His joy at receiving a letter from Smith. Pleased Mrs [Pleasance] Smith recovered her health through sea-bathing; Liverpool is "the most frequented bathing place in the kingdom". All his Liverpool friends "charmed" with Mrs Martin [Smith's sister] but concerned she is walking too long. Flattered by Smith's proposal to dedicate "Exotic Botany" to him.

Responds to points in Smith's previous letter: has not seen Captain [Thomas] Hardwicke, though received seeds and letter from him; [John] Shepherd [(c 1764-1836, curator Liverpool Botanic Garden] sent Lady [Amelia] Hume plants two months ago, and she sent back specimen of 'Humea elegans'; Shepherd hopes to send Cooper cuttings of 20 kinds of 'Passiflora' in the spring, their collection has considerably increased; safely received parrot tulip roots; will soon send packet of seeds from the gardens; observed the "minute criticism" [of Smith's "Flora Britannica"] in the "Monthly Magazine" and agrees the author must be handled "with tenderness". His "[Life and Pontificate of] Leo [the Tenth]" [(1805)] in final parts of fourth volume. Ordered "Annals of Botany" with "Exotic Botany". Glad of progress in his son [James, placed with Norfolk farmer Samuel Taylor] and [William Fitt] Drake.

Satisfaction at Smith's division between 'Salix russelliana' and 'Salix fragilis' of Linnaeus. Describes his interest in this willow and notes how his grandfather [John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford (1710-1771)] introduced it to Bedfordshire and had it distributed amongst the tenants.

Written on printed survey for Bingley's book "British Zoology" [2 pp], comprising a list of animals and three queries on habits and corrections. Thanks for Smith's comments on his "Tour of North Wales". Working on "British Zoology" alongside his county history [of Hampshire]; particularly using Sonnini and La Cepede. Requests introductions to naturalists, particularly [William] Markwick, [George] Montagu [(1753-1815), naturalist], and [Dawson] Turner.

Returning from his tour of the north England and southern parts of Scotland, but no longer able to call on Smith in Norwich, was also unable to visit Wales and Liverpool. Thanks for Smith's introduction to Colonel Phillips of Manchester. Sending capsules of "Boorans".

Sending Smith numbers of "Annals of Botany" "merely a small mark of the great respect due to [Smith] from every votary of botany"; requests Smith's advice for its improvement; will make room for any paper by Smith, requirements of this. The specimen of the inflorescence of a gynandrous plant Smith sent is of the new genus mentioned in note to [Olof] Swartz paper, but unable to identify the species; [Ferdinand] Bauer [(1760-1826), botanical artist] has drawn two similar plants at Kew; proposes name 'Venenatia'; dismisses [Adam] Afzelius claim of that name for Sierra Leone genus. Believes Wendland and Schrader named plant after Baron Hake ['Hakea'], Hanoverian director of Herrenhausen garden, merely to flatter him. Comments on plan of [Martin] Vahl's [(1749-1804), botanist] "Enumeratio Plantarum". Asks Smith publicly acknowledge receipt of [Edmund] Davall's herbarium in "Annals of Botany".

Received Smith's paper on "difficult set of plants" [for "Annals of Botany"]; wishes Smith had added specific characters to Andrew's species; agrees that 'Anotium' constitutes a genus but there are errors in referencing. Asks if attached specimen from Kew [extant] is a new species of 'Gompholobium'. Discusses 'Chorizema' [in reference to Smith's paper]; advises Smith to quote French original of Labillardiére's "Voyage"; a new species of 'Chorizema' with juster claim to name 'C. ilicifolium', encloses leaf [extant] to illustrate. Discusses drawings of fructification of Smith's genus. Mislaid his notes on the new gynandrous genus but will publish it as 'Ventenatia' at first opportunity.

A drawing of 'Ipomopsis elegans' by Mrs Delany is at Sir Joseph Banks'. In reference to Smith's paper, Banks' points out that is [Daniel] Solander had lived he would have arranged the plants in question, and that the two Forsters have never been at New Holland. Wonders who "this Caley" is, as he is not the Botany Bay [George] Caley [(1770-1829), botanist].

Specimen, possible 'Gompholobium'.

Small fragment of a plant, labelled "'Daviesia acicularis'?".

Received Smith's letter of 29 August [1804]; will wait for payment for his translation [of Linnaeus' Lapland travel journal, for Smith's "Lachesis Lapponica"] until after Smith has heard from the booksellers. Sorry Smith has so much Latin left to translate. Defends his non-correction of the geographical words, having followed the same spelling as in the original, but offers to look over them before printing.

[Smith has briefly annotated his repsonse on second folio:] White [publisher] will pay Troilius his translation fees but requests a little indulgence with the money.

At length has gathered a parcel of willows to send Smith; apologises that so many are similar but finds himself much in the dark about 'Salix cinera', 'S. aquatica', and 'S. oleifolia'; Smith and [William Fitt] Drake to keep any they want, but asks Smith to return those he has no duplicates of, marked with letters. Observes that the the varities of shrub willows are so distinct that it will be necessary to describe them even if not noticed by preceeding authors; difficulty of defining specimens without necessary books.

List of willows sent, numbered and lettered, with habitats and brief observations; Smith has annotated some of the entries.

Sends local 'Salix' specimens which may not be in "Flora Britannica"; believes the genus deserves a separate treatise on account of their "very great oeconomical uses". Has studied the genus for 4 years but has been unable to fix their characters, which he leaves to Smith; explains his specimen notes [extant]. Requests cuttings of 'S. rubra', 'S. croweana', 'S. nigricans', 'S. petiolaris', and 'S. mollissima' [Smith annotation: "will send them, & others, also our 'fragilis'"]. Requests Smith's opinion on the specimens he has sent.

Numbered, detailed observations on 11 'Salix' specimens, with annotations by Smith [5 pp].

Has been suffering from gout which has prevented him from perusing the third volume of "Flora Britannica" and Dawson Turner's "Muscologiae Hibernicae Spicilegium". Asks whether 'Verbascum phoeniceum' has ever been considered indigenous to Britain.

Received Smith's letter regarding [John Mackay's (1772-1802), employed at Dickson nursery, Edinburgh] alleged plagiarism of [George] Don, gives his own opinion of the matter including analysis of Don's character. In reference to 'Stellaria cerastoides' and 'Thlaspi hirtum' believes it is due to miscommunications and assumptions, [Smith has annotated in the margin stating similar], and condemns Mackay's "silence". Agrees with Smith's plan to mention the claims of Don and others when discussing the plants in question and saying nothing of Mackay. Some observations of the 205 plant specimens in 141 genera Neill gathered in Sheltand and Orkney, including: 'Lichen calicaris' covering the standing stones of Stennes; 'Byssus aeruginosa' coating interior of St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, Orkney; and the hardy oat 'Avena strigosa' which is cultivated instead of 'Avena sativa'. Also gathered shells of 'Trochus ziziphynus', 'Pecten pusio', 'Astrea maxima', 'Arca glycinieris', and 'Bulla ligniaria', Rothesholm Head (Rousom Head).

[Samuel] Dickenson, "who prepared the botanical part of a new history of Staffordshire", has told [John Russell, 6th] Duke of Bedford he believes 'Salix russelliana' to be 'Salix fragilis'. Bedford has asked Abbot to compare the two from "Flora Britannica" and [William] Withering's book. Abbot's observations, which he asks Smith to confirm. Has sent 'Thlaspi campestre' to [James] Sowerby. Has good stations for 'Senecis viscosus', 'Dianthus armeria', 'Rumex sanguineus' and 'Allium carinatum'.

Divinity is his principal study but always delighted to be diverted by natural history. Justifies his alterations of Smith's Latin in his previous letter and discusses Greek and Latin philology. Dr Vaughan "in high vogue" in Rochester. Has altered the title-page for "Flora Graeca" [extant, on a separate sheet]; explains his decisions. Asks if [John] Sibthorp applied Theophratsus' and Dioscorides' names to his plants. Shall look for his sketch of "the air plant"; gathered his ideas of its physiology from [Engelbert] Kaempfer [(1651-1716), German naturalist] and his directions to the Duchess' gardener for its management led to its only flowering in England. Hopes Smith is not making too many species of lichen in the 'crustacei' and 'leprosi' divisions, asks if they have been watched from year to year in their changes. Instructing Lady Mary Thynne [(d 1863), wife of John Thynne, 3rd baron Carteret (1772-1849)] in botany; will request specimens of [Dawson] Turner for himself and her. Saw [Thomas] Marsham and [Alexander] Macleay; thinks Marsham "overpowered with too much business".