Researches on "Umbelliferae".

Compliments.

Grateful for Smith's condolences on death of his daughter Sophia [Lady Brownlow (1788-1814), wife of John Cust, 1st Earl Brownlow], a "victim of [...] this cruel winter". Believes the people at Cambridge are "most obstinatley blind to their own interests" [Smith's unsuccessful campaign to become Professor of Botany], comments that the Botanical Garden there last summer was in a "most forlorn uncomfortable state". Wishes Smith knew Mr Eustace, a writer who has been staying at Wormleybury. Sophia's death has "badly checked" the pleasure he gained from his plants and garden, which after the death of his wife Amelia were cultivated solely for Sophia.

Appreciation of Trans. of Linnean Society; sale of his books in England.

The same (as JES/COR/6/99).

His work on New Holland plants.

Sends Australian plants for determination; his work thereon.

Shock at death of George Don, asks that if one of the last plates for Smith's "elegant work" [presumably "English Botany"] is one of Don's discoveries he should be commemorated in it.

Responds to Smith's enquiries about 'Pinus', referring him to [Andre] Michaux's [(1746-1802)] comments in Pursh's "Flora Americae". A 'Pinus maritima' at Kew now 'Pinus caricio' "Lamarck Encyclo. vol 5". Growing new species of pine at Boyton, [Wiltshire], compares it against 'Pinus cembra' and 'Pinus pinaster', it was sent from the Crimea by [Peter Simon] Pallas and named 'Pinus maritima' in his last "Travels". [Pierre] Sonnerat [(1748-1814)] returned to France. Linnean Society short of papers for next volume of "Linnean Transactions".

Death of Lady Brownlow [Sophia Brownlow (1788-1814) wife of John Cust, 1st Earl Brownlow, and daughter of Sir Abraham Hume] of a "rheumatick fever". Sir Abraham Hume's reaction. Believes Smith's indisposition a result of "this Siberian winter". Health of various friends including [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert, Sir Joseph Banks, and [Samuel Goodenough].

Eager to hear about [Alexander von] Humboldt as soon as he appears at Soho Square. Has nearly the whole of [Thomas] Nuttall's [(1786-1859)] collection of [living] plants.

Congratulates Smith on knighthood. Has some of [Thomas] Nuttall's [(1786-1859)] living plants from the banks of the Missouri, including 'Jussieua angulata' and 'Mentzelia oligosma', hopes to be able to confirm Smith's conjecture that it is the same genus as 'Loasa'. Received [Matthew] Flinders' "Voyage [to Terra Australis]", would like Smith's opinion of [Robert] Brown's observations on natural order. Has 'Lathyrus amplicarpos' in flower answering to the "old Morrison" description, asks if Smith described it from a dyed specimen in the "Encyclopedia" [Abraham Rees' "Cyclopedia"].

Thanks for £31 for George Don's family, visited them in Forfar with [Robert] Brown [(c 1767-1845)] of the Perth nurseries, comments on the opposing characteristics of Don's two grown up sons: the elder, [George Don (1798-1856)], is "senseless, stubborn, unfeeling", whilst the younger, [David Don (1799-1841)], is "pliable, full of attachment [...], and really clever". "The Committee" failed to convince the eldest to "carry on the garden", fears it will be abandoned and that the son will go into the army, navy, or worse. Will try and get the younger son attached to a nursery or into Kew. Congratulates Smith on completion of "English Botany". Maughan has proved 'Solidago lanceolata' as indigenous, still has his own doubts. Results of an experiment for growing 'Fucus esculentus' at Car Rock. A "curious fact in vegetable physiology" concerning yellow leaved ash seedlings "inoculated by the insertion of [a] diseased bud". Neill's opinion of "Life and Death of a Monkey [or the Village of Alton: a tale for young persons" an anonymous work by "A Lady" published in London in 1814].

Smith's candidature for Botany Professorship at Cambridge University. [Richard] Relhan has enquired after a report that [Martyn] is resigning in Smith's favour. Smith right in gaining support from outside Cambridge. Discusses process of Cambridge elections and reiterates Dr [Richard] Walker's [(1679-1764) founder of Cambridge Botanic Garden] provision in his gift of the lectureship that a foreigner may be elected if sufficiently qualified.

Smith's candidature for Botany Professorship at Cambridge University. Approves of Smith's plan to only apply for Walkerian lecturership at present and await opportunity of applying for professorship. Equates Smith's situation to hostility his father [John Martyn (1699-1768) Cambridge professor of botany 1732-1762] faced when applying for professorship.

Smith's candidature for Botany Professorship at Cambridge University. Had hoped Smith's letter would request his resignation as he is anxious about the governors of St John's and is too ill to go to Cambridge to vote.

Smith's candidature for Botany Professorship at Cambridge University. Transcribes extract from letter received from Provost of King's College stating that he has decided not to promise his vote to anyone until a vacancy is actually open, so as to be able to compare the merits of the respective candidates.

Smith's candidature for Botany Professorship at Cambridge University. Is supporting "R" [Richard Relhan] instead of Smith for professorship in order not to compromise himself, despite believing Smith to be better qualified. Believes the vice-chancellor [George Thackeray] will do the best thing for the university. Glad to hear that the Master of Caius College [Martin Davy] is not as ill as reported. Suffering from ill health himself.

Sending Smith a new species of 'Sparganium', gathered in 1808 ago on Zetland [Shetland]; observations; believes it was referred to by Mr Neill in his "Tour to Orkney and Zetland", transcribes Neill's comments. Proposes name 'S. longifolium'.

Questions Smith's reference of [Fredric] Hasselquist [(1722-1752) Swedish naturalist] as the authority for his claim at Royal Institution lecture that the biblical "lily of the fields" of Matthew 6:28 is 'Amaryllis lutea'. The lily is also mentioned in the Song of Soloman and biblical commentators speak of the lily as common in Palestine. Wishes to determine whether the lily is a garden or wild flower [for the annotated Bible D'Oyly prepared with Richard Mant for publication by the Society for Promotion of Christian Knowledge known as "D'Oyly and Mant's Bible" (1814 and later editions)].