Agrees with Smith that they should compound with [John] Bradbury for 10 guineas for his subscription arrears. Explains Sir [Justly Watson] Green's [2nd baronet, (1755-1826)] paper on 'Phascum'; not fit to be printed in its present state. [Thomas] Marsham has still not paid any of his debt, which he finds "so inexcusable" he has informed him he will no longer interfere on his behalf, and Marsham has written to [Edward] Forster pleading for more time.

Asks that [John] Bradbury write to Linnean Society Council requesting them to accept the 10 guineas from his as compound payment of his arrears. Uncertain what the solicitors have done with [Thomas] Marsham. The Horticultural Society propose to leave the building unless they are allowed use of the room daily for four hours. Asks when Smith is coming to London. Part of late George Anderson's [(fl 1800s-1817), plant collector] paper on 'Paeonia' read at last meeting, [Joseph] Sabine is to add a biographical sketch.

Encloses letter from [Joseph] Sabine, secretary to the Horticultural Society, for Smith's opinion on the proposal [that the Horticultural Society have daily use of Linnean Society's rooms]; doubts how far the Society ought to give the constant use of its rooms to another Society for the sake of "a few pounds".

Observations on 'Lignum cyprinum', following an article in "Linnean Transactions"; has compared it with specimen of the same in [Richard] Pococke's herbarium, in the possession of Baker, and compares it to the 'Liquidamberi arbor' of [Leonard] Plukenet's "Phytographia", identified by [Paul Dietrich] Giseke as the 'Liquidambar styraciflua' of Linnaeus, and 'Acer campestre' from [Caspar] Bauhin's "Prodromus". Offers Smith any information from Pocoke's herbarium if required.

Outline sketch of leaf on verso of second folio.

Has made his own experiments on growth of wood similar to those of [Jean-Baptiste] Du Hamel as described by Smith in "Introduction to Botany" and offers one to the Linnean Society. Also offers a specimen of petrified moss.

Sending the specimen of wood and petrified moss for the Linnean Society as offered in his previous letter. Has made an experiment on wood growth with a willow similar to the one that Smith has intentions of doing himself, and offers to send a specimen if requested.

A theological observation inspired by Smith's "Introduction to Botany", 'Monocotyledones' and Matthew 6:26-29 ["consider the lily of the fields"].

Disputes Smith's attribution of 'Fragaria indica' as a new genus in "Linnean Transactions" and [Abraham] Rees' "Cyclopedia", countering Smith's observations with his own, taken from his own plant given him by Lord Valentia [George Annesley]. Would like to show Smith his collection around 1000 hardy herbacious perennials, would be grateful if Smith could suggest anyone with whom he could exchange. Toured Scotland in 1811 but did not make any botanical discoveries. Has [John] Mackay's [(1772-1802), employed at Dickson nursery, Edinburgh] Irish 'Saxifragas' from Edinburgh. List of plants and their habitats.

Council unanimously rejected application of the Horticultural Society [to use Linnean rooms everyday]. [Thomas] Marsham paid £50 of his debt. Bishop of Carlisle [Samuel Goodenough] objects to Council meetings being held after General meetings, but [William George] Maton and [Edward] Forster can only attend Council in evening; believes opinion of Council members who regularly attend should be given precedence.

As "English Botany" is almost finished asks Smith to reconsider the genus 'Circaea', encloses a specimen from a Yorkshire plant and a 'Circaea alpina'. Through comparison with Linnaeus, [Carl Ludwig] Willdenow, and [William] Withering, believes 'Circaea alpina', 'Circaea intermedia' and 'Circaea lutetiana' are all distinct. Contests the validity of separate genera for 'Potentilla' and 'Tormentilla' when 'Potentilla reptans' and 'Tormentilla reptans' have the same flower. Thinks that 'Geranium lancastriense' and 'Geranium sanguineum' are distinct, his observations. Would like to be introduced to [George] Don's successor. List of rare British plants, hopes for assistance from Smith's friends in acquisition, [some of the names are marked by circles with dots in the middle].

Butt puzzled by a 'Rubus' which grows in a nearby wood, gives descriptions in Latin of three varities and in English of his variety, which he thinks may be a hybrid of raspberry and blackberry, would like Smith's observations.

Wishes Smith success with his Cambridge candidature. Agrees with Smith that "the small 'Circaea'" is 'Circaea alpina' but thinks it differs from that in "English Botany". Has not made any further observations on 'Rubus'. 'Glechoma hederacea' is known in his neighbourhood as "ground ivy" and "robin-run-in-the-hedge", a tea is made from it for "scorbutic complaints".

Received Smith's letter of 25 April. Expecting to leave [India] in two years and will bring with him a large collection, although it will not be as interesting as the one from Nepal. His collection of fish is more curious and increasing rapidly, has been unable to trace more than a few in Lacépède. This year is working in the Bhagalpur district of India. A squabble the previous year between the British and Nepalese governments has prevented him from obtaining seeds and flowering specimens of the officinal plants of the Indian Alps. Has managed to procure specimens of one genus, similar to 'Caltha', two species used for medicinal purposes and resemble either the 'Ranunculus arvensis' or 'Ranunculus acris', and another species which is one of the most violent poisons known in India and is used by the natives on their arrows.

Received Smith's letter of 7 May. Remarks on Indian weather and seasons. Has visited Agra and Allahabad. Now in the Gorakhpur district, where he plans to finish his survey, followed by a short trip to Hurdwar and then returning to England via Calcutta next year. Has been collecting the flowers of 'Scitamineae' orchids and 'asclepiades' in spirits as dried specimens are not satisfactory and the want of an appropriate terminology prevents a full description. His collection is large and various, eager to show Smith so as to have a new terminology for fructification developed. Concerned its bulkiness will result in high duties but hopeful of meeting with a Lord of the Treasury as obliging as the Marquess of Blandford was on the last occasion.

Returned [from India] at the end of August. Confusion over Smith's current location. Going to Scotland in October, stopping by the way of Bawtrey, Nottinghamshire, to drop off a little girl that came home in his charge, but would like to see Smith. Intends to settle in Edinburgh but this depends on the inclinations of his sister who may prefer to live in the country.

Received Smith's letter of 25 September. Prevented from meeting Smith but will endeavour to do so the next time both are in London. "That vain, empty creature Lord Moira" [Francis Edward Rawdon-Hastings (1754-1826) 1st Marquess of Hastings, Governor-General of India, 1813-1823] has seized all his natural history drawings made during his survey of India and disrupted his publication plans. Proposes an alternative scheme and discusses the benefits and drawbacks of writing in English or Latin. At present Edinburgh is the most eligible location for settling. Wishes to join the Linnean Society.

Received Smith's letter of 13 February. Wishes Smith success with his Cambridge professorship candidature. Unable to attend his own admittance to the Linnean Society as he is currently detained in Scotland buying land. Disgusted by the Court of the East India Company who have detained his materials. Preparing an account of the fish of the Ganges despite Lord Moira [Francis Edward Rawdon-Hastings (1754-1826) 1st Marquess of Hastings] having detained 144 of his drawings. When finished with this he will require the descriptions and drawings of Nepalese plants in order to have them published. Shall now reside near Callander.

Received Smith's letter of 2 November. Disgusted with the treatment he has received from the Court of Directors of the East India Company and the difficulty of getting even the temporary use of the natural history materials he gave them, consequently considering abandoning publication. Shall live in Leny, Stirling, from May. Preparing an account of Assam and Nepal, and a description of the fish of the Ganges. Encourages Smith to make as much use as possible of his Nepalese flora materials. Glad that Smith thinks of publishing a Mantissa, will write to India House if Buchanan's collection there would prove useful. Will use the proceeds of his account of Assam and Nepal to fund the publishing of his account of the fish. Obliged to Smith's offer to assist him with Lord Moira [Francis Edward Rawdon-Hastings (1754-1826) 1st Marquess of Hastings, Governor-General of India, 1813-1823] who took 144 drawings of fish, 20 of quadrupeds, 241of birds and 130 of plants, will send copies of the correspondence.

Happy about Smith's intention to publish a Mantissa, believes it should take precedence over translating "Flora Britannica" into English and would be the work on which "any lasting reputation must depend". Pleased to send Smith a copy of his "Hindu Genealogies". Preparing memoirs for different maps drawn by natives of Ava, Burma, to be published in the Edinburgh Philosophical Journal. His manuscript of the Gangetic fishes with the publisher. Took the name Hamilton in order to succeed to the estate of Bardowie. Wishes to procure everything that is likely to be naturalised in a narrow wooded glen and which does not already grow in Scotland.

Received Smith's letter of 10 June. Intends to come to London as soon as his leg has recovered, hopes to see Smith. Thinks Smith will find [Nathaniel] Wallich an excellent correspondent. Mentions an accident happening to boxes Smith sent to Edinburgh. Has seen little of Rees's "Encyclopedia" but hopes Smith will persist in publishing a Mantissa, urges Smith to use his collections in the East India Company's library, has no intention of using it for himself. Has had difficulties in publishing his work on fish and is disillusioned with dealers and booksellers. Also publishing his tables of the "Hindu Genealogies", hopes it will lead to a "much greater extent of historical knowledge than was thought to exist". Attempting to acclimatise foreign plants in a wooded glen near his house, asks Smith to send any seeds or roots that might be suited to such conditions, especially English orchids.

All disappointed Smith is not to attend Linnean Society next Tuesday but pleased he is recovering well. Agrees with Smith's nominations of Sir Christopher Pegge [(1764-1822), physician] and [Thomas Thynne, 2nd] Marquess of Bath [(1765-1837)] for Council. Only one FMLS vacancy but too late for it to be filled this season, anxious for [Alexander von] Humboldt to be the first elected.

No longer receives letters free of expense since abolition of the Transport Office. [Thomas] Marsham "so exceedingly ill" doubts the Society ever receiving anymore money from him. Does not expect to suffer from abolition of Transport Office.