Intends to open a school for "young gentlemen" at Christmas, encloses card [extant], hopeful of its answering.

At Smith's request informs him of his family's acquaintance with Dr Hurlock, who cured his father "of a sort of cancer in his mouth". Asks if Smith saw the plants Hurlock received from Labrador, which were gathered by his [Turner's] mother, and his mother brought a box of roots when his parents returned to England. Mr Burkard probably the only person in Labrador still gathering plants. Does not remember much of the time he spent in Labrador as a child. Hopes to visit Smith next summer.

Card announcing Turner's school and cost of lessons.

Only lately received Smith's letter of 17 August [1807]; concerned he had lost Smith's correspondence. Praises Smith's "Introduction to Botany", which "will be the means of highly improving the theoretical part of [his] summer course"; the elementary texts he in general recommends his students are [James] Lee's "Introduction to Botany", [Jean-Jacques] Rousseau's [(1712-1778), philosopher] "Elements [of botany]", "Philosophia Botanica", and translations of Willdenow.

Smith missed opportunity to use his "Plantae rariores" as authority for 'Adiantum capillus-veneris' in "English botany" v22 1564, for which Smith credited [James Townsend] Mackay [(1775-1862), curator of Botanic Garden, Trinity College, Dublin], as did [Dawson] Turner in his "admirable" "Fucus" work.

Apologises for sending overweight parcel. Sent [James] Sowerby flowering specimens of true Irish 'Arbutus unedo' for mention in "English botany" and for honour of Ireland and its natural productions. Dr [Robert] Scott [(1757-1808)], professor of botany at [Trinity College, Dublin] deprived of his post without any equitable cause assigned. Asks if there are to be any new additions to new edition of Smith's "Tour of the Continent".

Sending Smith flowering 'Saxifraga' specimens gathered near Killarney, Kerry. Hopes Smith received the 'Euphorbia hibernica' he sent in spring. Smith should be wary of reports that 'Acorus gramineus' has been found in Ireland until he has been able to determine the facts. Sends his "Sketch of lectures on meadow and pasture grasses" for Linnean Society. [Andrew] Caldwell in a very bad state of health.

Sorry to inform Smith that the reports that 'Acorus grammineus' has been found in Ireland are false; questioned the gardener who found it who confessed he had it from a garden several years ago; [John] Templeton [(1766-1825), father of Irish natural history], [James Townsend] Mackay [(1775-1862), curator of Botanic Garden, Trinity College, Dublin], and Dr [Whitley] Stokes [(1763-1845), physician and botanist] are scouring the mountains for it.

[Andrew] Caldwell has died.

Following their discussion the previous evening has looked into the earliest meaning of the word "Kuamos" ["Cyamus" transliterated from Greek alphabet, appropriated in English as "legumen"] with references to Homer's "Illiad", "Odyssey" and "Batrachomyomachia", cross referencing with [Christian Tobias] Damm's "Lexic. Homeric", relates his conclusions. Believes Theophrastus may have been the first to apply it to 'Nymphaea nelumbo' and compares other ancient writers' usage of the word.

Further thoughts on "Kuamos"["Cyamus" transliterated from Greek alphabet, appropriated in English as "legumen"] following his previous letter of 12 September 1808. As Theophrastus was the earliest Greek writer to use "Kuamos" conjectures that the Hindu 'Nymphaea nelumbo' may have been first imported from the East by Alexander the Great, and introduced to Egypt in a similar way. Explains why the "Kuamos" held to be an "abomination" by the Ancient Egyptians, according to Herodotus, was not 'Nymphaea nelumbo'.

Thanks for turkey, which they had on Christmas Day. Praises Smith's "Introduction to Botany", not surprised the preface has been complimented so much; he has heard that [Richard] Salisbury is "not quite pleased with some parts of it".

Encloses part of his paper to be read at Linnean Society. He is not anxious about [Richard] Salisbury's "censures" regarding his preface [to "Introduction to Botany"] and does not expect him to renew his attacks; justifies his own response to Salisbury's conduct. Pleased by [Samuel] Goodenough's "advancement" [made Bishop of Carlisle], and hopes [Thomas] Marsham is well, "for he is one whom we could not spare".

Returns [William Jackson] Hooker's paper, which he and [Dawson] Turner have both looked over.

Never had much hope for the war before, but from the first of the Spanish resistance he has always hoped; cares not who manages the country as long as they do it well, but concedes the Ministry have conducted themselves with "singular wisdom & discretion", and the King's [George III (1738-1820)] speech "was in the same style". Returns his paper on 'Hookeria' and a paper on snakes not worth publishing.

Arrangements for printing of papers. Sorry "Linnean Transactions" vol 8 is so thin; his paper on 'Brodiaea' would have helped and is a fresh reason why he regrets not publishing it now. [James] Brodie's friends think not publishing it defeats the compliment, and all think it an "undue deference to a villain who is our disgrace" [Richard Salisbury had published 'Brodiaea' as 'Hookera' in "Paradisus Londinensis"]; several Council members lamented to see him forced to yield to "such opposition" and the brutality with which it was enforced. He knows Macleay acted for the best and feels the "bulk of the Society entirely guiltless", and will continue to send papers.

Has requested proofs of all [James] Sowerby's plates for his and [William Jackson] Hooker's papers on mosses, following the mistake he made with 'Hookeria lucens' in "English botany". Expecting a visit from [Robert] Brown.

His autumnal headaches "more troublesome than usual of late". Sending paper by [James Perchard] Tupper on "the possible sensation of plants", "amusing enough, if not sufficiently solid for printing". Defends his decisions regarding his naming genus 'Brodiaea' in spite of [Richard] Salisbury have named same genus 'Hookera', and insists his papers are not attacks; hopes the Linnean Society will always support him "on the side of true Linnaean principles". List of names to receive copy of "Linnean Transactions" vol 9.

Encloses letter from [Thomas] Marsham [extant], informing Smith that [Erik] Acharius' collection of lichens for the Linnean Society is at the Custom House, asks Macleay to obtain it.

[Letter from Thomas Marsham, West India Dock House, Billiter Square, 23 November 1808, to Smith]: Smith's box of dried plants and lichens from Sweden has been at Custom House since last September; instructions for its retrieval.

Encloses [James Perchard] Tupper's paper; will send a paper of his own in January or February. Macleay to expect monies from [James] Sowerby for Linnean Society membership dues. Thinks the new "Linnean Transactions" volume "very respectable" in size and content. Thinks 'Apion' a bad name and only 'Apium' spelt wrong, "when Greek words are made Latin they must take Latin terminations".

Sends Egyptian plants ; has found Papyrus growing at Damietta ; particulars of his travels in Egypt and America.

Residing at Bignor Park, former home of Charlotte Smith, "whose little poems on subjects of natural history must have engaged your attention", purchased from her sister [Catherine Ann] Dorset [(d 1816) children's author]. Pleased to hear of imminent publication of "Flora Graeca Prodromus" and satisfied with second part of first volume of "Flora Graeca" which is free from the errors in the first part. In reference to 'Briza elatior' clarifies use of Greek "or" instead of Latin "in" in forming names. Cautions Smith in use of Sommarera as a source for names as the vulgar modern Greek names are so "barbarous" that some are shamed into using names taken from Matthiolus [Pietro Andrea Mattioli (1501-1577)] and others and passing them off as the real names, although they are not strictly neo-grecian. List of Greek plant names [with Hawkins' corrections and comments].

At the end of their tour of Wales, "nowhere human industry adds so much to the attractions of fine rivers & fine mountains". Sending "the most beautiful little fungus I ever saw"[Smith has annotated underneath: "'Ag[aricus] androsaceus' JES"] found by river Wye. Hopes [James] Mean [(fl 1810s-1820s) gardener to Sir Abraham Hume at Wormleybury] has sent Smith the 'Uvaria'. Hope to visit [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert on their journey home.

Thanks Smith for naming 'Opegrapha lyelli' after him and accepting numerous specimens, believes the species is distinct despite variations towards 'Opegrapha dendritica' and 'Opegrapha pulverulenta'. Thanks Smith for the notice he took of 'Lichen pollinarius' in "English Botany" which encouraged him in further investigation of mosses and lichens in his vicinity.

Has left specimens from George Don for Smith with [James] Sowerby. Employed Don to plant a shrubbery at his Angus residence, praises his botanical skills. Don accused by his "namesake at Cambridge" [James Donn (1758-1813) curator of Cambridge Botanic Garden] of acquiring from Cambridge his "pretended discoveries" as seeds, including: 'Hypericum barbatum', 'Centaurea intybacea', and 'Lamium dissectum?'; his 'Potentilla opaca' is the 'Potentilla obscura', and doubts 'Galium verrucosum'. Recommends Don's habitats be examined by trustworthy botanist; laments that neither [Dawson] Turner, [William Jackson] Hooker, or [William] Borrer ever went to Forfar during their trips to Scotland.

Stayed last week at Beckenham Park with [John Barwell] Cator who has recently inherited the estates of his uncle [John Cator (1728-1806)], who was married to [Peter] Collinson's [(1694-1768)] daughter, [Mary]. Collinson's books and manuscripts there, including last edition of [Philip] Miller's "Dictionary" full of Collinson's observations, intends to publish them. Received "fine China drawings" from Lady de Clifford. Plans to send Smith his just finished "suppl[ement]".

Thanks for turkey and gift of one of his works, compliments Smith on this and his writing on the Garden of Eden for [Abraham] Rees' "Cyclopedia". Received a walking stick of 'Mimosa longifolia' from Lord Blandford [George Spencer-Churchill], also received two new specimens of 'Coniferae'[?]. Would like to write on Whiteknights [Lord Blandford's home and garden in Reading, Berkshire] as Stephen Western wrote on Paris. [George] Jackson has been copying the manuscripts and observations in Peter [Collinson]'s [(1694-1768)] collections at Beckenham Park, asks Smith to review it and advise on how best to publish it. Lord Valentia's [George Annesley] "Travels" will begin printing next week.