Apologises that if in calling on Smith he intruded on his time. Sends specimen of 'Erineum acerinum' in earlier state than Smith currently has it; observations. Offers Smith use of his manuscript, in which he intends to give at least a figure for one species of every genus of fungi. Suggests alteration to [Christiaan Hendrik] Persoon's character of 'Erineum acerinum'.

["Spec. 21" written in pencil at top of verso of first folio]

Error in his recently published third volume of "Midland Flora"; found that his 'Trichia rubiformis' is not the 'T. rubiformis' of Persoon's "Synopsis methodica fungorum"; difficulty of making correct references from descriptions alone, for which reason he has preserved every specimen he could; observations on Persoon's species, confirmed in another Persoon work ["Tentamen Disp. Meth. Fungorum"]. Wishes he had seen [Robert Kaye] Greville's "Monograph of the Genus 'Erineum'" before publishing his third volume.

Asks Smith's opinion of [Samuel Frederick] Gray's work ["A natural arrangement of British plants" (1821)].

Hopes Smith's health is recovered, he and many others were disappointed he could not come to the last [Linnean Society][ anniversary meeting. He has been supervising [William] Baxter's [(1787-1871)], curator of the Botanic Garden, Oxford, "fasciculus of dried plants", about to be published.

He has procured many fungi specimens from Mr Gulliver of Banbury, of which he is sending a parcel. Compliments [Robert Kaye] Greville's work ["Scottish cryptogamic flora" (1823-1828)], and thinks the new genera 'Erineum', 'Acidium', 'Jaccinia', and 'Uredo' are well defined, but others including 'Xyloma' and 'Sclerotium' are "deficient in character".

Understands Smith is still sceptical regarding the Barberry bush being the cause of injury to wheat growing near it; has suggested to Greville it may be caused by "some peculiar modification of electricity" as the grain is always found shrivelled, as if scorched. Offers to send Smith further fungi specimens, including the "rarest", 'Batarrea phalloides'.

Thanks for Smith's letter of 24 [November 1824], pleased to good account of his health. Unable to sign Mr Maund's nomination certificate for Linnean Society.

Pleased that he has presented Smith with a "new & important idea on the effects of a religious establishment"; he has been working on a now 500 page manuscript tract for 30 years, but considers himself "as good a Christian as any in Christendom".

Hopes to bring all his fungi to Norwich before Smith reaches them [in "English Flora"]; he has found hundreds of species since publishing first volume of his "Midland Flora", and [Robert Kaye] Greville, "in his admirable work", makes his descriptions too detailed to be followed.

Agrees with Smith that [William Jackson] Hooker "has rather mistaken the willows" ['Salix'], and thinks that "Flora Scotia" was rushed; points out errors. Has sent [Joseph] Sabine roses ['Rosa']; discussion of 'R. sabini' and 'R. mollis'; Sabine says the specimens he sent are both varities of 'R. doniana'.