Regrets he is unable to add his signature to [William] Roscoe's on Lord [Edward Smith-]Stanley's nomination certificate for Linnean Society, as they are not personally acquainted.

Pleased to hear Smith is recovered from his late "tedious" indisposition. Unable to accommodate Smith and [William Fitt] Drake as usual this year as the house is being redecorated, and as his business has increased he is making more use of rooms than previously, and their maid Sally has also left. Will endeavour to acquire alternative accommodation for Smith.

Activities and publications.

Pleased to of recovery of Smith's health in his letter of 2 [January 1806]; his own bad health forced him to leave Bengal. Regrets his and Smith's missing each other in Liverpool; now little chance of their meeting until Smith comes to London in April. Contemplating a return to Bengal as the climate here is not agreeable. Comparing his specimens with [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert's; Lambert has almost convinced him that [Charles] Konig's 'Argostis linearis' is Smith's 'Panicum dactylon'; recommends Sir William Jones' figure of former in "Asiatick Researches" vol 4; requests Smith's assistance with all his Indian plants.

Regrets the accidents and misfortunes that have so far prevented him from meeting Smith; the climate here does not suit his "Indian constitution", intends to return there this spring. Just received a few ripe seeds of 'Cycas circinalis' from Calcutta, and were opened at Sir Joseph Banks' the other day, has reserved one for Smith to dissect.

Banks is to select the drawings for second number of third volume of his "Plants of Coromandel" tomorrow; he had intended to publish four species of his genus 'Colebrookia', but as Smith discovered 'C. bulbifera' to be 'Globba marantina' Linnaeus as published in "Exotic botany" asks whether they are all to be made 'Globba' and [Henry Thomas] Colebrooke [(1765-1837), administrator in India and scholar] given another genus, or be introduced under his old name.

Thanks for Smith's letter of 8 [December 1806] and Norfolk turkey. Sir Joseph [Banks] ill but will tell him what Smith said of 'Globba'; needs to find Smith's "Exotic botany" 177, suspects it is another of his proposed 'Colebrookia' species. Asks if the new genus Smith has selected for 'Colebrookia' is [Francis] Buchanan's 'Sussodia', as he has two species of that genus selected for his volume ["Plants of the Coast of Coromandel"]. Informs Smith he has already named a genus for Colonel [Thomas] Hardwicke in first number of his third volume ["Plants of the Coast of Coromandel"]; details. Efforts to name a genus after Buchanan in same volume.

Sending two seeds of 'Cycas circinalis', and one he dissected in order to provide figure, encloses sketch of the section [extant]. Has not yet compared Smith's 'Roxburghia' with his own, so uncertain how they came to be unalike, though may be due to sending Lady [Amelia] Hume the roots before it blossomed in Bengal.

Separate note with cross section of seed, in pencil, and pencil remarks explaining the drawing.

Queries on [Thomas] Hardwicke's paper [for "Linnean Transactions"]; suggests a name and character for his new species [of Jerboa]. Sends three papers from which extracts will be printed for Smith to prepare. Intentions for next volume of "Linnean Transactions".

Sending Smith further specimens of 'Artemisia', would like Smith's opinion. Also encloses a 'Festuca' [extant], uncertain on the species.

Specimen.

Extract of a letter from Mrs Merry of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to Davies, 23 Sep 1806, in which she says she has a specimen that Smith is "dying for" but that she will not show it until Smith writes to [Henry] Muhlenberg. Also encloses a letter from Muhlenberg to Merry [not extant]. In respect of the shells Davies, and the specimen Smith stands to gain, requests the portrait of Smith promised to Davies but not yet received. Mr Wyley is to soon embark for the Cape [of Good Hope], asks Smith to recommend any useful books.

Encloses list of desiderata of lichen and mosses from "Flora Britannica" and "English Botany" in order to determine his own collection. Smith has ticked the following, probably specimens he sent: 'Gymnostomum aeruginosum', 'Grimmia schisti', 'Dicranum suscescens', 'Hypnum polyanthus', 'Hypnum swartzii', 'Hypnum imploxum', 'Lichen contiguus', 'Lichen conspurcatus'. Has just received some new mosses and lichens from the East Indies.

According to Lord Blandford the Norwich Paving Bill did not meet with opposition in the House of Lords. Misses his botanical conversations with Smith.

Comments on errors in the first half volume of "Flora Graeca", including different trivial names for the same plant in plate 31 and the corresponding text; error in spelling 'Minae' for 'Mainae' and 'Messenae' for 'Messenia'; omission of vulgar Greek name of 'Cyperus'; Smith's misleading manner of setting habitats for ubiquitous plants such as 'Phillyrea', wild olive, Manna ash, 'Gladiolus communis', 'Iris sisyrinchium', and 'Iria bulbacodium'. Regrets Smith did not apply to him more for particular information, presumed he had [John] Sibthorp's journals but but suspects this was not the case. From his own edition of the journals disputes attribution of a 'Valeriana tuberosa' and comments on other plants mentioned in the journal including a new 'Valeriana', a new 'Salvia', 'Salvia argentia' and 'Salvia sibthorpii'. Has found 'Campanula hederacea' in Sussex.

Delayed from executing Smith's wishes concerning [Francis] Buchanan, requests another "show-able" letter but unsure what use [Jacob] Bosanquet [a director of East India Company] can be to him seeing as Buchanan already has the sanction of the Governor-General [Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto (1751-1814)]. [James] Sowerby has had both 'Jasminum multiflorum' and 'Seseli gummiferum'. The sea-bathing at Worthing is very agreeable and picturesque.

Believes [Francis] Buchanan is mistaken about Roxburgh's son who is according to her "apprehension" in possession of his father's place [in India]. Believes [William] Roxburgh is neither soliciting "his late place, or for that son". Comments that Mr Roxburgh [probably William Roscoe (fl 1780s-1810) superintendent of East India Company's spice plantations at Fort Marlborough, Sumatra] has "succeeded particularly well", bringing "spices to perfection at Bencoolen, [Sumatra]" in the Company's own establishments, something they "have very much at heart". Though she generally wishes to serve anyone Smith esteems cannot in this case turn Roxburgh's son out. Amused by [William] Roscoe's and Smith's "different appellations" of Liverpool voters, Smith referring to them as "slave-mongers" and Roscoe as "worthy constituents". Wishes him well although believes he cannot in private life be a better man than the one he has turned out, "seldom the politicks of the study turn out well in the Cabinet". Happy to see men of ability come forward when England is in danger [fear of imminent French invasion], commenting on the poverty, depression, insolence and larceny in Europe under the "tyrant" [Napoleon Bonaparte]. In a postscript on recto of first folio Hume notes that the 'Nadina officinalis' is coming into flower.

Apologises for being unable to procure seeds of 'Fuchsia' and 'Dodecatheon'. Communicates death of [Francis] Masson [(1741-1805), Kew plant collector] in Montreal, Canada. Believes Masson was "hard dealt by in being exposed to the bitter cold of Canada in the decline of life, after twenty five years service in hot climates". Hopes Smith will be Masson's champion when the time comes for a memorial to him.

Thanks for parcel of herrings. [William] Roxburgh's collection of plants in London, is working on his "Flora Indica". Roxburgh informed that [Francis] Buchanan is on the way home with the Marquess [Richard Colley Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley (1760-1842) Governor-General of India, 1798-1805]. Has received specimen of 'Fabricia laevigata' in flower. Sir Jospeh Banks is recovered and in the library again. Comments on the "charming plants" in Smith's last two numbers [probably "Exotic Botany"] but informed by [Robert] Brown that there is already a a genus given to [Etienne Pierre] Ventenat in a "Flora of Benin" published in Paris so likely Ventenat has already approved of it.

Thanks for turkey. Glad to hear that [Richard Salisbury] will soon lose his title [presumably as vice-president of Linnean Society], "no one ought to mind what he says or writes more than when a puppy barks". Sending specimen of 'Fabricia', also has two new species of "'Leptasperum'?". Has basket of "Lambert nuts" for Smith, told by [James] Sowerby that he has the drawing of it, believes it a new species mentioned by [Peter Simon] Pallas in his last tour. Has a 'Eucalyptus', 'Melaleuca veridiflora', and 'Styphalia' from Amboyna, [Indonesia].

[Letter incomplete: several lines from foot of second folio cropped, presumed destroyed]

Sending specimen of 'Seseli gummiferum' for possible inclusion in "Exotic Botany", initially gathered from the Oxford Garden and identified from [Peter Simon] Pallas' herbarium held by [John Marten] Cripps [(1780-1853) traveller and antiquary] in Lewes, [Sussex], and mentioned in Pallas' "Travels in the Crimea" and a work by [Johann Gottlieb] Georgi [(1729-1802)]. [Thomas] Marsham has just visited. [Francis] Buchanan is going out [to India] with Lord Minto [Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto (1751-1814) Governor-General of India 1807-1813]. Smith to send him specimen of 'Echinophora spinosa'. Asks Smith's opinion of [Richard] Sal[isbury]'s "critique on Mr Dry[ander]". In postscript states "'Seseli gummiferum' is biennial & is perfectly hardy".

Sent [James] Sowerby seeds of 'Seseli', specimen of "'Collinsonia anisatum' ['Collinsonia anisata'] Lyon. Cat.", specimens of "'Dahlia' now 'Georgina' Wild.", and will send 'Collinsonia tuberosum' Michx. ['Collinsonia tuberosa']. Was at Bristol when the West [Indies] fleet arrived, saw onboard Lord Seaforth's [Francis Humberston Mackenzie] ship his zoological and botanical collections, the latter was gifted to him by Lord Seaforth. Received collection of 'Fucus' from [Phillipe] Durand in Montpellier, [France], and a book on them by Ducluzeau, and specimens of 'Vallisneria' and 'Aldrovanda'. Received letter from [Jacques-Julien de] Labillardière who has finished his work on New Holland [Australia] plants, Labillardière laments Smith cannot see [Joseph Pitton de] Tournefort's [(1656-1708)] herbarium for "Flora Graeca".

Intends to keep dedication to Smith in ["The gardener's and botanist's dictionary"]. Considers Smith "the establishment", glad of Smith's decision to only neglect [Richard] Salisbury, whom he never "much affected either as a man or a botanist". Discussion of botanical terminology.