Kept here [home of Kindersleys, Smith's cousins] by a feverish complaint; asks [Thomas] Marsham or [William George] Maton to take Linnean Society Chair. Encloses letter from "good" Lord [Edward Smith-]Stanley, to be returned.

His health much better but his "perfect recovery will require much time". Pleased to hear of Smith's recovery from his "very severe" summer illness.

Linnean Society continues to get many candidates for admission but few papers; requests a paper for next meeting. [William] Smith and [Charles Sinclair] Cullen elected FLS; [Thomas Thynne, 2nd] Marquess of Bath [(1765-1837)] and Bishop of Salisbury [John Fisher (1748-1838)] now both candidates. Informed by [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert some time ago that the Prince [Regent, later George IV (1762-1830)] was to become the Society's royal patron, has not heard anything since. Asks if [William George] Maton has written to Smith on proposed Linnean Dining Club; some "not very friendly to the plan" but he likes it much.

Just returned from 10 days at [Thomas William] Coke's at Holkham [Hall, Norfolk]; unable will send a paper for tonight's Linnean Society meeting but will do for the next. Recovered from his illness since August but caught a cold on way to Holkham. The Prince Regent [later George IV (1762-1830)] wishes to become the Society's patron but the matter is stationary until he is free from restrictions on his involvement with chartered bodies; Lord [Edward Smith-]Stanley, "our zealous friend, is on the watch for the completion of the business". Had not heard of plan for a Linnean Dining Club, but "supposes it will be a good plan, as nothing is done in London without eating & drinking"; offers his assistance in removing anyone's reluctance.

Returning to Sciliy. Asks Smith to give an opinion on debate between Arrosio and [Antonio] Bivona [Bernardi]. Reminisces on his time in London, including visits to Linnean Society with Humphry Davy in attendance, and human anatomy with Bell and Wilson. Smith replied 23 [Nov 1811].

Has been staying at Sir Richard Hoare's, along with Bishop of Salisbury [John Fisher (1748-1825)], his wife, and [John] Constable [(1776-1837) painter], who is patronised by the Bishop and is making views of the area; he is "well acquainted" with Smith having dined at his house in Norwich. Persuaded Bishop to become a FLS. Enquires whether Smith has given up his genus of 'Duchesnea'.

Obtained a 'Melaleuca caurina' from the Fonthill Sale [home of William Beckford (1760-1844)]. Has enjoyed the "Lapland Tour" ["Lachesis Lapponica"]. Lists publications recently acquired from Paris including: "Annals du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle"; [Kurt] Sprengel's "Philiosophia Botanica"and "Historia Rei Herbaria"; [Aubert Aubert Du] Petit-Thouars' "Essais Sur La Vegetation"; [Christiaan Hendrik] Persoon's "Synopsis plantarum"; [Andre] Michaux's [(1746-1802)] "Histoiredes arbres forestiers de l'Amerique Septentrionale"; [Tussac's] "Flore des Antilles" containing 'Alstroemeria edulis'; three new numbers of [Alexander von] Humboldt's [from his voyage to South America] containing 'Bonplandia trifoliata' and 'Mikania guaco'.

Glad genus 'Lamium' he sent was better than he expected, looks forward to seeing it in [Abraham] Rees' "Cyclopedia". Visited Cassiobury Park, Hertfordshire, home of Lord Essex [George Capel-Coningsby, 5th Earl of Essex (1757-1839)], guests included the Duchess of Leeds, Lady de Clifford the younger, Lady Monson, Lords of Ross and Jersey, and Lord Erskine. Nominated as auditor of Royal Society accounts alongside Sir Joseph Banks, Lord Valentia [George Annesley], and Sam Davis, India director. Praises work of Sello [presumably Lambert's assistant], intimate friend and pupil of [Carl Ludwig] Willdenow, he went through herbarium of [Alexander von] Humboldt and [Aimé] Bonpland. Given Lady Staunton's [Jane Staunton (1753-1823) wife of Sir George Leonard Staunton, 1st baronet (1737-1801)] China collection, "the greatest collection except Pallas" he ever received, will send Smith duplicates. Requests specimen of 'Lathyrus amphicarpos'. [Richard] Salisbury working on 'Erica'. Will send Smith all of [Peter] Collinson's [(1694-1768)] papers when Banks has finished with them, [Robert] Brown thinks them curious.

Account of recent travels: visited May Island in the Firth of Forth and Bell Rock Lighthouse [built 1807-1810], "our Scottish Eddystone" [Eddystone Lighthouse, off coast of Devon], and a botanical excursion in Perthshire with James Brown who showed him 'Linnaea borealis'. Observations on specimens of heather sent to Smith, asks if one is 'Andromeda coerulea'. Received 'Epimedium alpinum' from Inverness with "mica about the roots", proof that it is indigenous.

Account of a tour of the Hebrides last summer: sailed round the north of Scotland to the Giants Causeway in Ireland in a month with Dr Barlcay, Mr Oliphant, and [Robert] Stevenson [(1772-1850)], engineer of Bell Rock lighthouse. Encountered nothing notable except in mineralogy, plants included: 'Sison verticillatum', 'Hypericum androsaemum', 'Cotyledon umbilicus', and 'Lythrum salicaria'. Observations on rocks, a bay in Antrim superior to Giants Causeway, the rocks hung with 'Asplenium marinum'. Lewis Isles "sterility itself". A bed of 'Serpentine' on Glass Island, the lighthouse keeper aware of excellency of 'Agrostis alba' as winter feed for his cow but unaware of fiorin grass. Saw Macalister's Cave in Skye with 'Rhodelia rosea' and 'Scolopendrum vulgare' and pretty but "ungrand "stalactites. At Orkney [William Jackson] Hooker and [William] Borrer were asked after by the inhabitants. At Aberdeen intended to see [James] Beattie but arrived just in time for his funeral.

Mr Macnab from Kew "doing wonders" at Edinburgh Botanic Garden but frustrated by lack of funds, the 'Dracaena draco' is to cut over in the autumn unless £40-£50 is found to raise its glass roof so it can survive the winter, wishes the Prince Regent was aware of the situation.

Complains at being addressed as Mr in the Linnean Society's list of members and correspondence, instead of Esq.

Asks if and when his paper on ivy is to appear in print. Asks for information on Linnaeus' arrangement of flowers to show the time of day, for a friend.

Refers to letter and books he sent in June 1810. Asks Smith to recommend his ichthyological discoveries to Dr [George] Shaw, having heard he recently wrote a "Natural History of Fishes". Resigned to not becoming a corresponding member of the Linnean Society. Sends his memoir on genus 'Bertolonia', which contains 6 species that had been confused with 'Verbena nodiflora'. Asks for directions to send papers to "Annals of Botany". [Antonio] Bivona [Bernardi] is grieved that John White, the bookseller, has refused to sell the books he sent. Currently illustrating [Franciscus Cupani's] "Panphyton Siculum", further remarks on it.

This is a duplicate copy of Rafinesque's letter, sent with his letter of 30 March 1811.

Refers to letter and books he sent in June 1810. Asks Smith to recommend his ichthyological discoveries to Dr [George] Shaw, having heard he recently wrote a "Natural History of Fishes". Resigned to not becoming a corresponding member of the Linnean Society. Sends his memoir on genus 'Bertolonia', which contains 6 species that had been confused with 'Verbena nodiflora'. Asks for directions to send papers to "Annals of Botany". [Antonio] Bivona [Bernardi] is grieved that John White, the bookseller, has refused to sell the books he sent. Currently illustrating [Franciscus Cupani's] "Panphyton Siculum", further remarks on it.

Received Smith's letter of 28 October 1810. Sends paper for Linnean Society on two new species of crustacean and lists the others he plans to send. Plans to send package of 100 rare, new, or doubtful Sicilian plants. Comments and corrections on his plants: his 'Primula bicolor' differs from 'Primula acaulis'; lists differences that ought to to be obsevred if his 'Xolantha' is only a variety of 'Cistus guttatus'; plans to send his 'Crocus longiflorus'; question on calix of 'Sedum atratum'; confirmation of his 'Malva peduncalata'. Recently received books: Smith's "Prodromus Florae Graecae" is of great use in Sicily; "Hortus Kewensis", 2nd ed., useful for advancing his knowledge of new genera; and [George] Shaw's "Ichthyology" [presumably from "General zoology"], thinks it inferior to Lacépède, on which it was modelled. Offers to describe Australian plants. Asks after plants sent by himself and [Antonio] Bivona [Bernardi] including 'Orobus siculus' and 'Astragalus siculus'; asks if 'Orabanche rubia', 'Orchis undulatifolia', and 'Orchis bipunctata' are new.

The Prince Regent has agreed to become patron of the Linnean Society; an official letter will follow.

Sends by [James Townsend] Mackay [(1775-1862), curator of Botanic Garden, Trinity College, Dublin] of Dublin 'Arenaria Cherlerifolia' from Ben Lawers, 'Triticum alpinum', a common 'Myostis' from the Clova Mountains, and a 'Centaurea' found by Mr Young at Bellmount Castle. Discovered 'Chorophyllum aromaticum' in a wild state about seven miles from Forfar and 'Iris xipheum' in Marsh of Logie.

Sending what plants he can for "English botany" and two "Flora Graeca" plates, including the frontispiece. Sends an 'Hieracium' from [Jonathan] Salt [(1759-1815)] of Sheffield. Uncertain what to do with [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert's 'Cnicus tuberosus'.

[Written on recto of proof page from "English Botany" no 2249, dated February 1811]

Sends letter from [Georg Franz] Hoffmann and copy of "Hortus Mosquensis"]. Intends to publish a work on the rare plants of northern and southern parts of Russia, asks Smith to procure him some English subscribers. Requests plants from Botany Bay, [Australia]. Has sent Sir Joseph Banks a prospectus of his other work on the insects of Russia, asks Smith to procure subscribers for this also. Sends twenty packets of seeds of "the rarest plants of the Cokases", intends to send more.

Encloses a copy of his book "The botanist". Has endeavoured to popularise Linnaeus and botany in America. Relates the difficulties, as first lecturer in natural history in America, of preparing natural history lectures for persons who may not have ever seen any books on the subjects, and justifies the popular tone and inclusion of female botanists. Hopes to be able to send botanical and entomological paintings executed by women. Asks for Smith's critical opinion of his book.

Franked Smith's letter to [Walter] Wade. Amused by Smith's letter stating he is teaching [William Fitt] Drake religion [he had begun training for the clergy], presumes he does not mean Divinity. Debates atonement and "vicarious punishment" as defined by Smith's Unitarian faith and his own. Counsels Smith not to advise Drake and compares the religion of a citizen and of a clergyman.

Arrived back in London. Thanks for "Lachesis Lapponica". Sir Joseph Banks taking him to the [Royal Society] anniversary dinner. Antiquarian Society in uproar; Sir [Henry] Englefield [7th baronet (1752-1822)] "pants" for the Chair but his Popish connection has raised a powerful opponent in Lord Aberdeen [George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen (1784-1860)], who has carried ninety-two votes to three.