Sending Macleay one of this season's rare good turkies. Sends small piece of information for Linnean Society, assuming they are well supplied for papers. Intends to be in London for 21 March [1809], a month earlier than usual. Anxious to know whether [Erik] Acharius' lichens are now at the Linnean Society.
Has sent a package including specimens of 'Salix', a possible variation of 'Oenanthe pimpinelloides', and a 'Adiantum capillus-veneris' sent for the curiosity of where it grew. Encloses a fern [extant] omitted from the package. Thanks Smith for the prescription of ginger which has helped his health, however is now suffering from a severe bout of rheumatism. Asks whether he should be sea bathing for relief at the age of 70. Requests specimens of 'Daviesia umbellulata' and 'Daviesia corymbosa'.
Specimen of fern.
Cured his rheumatism, which had assumed the form of sciatica by applying a plaster of laurel leaves ('Prunus laurocerasus'). Asks Smith to not spend too much time determining the 'Salix' specimens he sent and makes some of his own observations on them.
Arrived back at Norwich 1 July [1809]. Informed by [Robert] Brown that the two species of 'Centrolepis' in [Edward] Rudge's paper ['Description of several Species of Plants from New Holland'], were stolen from Sir Joseph Banks' private herbarium, and do not grow in Port Jackson, [Sydney], as stated in the paper; Brown remarks that [Richard] Salisbury is "making a cat's paw of Rudge, to interfere with Brown's work"; certain that the specific characters are Salisbury's and "very uncouth, & a disgrace to our Transactions". Leaves it to Macleay and Brown to decide whether the paper should be suppressed or corrected.
Royal Institution would like Smith to give a course of twelve lectures on the "Philosophy of Natural History" for 60 guineas.
Encloses continuation of his paper, Macleay to expect more and paper from [William Jackson] Hooker for 21 November [1809]. Wishes [Robert] Brown would change name of his genus 'Josephia', named after Sir Joseph Banks, "it is not only against all rule, but in itself so foolish it must expose us to ridicule as well as blame", proposes 'Brunonia'.
Death of [Amelia] Hume after a "long and severe illness". Has received from [William] Roxburgh a large parcel of specimens for Smith and seeds for Liverpool Botanic Garden, and one for Royal Society at Edinburgh and seeds for the Edinburgh Botanical Garden.
Delayed sending plant specimens for Smith from George Don and they now have mildew. Was unable to accompany Don to verify habitats of 'Lychnis alpina' and 'Ranunculus alpestris' at the Rocks of Clova in Scotland but believes he has no intention to deceive. Refers to Don's discoveries of 'Cheiranthus incanus', 'Oenothera biennis', and 'Potentilla tridentata' and his response to letters from Smith and Samuel Goodenough as evidence, along with description of his methods. Discusses Don's interactions with Smith's 'Festuca triflora', 'Arundo neglecta', 'Chaerophyllum aureum', 'Chaerophyllum sylvestre', 'Saxifraga geranioides' and other 'Saxifraga'. Smith still to pronounce on Don's 'Carduus polyanthemos', [James] Brodie thinks it 'Carduus leucographus'. Establishing plantations in the north, would like large quantities of 'Salix russelliana' if its use in tanning is proven, requests recommendation for nurseryman to supply 'Salix fragilis', and asks whether 'Populus tremula' is the poplar that grows in Swedish forests. Looking forward to seeing fourth volume of "Flora Britannica" and Linnaeus' "Lapland Tour".
Relates his fruitless efforts to obtain [William] Sole's copy of "Menthae Britannicae" annotated with observations and censures on "Flora Britannica" caused by Smith's classification of 'Mentha' in "Flora Britannica". Describes arrangement and presentation of [Thomas] Velley's "Phaenogamous" and marine plant collections, herbarium and remainder of his botanical collections, the whole being offered to Linnean Society for 150 guineas by his widow, requests repsonse. Offers his drawings and descriptions of fungi of his region should Smith decide to augment "Flora Britannica" with this class. Encloses specimen [extant] of a 'Byssus' collected from an abandoned coal mine in Crickhowel, Brecon, Wales.
Specimen of 'Byssus'.
Thanks for "fine specimen of ornithology". Has been with Dr [Edward Daniel] Clarke. [George] Jackson has returned from Cambridge with remainder of collection of [Peter Simon] Pallas' plants, a gift from Clarke, including 'Molinia jubata', an "extraordinary plant". Botany "again revived in Soho Square" [home of Sir Joseph Banks]. [Jonas] Dryander working on "the New Holl." and new edition of "Hortus Kewensis". Has a parcel of Indian plants for Smith from [William] Roxburgh. Sir Abraham Hume reports that Amelia Hume is very ill.
Query regarding 'Mespilus tanacetifolia' and Smith's variety in "Florae Graecae prodromus". Reviews first volume of Lord Valentia's [George Annesley] "Travels", wishes there was more natural history and less politics. About to begin his "summer campaign" on Salisbury Plain with Sir Richard Hoare.
A packet from [Jacques-Julien de] Labillardière for Smith. Received latest editions of "Annals du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle" which include the whole of [René Louiche] Desfontaines' "Choix de plantes du Corollaire de Tournefort". Received from Mr Coxe a copper plate of [Peter Simon] Pallas from St Petersburg, will give it to Linnean Society to accompany his paper. Obtained all of [Alexander von] Humboldt's works on plants. Has been busy on Salisbury Plain, is going to Longleat, [Somerset], to visit Lord Bath [Thomas Thynne, 2nd Marquess of Bath (1765-1837)], says of Lady Bath "my Lady fancys [sic] herself very fond of plants but I fancy she is not". Proposes Sir Edward [Hulse] and Mr Duke as Linnean Society members.
Discusses a "curious communication" containing as "much botanical as well as physical information" [presumably a paper or figure by Richard Salisbury]. States they "are only at war with the immoral not the scientific part of "that fellow of nuisance and scandal"", concludes that [Salisbury] is now received at Soho Square [home of Sir Joseph Banks] as Lady Hamilton [(1765-1815) mistress of Lord Nelson] would be [following discovery of Salisbury stealing Sir Joseph Banks' drawings and publishing them as his own]. Discusses history of a disputed related drawing. Death of Amelia Hume. Discusses distinctness of the two species of 'Aegiphyla'.
[Letter incomplete: sections cropped, presumed destroyed]
Busy with live and [Peter Simon] Pallas' dried specimens of 'Astragali', including all of the species featured in Pallas' book on the genus, some include notes from Gmelin's herbarium. Has received large box of lemongrass in flower from [James Webbe] Tobin [(d 1814)] of Nevis, long "a desideratum among all of us". Believes it is 'Andropogon nardus' Linn. and the true 'Spikenard' of the ancients. [Richard] Salisbury's publication of his work on 'Protecea' is in "such direct opposition to Soho Square" [home of Sir Joseph Banks], as well as to the Linnean Society that it is regarded as "infamous". Discusses Linnean Society news and nominates the Marquess of Bath [Thomas Thynne, 2nd Marquess of Bath (1765-1837)] as new Honorary Member, says Lord Bath pointed out the differences between the two 'Mespilus'. Has specimens of the two 'Aegiphyla' for Smith, which were discussed by [Jonas] Dryander and [Charles] Konig. [William George] Maton has been with the Queen [Charlotte (1744-1818), wife of George III] again and Mr Hausman is making a catalogue of her herbarium.
A new paper on the Cardamom [White's 'Botanical Description and Natural History of the Malabar Cardamom'] which authorises it as a new genus. Had named it 'Garcia cardamomum' in the new edition of the London Pharmacopoeia, but [Martin] Vahl [(1749-1804)] and [Carl Ludwig] Willdenow had made prior claims on the name, asks Smith's assistance in determining a new name.
Intends to subjoin some remarks in [David] White's paper on the Malabar Cardamom explaining the name for new genus of the plant, 'Elettaria', and correcting errors in Linnaeus' 'Amomum cardamomum', describes some of them and asks Smith to examine Linnaeus' specimen. Unsure on how to proceed with publication of the note.
Received Smith's letter of September 1809, along with a letter from Olof Swartz the only communications from his European correspondents. Enjoyed Smith's "Flora Britannica". Thanks for Smith's observations on his plants numbered 708 to 803, responds with list of queries on his previously sent numbered specimens. Will send new packet of plants via Liverpool.
Sends his paper on ivy which he had previously addressed to Sir Joseph Banks. Banks believes ivy classes with "woodbind" as a "vegetable beast of prey". Repton refutes Banks' claim with his own observations on ivy's less aggressive nature, offers the paper to Smith and Linnean Society.
His paper on ivy: has further observations; asks how the drawings would be effected if it is ever printed; unsure what to make of Sir Joseph Banks objecting to the printing of Banks' letter on ivy; asks Smith to send back the other papers he sent so he can edit them.
Had intended not to ignore winter weather during his tour of Scotland but forced to stay several days with [James] Brodie due to heavy snow and to go to the coast instead of further inland. Smith praised by the botanists he meets. Brief itinerary of places he has visited: Mull, Staffa, Skye, Sutherland, Caithness. Death of "J G".