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.

Has finished looking over [Peter] Collinson's [(1694-1768)] manuscripts, still deciding whether to print Collinson's garden catalogue. "Our worthy friend" [Richard Salisbury] has called several times, saying "as usual a thousand things he did not mean", supposes Smith has seen the compliment to him in last number of "Par[adisus Londinensis]". Received what he believes is specimen of 'Juniperus oxycedrus' from Lord Blandford [George Spencer-Churchill], asks Smith to send specimen of same for comparison.

Sends copy of [Peter] Collinson's [(1694-1768)] manuscripts for approval. Purchased from Lord Bute [John Stuart, 1st Marquess of Bute (1744-1814)] the last part of herbarium of "Garcin" which contains all of Haller's plants including Haller's 'Orchidiae', and Lord Bute's herbarium, which he intends to go to a friend.

Complains about his publisher White who has not sent out books as promised and made imperfect copies of Lambert's book. Complains about an individual [possibly Richard Salisbury] who borrowed Lambert's copy of [Charles] Konig's work on ferns and made notes in the book. After discussion with [Robert] Brown also observed that this individual did the same in Sir Joseph Banks' copy of Smith's "Introduction" in reference to "Menzies plant", a dispute over how he obtained his information. Lord Valentia [George Annesley] has just had a "dreadful operation", the first sheet of his "'Travels" has just been printed, intends addressing Salisbury severely in the first volume over his "very indecent paper". Has just written an account of his own herbarium for possible publication.

Has looked over Governor [Philip Gidley] King's [(1758-1808)] plants from New Holland [Australia] and added 300 new species to his own collection. Has things to tell Smith about "a certain person". Mrs King has brought back a case of 6000 insects she intends to part with and a case of shells she means to keep.

Dined with Sir Abraham and Amelia Hume. Apologises for the unintentional affront of giving a specimen to Andrews without realising Smith wanted it. Received collection of New Holland [Australia] specimens from the bursar of Governor [Philip Gidley] King's [(1758-1808)] ship including a 'Fabricia' in flower. Has set aside [Jacques-Julien de] Labillardière duplicates for Smith. Smith styled a "celebrated lecturer" in latest number of [Richard] Salisbury's "Parad[isus Londinensis]", hopes never again to have to entertain Salisbury or [William] Hooker [(1779-1832), botanical artist for "Paradisus Londinensis"].

Assured [Robert] Brown that Lady Essex has not grown the New Holland plants 'Corylus' and 'Psychilis' as evidenced from her gardener's ignorance and Hooker's continued misinformation [it was revealed that Salisbury had stolen drawings from Sir Joseph Banks and published them as his own]. Requests specimen of 'Juniperus oxycedrus' from [John] Sibthorp's collection as no one knows what it is. Received from Mr Hamilton specimen of the "Cedar of the Ancients" taken from the Acropolis in Athens, [Greece], appears to be 'Juniperus bermudiana' or 'Juniperus oxycedrus' of Hawkins. Speculates on Smith's future articles for [Abraham] Rees' "Cyclopedia".

Has dined several times with Sir Abraham and Amelia Hume, on the last occassion Lady de Clifford was there dividing a box of Cape bulbs. Hopes to see Smith's paper in tomorrow's "Monthly Magazine". [Richard Salisbury] "begins to expect there has [sic] been some enquiries about Lady Essex's nonentities"; he and [Robert] Brown now believe that Salisbury stole his figure of 'Byblis' from Sir Joseph [Banks'] [Salisbury had claimed that he figured the Australian plants 'Corylus', 'Psychilis', and others from Lady Essex's garden, who never had the plants].

Given [Lieutenant-]General Francis Grose's [(1758-1814) Governor of New South Wales, 1792-1794] collection of New South Wales plants collected by [William] Patterson [(1755-1810)]. Also collection of drawings of birds, fish, animals, and plants. Amused by Smith's letter in "Monthly Magazine" [in April 1808 edition, explaining the dissolution of his friendship with Richard Salisbury]. Dismisses Smith's suggestion that it is Dr [William Fordyce] Mavor [(1758-1837)] who writes in the magazine, everyone believes it is [Charles] Konig, gives his reasons.

Lists general contents of the Wernerian Natural History Society's first volume. The Edinburgh Natural History Society founded by Smith, of which Neill was Secretary for two years, is in a "flourishing state", botanical members include Mr Shuter, Mr Kennedy, and Edward Maughan. Neill had hoped to incorporate the two societies but due to their different natures and composition of members was impossible. Admits that the Wernerian name has caused some offence. A blunder over 'Dicksonia arborescens'. 'Lichen frigdus' figured in "English Botany" covers Hoy Hill, Orkney. Location for indigenous 'Imperatoria ostruthium'.

Printed letter informing Smith of his election as a non-resident member of Wernerian Natural History Society, signed by Neill as Secretary. Neill has written to Smith on second folio, concedes that the name of the new society "is not very happy" and although named in honour of [Abraham Gottlob] Werner [(1749-1817) German geologist] it will not focus on mineralogy. [Carl Ludwig] Willdenow's book ["The principles of botany"] marred by its faulty translation.

Sends copies of medal and jeton struck in honour of Linnaeus, apologises for poor quality. Agrees with Smith that botany is an "introduction to amiable characters", it is inspiring philanthropy in him. Comments on Lord Beauclere's epitaph in Westminster Abbey [Lord Aubrey Beauclerk (? 1710-1741) naval officer]. Received New Holland [Australian] plants from [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert, pleased that so many are named after botanists. Recollects his visit to Norfolk to [James] Crowe's Salicetum and collecting 'Verbascum pulverulentum' and ['Scabiosa']. Leaving Europe shortly, fears he will not be able to meet [Dawson] Turner or [William] Roscoe. Compliments Smith's "Introduction to Botany".

The war [between Britain and France] has disrupted their correspondence for two and a half years, sends recent "transactions" of [Swedish] Academy [of Sciences]. Effect of the war on Swedish science: isolated from foreign literature, except for occassional communications from Britain, has seen parts of Smith's "Exotic Botany" and "Flora Graeca" and [Dawson] Turner's "Hist. Fucorum". Only remarkable things produced in Sweden have been the "Swedish Botany and Zoology" [Palmstruch's "Svensk botanik" (1802-1819)?], supervised by himself, and [Johan Peter] Westring's "history of the lichens". Isolated from European colleagues, which has disrupted the planned collaboration between himself and [Daniel Matthias Heinrich] Mohr [(1780-1808)] on a "Synopsis or Historia Muscorum", and [Heinrich Adolph] Scharder's Gottingen printing of [Erik] Acharius' "Lichenographia universalis".

Concern over fate of an "instructif [sic] present" sent to the Linnean Society by Acharius. [Carl Peter] Thunberg and [Adam] Afzelius are living in Uppsala, the latter has written on the Swedish 'Rosa' and put his "African treasures" aside. Report of a "secular celebration of the birthday of a giant man [Linnaeus]", including a eulogy by Dr [Sven Anders] Hedin, one of his former pupils, held in Linnaeus' first school in Wexiö [Växjö], and a grand fete at the Academy of Uppsala. It is the only instance in Sweden of a public honour being given to an individual subject. The museum and auditory were also consecrated, attended by "many thousands" including most of the old "Linnaean disciples" who gave the whole "a most venerable appearance". Eager to see new genus of moss ['Hookeria'] described by Smith.

Thanks for letter and seeds of 'Limosella aquatica'. Recently received letter from [James] Sowerby containing a statement of his fasciculus [presumably Don's "Herbarium Britannicum" (1804-1812)], the first he has received since publishing the first 5 years ago; in "consequence of his negligence" he has brought "very considerable expense" and will be forced to give it up after printing seventh and eighth numbers. If Sowerby was the sole publisher of "English botany" he would not send any further plants, but encloses 4 of his recent discoveries for Smith's account.

Numbered observations on enclosed specimens: 1. 'Hypericum barbatum' or 'H. elegans'; 2. unknown species of 'Lamium', like 'L. amplexicaule', suggests 'L. intermedium'; 3. possible 'Juncus fasciculata'; new species of 'Equisetum'. Had intended to send them to be published in "Linnean Transactions". Identified one of the grasses he sent Smith last year as 'Agrostis arumdinacea', and has possibly found 'Bromus triflorus'.

Hopes Goodenough received package sent via [Charles] Lyell and [James] Sowerby, which included: 'Agrostis arundinacea', 'Carduus polyanthus', new 'Choraphyllum', 'Centaurea intybacea', and 'Urceolaria deamonta'.

Numbered observations on enclosed specimens: 1. 'Carex' like 'C. michellia'; 2. 'Carex' like 'C. flacca'; 3. new 'Carex'; 4. 'Saxifraga' distinct from 'S. hynoides'; 5. new 'Silene' proposed 'S. intermedia'; 6. new 'Silene' proposed 'S. hybrida'; 7. unknown 'Epilobium'; 8. 'Mesea longiseta'; 9. 'Orabus angustifolius'; 10. 'Hieracium' near 'H. alpinum'.

Observations on 'Hieracium ramosum' and 'Epilobium caudifolium'. If he had known what Goodenough said of Sowerby in sufficient time would not have troubled him. Will send 'G. uliginosum' and 'Galium verrocosum' seeds in summer, observation on 'Equisetum'. Asks Goodenough to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith.

Four plant specimens, including 1, 3 and 8.

Has had a sharp fit of gout in his right hand. Hopes Smith liked his last alterations [probably to Smith's Latin]. Sees that Smith has "pacified [George] Don at once, he appears to be a most valuable correspondent", disusses Don's 'Carex' specimens. Hopes to be in London by 10 January [1809].