abraham] Rees' "Cyclopedia", including: oaks, 'Orchideae', 'Paris polyphylla', 'Primula', 'Rhododendron', plus other specimens, including: 'Hedychium', 'Andromeda', 'Arbutus', 'Gaultheria', a large number of ferns, 'Ligustrum', 'Fraxinus', 'Gramina', etc. Warns Smith that some of the labels on the first package may be erroneous.

Thanks for Wallich's letter and those from Colonel [Thomas] Hardwicke and [Henry Lloyd] Loring [(c 1784-1822), Archdeacon of Calcutta]. Would be glad to receive communications and specimens from Wallich, especially of 'Scitamineae', 'Orchideae', and 'Liliaceae', which are rare in herbariums due to the difficulty of drying them, gives instructions for successfully doing this. Would also like specimens of [William] Roxburgh's 'Aeginetia', any 'Orobanche', and parasitic plants. Glad that Wallich is in correspondence with [William] Roscoe and [John] Shepherd [(c 1764-1836)] of the Liverpool Botanic Garden; requests ripe fructifications of ferns for Shepherd's nephew [Henry Shepherd (c 1783-1858), assistant at Liverpool]. Divided Wallich's seeds with the Bishop of Winchester [Brownlow North], who propagates cinnamon trees from seeds ripened in his own hot-house. Has yet to receive the other packet containing 'Rhododendron arboreum'. Prefers single letters without covers on account of the postage cost, and that specimens be sent to [Nathaniel] Kindersley in London.

Box of 66 roots [listed at end of letter] and chest of 10 live plants from Nepal and north-west frontiers of Bengal [listed at end of letter] dispatched via Captain James Jackson, commanding the Charles Mills. A similar box of roots sent to Revd H H Norris, Hackney, London, by Bishop of Calcutta [Thomas Middleton (1769-1822)]. The Nepalese plants were collected by [Edward] Gardner [(b 1784), resident at Court of Rajah of Nepal at Katmandu]. Observations on each of the live plants, some in Latin.

Growing plants sent: 'Primula prolifera' Wallich; 'Cypripidium venustum' Wall.; 'Cypripidium insigne' Wall.; 'Lilium napalense' Wall.; 'Chrysobaphys roxburghii' Wall. ('Folium petolatum' Rumph. Amb. VI.93 t.41.f.3); 'Saxifraga ligulata' Wall.; 'Epidendrum procax' (Exot.Bot.II.p.73 t.97. Broughtonia?); 'Convallaria oppositifolia' Wall.; 'Acrostichum flagelliferum' Wall. ('Panna-Mara-Masauasa' Rheed. Mal.XII. 39.t.19); 'Paris polyphylla' Buch. (Sir J E Smith in Rees' "New Cyclopedia" in loco).

Encloses engraving [extant] of a fossilised tree about 30 feet high, which was standing in 1803 on cliffs at Bog Hall near Newbiggen, Northumberland; fragments of other trees, at the time the drawing was taken, were scattered on the shore. He is on his way to Oxford but had intended to call on Smith in Norwich to enquire about preserving birds with "corrosive sublimate", as practised by one of Smith's friends.

Engraving of fossilised tree.