Anticipating visit from the Smiths on 1 May. He has been ill since last July with a liver complaint; mixed health of the rest of his family.

Found 'Eltaine hydropiper' growing plentifully in Berkshire; offers to send specimens; reluctant to reveal location.

Sorry they could not meet whilst Smith was in London. Besides themselves, a great many fellows of the Royal Society think the Duke of Somerset should be President, but he has declined to go to a poll, and unless Sir Humphry Davy withdraws as a candidate he will not reconsider.

Had intended to speak to Smith in person until hearing of death of Smith's mother. Offered position of Professor of Botany of Glasgow University; requests assistance and information from Smith on lecturing, asks for any book recommendations or published botany lectures.

At Smith's request informs him of cost of the new series of "Flora Londinensis"; offers to exchange set of the 18 published numbers, "Musci exotici", and Sternberg's "Saxifrages", for "Flora Graeca". Requests any duplicate exotic specimens from Smith's herbarium. Pleased to see Smith's "Grammar of Botany" announced.

Announces his intention to publish his "History of Birds", which he intends to fund by subscription. Requests Smith's assistance. Received letter from Sir Thomas Cullum informing him of Lady [Mary] Cullum's successful cataract operation.

Written on printed prospectus and list of subscribers for "Latham's History of Birds".

Sends list of subscribers to his "History of Birds" [extant]; he has received permission to dedicate it to the King [George IV (1762-1830)]. He will commence printing as soon as subscribers reach 150. Criticises [Coenraad Jacob] Temminck's [(1778-1858), zoologist] work [probably "Manuel d'ornithologie" (1815)]. Looking forward to Smith's "Linnaean correspondence".

Written on printed prospectus and list of subscribers for "Latham's History of Birds".

No doubt of Sir Humphry Davy's election as President of the Royal Society. Account of first Linnean Society meeting of the season, attended in "great force", though once the reading of [William Elford] Leach's entomological paper is complete there will be a lack of papers; hopes Smith will be able to supply the gap. Proposes that the Linnean Society lease Sir Joseph Banks' house on expiry of lease of their Gerrard Street rooms; [Robert] Brown is amenable. [Alexander] Macleay detained in Scotland by illness of his daughter, who has scarlet fever. Proposes that Brown's salary is raised and attached solely to his office as Librarian, with "some inferior person" replacing his duties as Clerk.

The Linnean Club met recently but they have lost William Smith's membership, and seceders to the new club have also reduced their numbers.

Investigated vacant Edinburgh botany professorship at Smith's request: the government made its first offer to [Robert] Brown on 18 December [1819], three days after the death of the late professor [Daniel Rutherford]; Brown refused the post and it was given to Dr [Robert] Graham [(1786-1845)]. Satisfaction he and "every well-wisher to the science" would have had if Smith had been appointed; believes it is worth £1000-1200 a year. Glasgow professorship still vacant but not as valuable. Will endeavour to procure Smith's late servant a position.

Instructions for constructing index for second volume [of "A selection of the correspondence of Linnaeus" (1821)], should Smith prefer to write it.

Sorry to hear of Smith's literary disputes being "so afflictingly interrupted". Thanks for Smith's congratulations on reaching 75 years of age. Smith's manuscripts are received and printing has commenced [presumably "A selection of the correspondence of Linnaeus" (1821)].

Notes that although [Emanuel Mendez] da Costa's [(1717-1791), naturalist] manuscripts are chiefly concerned with mineralogy there are several on botany from [George] Edwards [(1694-1773)], [Georg Dionysius] Ehret [(1708-1770)], Knolles, [John] Martyn [(1699-1768)], [Philip] Miller, [Richard] Pulteney, and some others, and are available for Smith's use [for "A selection of the correspondence of Linnaeus" (1821)].

The intelligence Smith sent him is not surprising and wonders at inclination which induced Smith to apply to him, but does not blame Smith for well meant endeavours [subject unclear].

Thanks for Smith's letter of 13 [July 1820]; several of his friends have expressed the wish to which Smith alludes but many reasons induce him to decline [possibly an invitation to become Honorary Member of the Linnean Society following deaths of Sir Joseph Banks and Brownlow North, Bishop of Winchester].

Proposed by some of [William] Roscoe's best friends at Liverpool to raise a subscription to buy a £5,000-£6,000 annuity for him in recognition of his contributions to the city; asks Smith to interest [Thomas William] Coke, "the manly supporter and vindicator of all that is liberal in public and private life", in the fund. Roscoe's oppostion to the scheme has been overcome.

Forwards copy of a private circular [extant] prepared by a committee of [William] Roscoe's friends detailing scheme to raise funds to buy an annuity for Roscoe, outlines their reasons for not approaching local institutions for funds. Corrects Smith regarding sale of Roscoe's books; the money raised was returned to the subscribers after Roscoe refused the books, and the small part of the library which was purchased was presented to the Athenaeum. Roscoe's opposition to the annuity overcome.

Saw Mr Martin today, all the family well [Smith's brother-in-law].

Handwritten circular dated Liverpool, 8 September 1820 detailing scheme to raise funds to buy an annuity for Roscoe following "the sudden and calamitous reverse [...] in the fortunes of Mr Roscoe" four years ago [2pp].

Following a meeting of [William] Roscoe's "best and staunchest Liverpool friends" they have adopted the plan previously outlined to Smith to secure an annuity for Roscoe; as Roscoe is to visit Holkham [Hall, Norfolk, home of Thomas William Coke] soon asks that Smith and Coke treat the matter with caution, for reasons Professor Smyth will explain. Roscoe's unselfish nature at this difficult time for him.

Smith has annotated on recto of second folio "sent £50".

Thanks for turkey. Corrêa de Serra is staying with him for a few days before going to Brazil via Paris. Pleased to hear of Smith's progress with publishing Linnaeus' letters. Found 'Silene lusitanica' in Berkshire, and 'Campanula patula' in East Hampstead. Truncated postscript enquiring whether Lady Smith left items at their house the last time they stayed.

[Letter incomplete: sections cropped, including part of Forster's postscript, presumed destroyed]

Suffering from gout in all his limbs and the "various satellites of old age". Enquires after progress of Smith's "British Flora in English". Asks if Smith has seen his "Welsh Botanography", lists recommended pages. Asks Smith to read the Preface and advise on worth of adding the British or Welsh name to each subject in Smith's work, as [Thomas] Johnson [(c 1600-1644) apothecary] attempted in his edition of [John] Gerard's [(1545-1612) barber-surgeon] ["Herball"] and John Davies' [(c 1567-1644) Welsh lexicographer] "Dictionarium Duplex". A new habitat for 'Serapis ensifolia', found in flower, in May, on Snowdon.

The Prince de Butera, a Sicilian nobleman, desires to be an honorary member of the Linnean Society. Informed by the Prince of a good botanic garden at Palermo, Sicily, comments on complete disorder of Naples. Has not yet met [Michele] Tenore but he is publishing a "Crambe recota" of indiginous and foreign plants cultivated in his garden. Petayna, [Vincenzo ?] Stellati [(1780-1852)] and [Vincenzo ?] Briganti [(1766-1836)] are the only naturalists of note in his location and nothing is published. Has found 'Ophrys speculum' and 'Ophrys distoma' of Bivona. Recommends a "Flora of Rome" published by Sebastiani and Mauri. Difficulties of establishing botany; part of the garden at Farnesina has been given over for a botanic garden but not the means of putting it in order, when in England even Bury St Edmunds has one. Has collected around 2000 insects, comments on slow progress of entomology and implores [William] Kirby, [William] Spence [(c 1783-1860)], [Thomas] Marsham and McLane to rectify this. Laments death of Sir Joseph Banks. Feels secure "though living in the midst of a revolution" [failed 1820 movement against Bourbon government], comments on the "attention paid to public security".