Constantly reminded of Smith by his "very assiduous & ever-to-be-encouraged correspondent Mr G[eorge] Don". Made to doubt his own knowledge after seeing Don's "acute observations", and wonder "where have all these things lain since the days of Adam, that no one should have noticed them before". Does not wish for Smith to be charged for any of [the Don letters and plant specimens]. Eagerly awaiting confirmation of Smith's visit.

"Wonderful [George] Don! What things he finds!", will forward letter to Norwich. 'Sedum ochroleucum' just on point of flowering and the two carnations growing well. Lists the rarities in his garden, in hope of tempting Smith to visit Rose Castle: 'Orobus sylvaticus', 'Alchemilla alpina', 'Campanula rotundifolia' (Scotch variety), 'Vaccinium oxycoccos', 'Sedum ochroleucum', 'Eryngium alpinum', 'Hieracium mucorum'.

Sends two more packets from "the wonderful man" [George Don], thinks Don's 'Rosa glauca' should be named 'Rosa sanguisorbifolia' on account of the leaf. His field containing 'Galium witheringii' has been mowed but will search for more and send to [James] Sowerby if successful, did not realise it was so rare to Smith.

On first looking at the 'Rosa glauca' he thought it had the exact leaf of 'Sanguisorba officinalis'.

"Indefatigable" [George] Don sends Smith "packet after packet of rich stores". Don wants his [Goodenough] opinion on his new 'Avena pubescens' but will submit to Smith instead. All is quiet in this neighbourhood now; the "riots & murders in this part of the world originated in those shameful Parliamentary speeches we have heard of late, and in the intemperate conduct of our Magistrates".

Separate note on identifying features of enclosed specimens.

Three specimens of 'Avena'.

He is busy with ordinations, confirmations, and visitations. Hopes Smith is well.

Forwarding packets [from George Don], from his comfortable retreat; London much busier than usual this year. Comments on how "indefatigable" [George] Don is, "there is no end to his researches", and "would almost suspect that he had sowed seeds of foreigners". Thinks Don mistaken with his 'Anthoxanthum'.

Mr Holme has arrived here and brought 'Rosa rubella' of "English botany" and 'Cistus marifolius', Holme originally though latter was two species, 'C. marifolius' and C. polifolius'; observations on characteristics.

Sends two plants from [George] Don; cannot work out the 'Anthemis', which is near 'A. cotula', and asks if the 'Atriplex' is 'A. alba' of Gmelin.

Encloses fruit of 'Rosa rubella' at request of Mr Holme. Asks Smith's opinion on news from Europe and whether the "step of Austria" will end the war. Query on calyx of 'Rosa rubella' constant?". Suffering from gout in his left arm and hand.

Numbered observations on enclosed specimens: 1. a 'Conferva'; 2. a 'Splachnum', possibly 'S. fastigiatum'; 3. a 'Byssus' or 'Bryum'; 4. possible variety of 'Bryum turbinatum'; 5. possible 'Bryum annotinum'; 6. 'Dicranum undulatum'; 7. a 'Dicranum' not 'D. longifolium'; 8. a 'Dicranum' either 'D. rigidulum' or 'D. varens'; 9. a 'Dicranum' distinct from 'D. rigidulum' or 'D. varens'; 10. a 'Dicranum'; 11. a 'Hypnum'; 12. a 'Hypnum'; 13. a 'Hypnum'; 14. a 'Lichen'; 15. a 'Lichen'; 16. a 'Lichen'; 17. a 'Lichen'; 18. a 'Lichen'; 19. a 'Lichen'; 20. a 'Lichen'; 21. a 'Lichen'; 22. a 'Hypnum'. Asks after items and specimens sent to [James] Sowerby and [Charles] Lyell. Asks Goodenough to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith.

Following receipt of letter from their mutual friend [Charles] Lyell concerned to hear that [John] Mackay [(1772-1802), nurseryman and gardener] has been credited in "English botany" as sending the 'Saxifraga pedatifida', which he claims is impossible as it is very rare and only found in the Clova mountains; offers to send plants botanists are not well acquainted with so as to be cultivated in gardens.

Encloses specimens of 3 varities of 'S. pedatifida'; an 'Arenaria' he proposes naming 'A. charlinfolia', observations. Points out that Smith has credited [Robert] Brown with finding 'Sagina maritima' in 1798 on coasts of Ireland and Fifeshire, when he himself found it in 1784 on Ben Nevis.

Asks Goodenough to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith.

Numbered observations on enclosed specimens: a 'Triticum' first found in 1793 on Ben Lawers, and never encountered again until 1810, proposes name 'T. alpinum', very rare but now established in his garden; 2. leaf of 'Iris xiphium', thinks it indigenous; 3. leaves of an 'Alchemilla' larger than 'A. alpina'; 4. leaves of an 'Anthyllis' different from 'A. vulneraria' and the coastal 'Anthyllis'. Asks Goodenough to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith.

Sends 'Carex halleriana', 'Rosa alpina', and a new species of 'Origanum' for Smith's opinion. Concerned at Smith's impending absence and shall look upon it as a year's loss to "our infant [Linnean] Society". Hopes Smith will give [Thomas] Marsham his opinion of best way in making the Society known in a "proper and respectable manner". Recommends preparing the papers already submitted so that it may be known how earnest they are to communicate findings; acquire drawings of plants and insects for which no good picture exists; to publish new new and dubious species such as 'Astragalus arenarius', 'Athamanta oreoselinum'; indexes to old botanical books; and partial floras. Requests to borrow [Richard] Brown's "Prosodia Pharmacopceorum" for a few days.

Franked Smith's letter to [Walter] Wade. Amused by Smith's letter stating he is teaching [William Fitt] Drake religion [he had begun training for the clergy], presumes he does not mean Divinity. Debates atonement and "vicarious punishment" as defined by Smith's Unitarian faith and his own. Counsels Smith not to advise Drake and compares the religion of a citizen and of a clergyman.

Arrived back in London. Thanks for "Lachesis Lapponica". Sir Joseph Banks taking him to the [Royal Society] anniversary dinner. Antiquarian Society in uproar; Sir [Henry] Englefield [7th baronet (1752-1822)] "pants" for the Chair but his Popish connection has raised a powerful opponent in Lord Aberdeen [George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen (1784-1860)], who has carried ninety-two votes to three.

Smith's reply to Goodenough's dated 4 October 1811. Goodenough does him "great injustice" but by mistake, he informed Goodenough of his disbelief in vicarious punishment as taught by the [Anglican] church in confidence, and claims, as a professed dissenter, his own right to judge for himself. States that he has never perplexed Drake or anyone else with his doubts or opinions and only tried to get him to take the Christian religion as a whole, and thinks that all Christians should judge for themselves.

Thanks for basket of game. Assures Smith he did not mean to suggest Smith was trying to influence [William Fitt Drake] with his own religious persuasions, and looks upon "any conscientious dissenter as being as good & as religious as any churchman whatsoever".

Will join the Linnean Dining Club, proposed by [William George] Maton, [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert and Mr Baker, if it is a "frugal literary dinner, where eating is not the primary object". Fears the plans for it are moving too fast; could not attend a meeting on subject held at the British Coffee House and attended by Maton, [George] Shaw [(1751-1813)], [Joseph] Sabine, and [William] Pilkington [(1758-1848)] as it would be "out of character". Enjoying reading "Lachesis Lapponica" and the greater maturity of Linnaeus' writing compared to his earlier "Systema".

Busy with the National Schools for the Education of the Poor. Received Smith's shilling in the post and notes it was not tampered with; wishes others were as careful as Smith in ensuring their correspondence is not chargeable to the recipient, as the "vain-glorius Lancaster" [probably John Lancaster (1778-1838), Quaker and public education innovator] did to him in sending a copy of his "seditious" speech in Ireland and an Irish newspaper. Refuses to join the Linnean Dining Club as he does not wish to have his carriage waiting so publicly outside the British Coffee House, the chosen venue for it. Unsurprised to read that "riot & robbery stalk abroad uncontrolled", and even expected it considering how the upcoming generation of men educated upon Lancaster's plan were kept from religious notions and now have a "very general indifference with respect to all religion". No Linnean Society news, [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert "enamoured of being in the Chair". Currently preparing two arduous sermons.

Hopes Smith will be able to preside at the Linnean Society anniversary meeting. Asks if anything has been done about the Bishop of Durham [Shute Barrington] being elected an Honorary Member of the Society. Forsees "dreadful evils" following the "atrocities which have taken place", makes him lament more the death of [Thomas] Dampier [(1749-1812)].

Bishop of Durham [Shute Barrington] unanimously elected an Honorary Member at the Linnean Society anniversary meeting. Fifty-three attended the dinner, including Bishop of Winchester [Brownlow North], Lord [Edward Smith-]Stanley, Sir Nash Grose [(1740-1814), judge], Sir George Staunton, Sir Thomas Frankland, Mr Poulter, [Thomas] Woodward, [Dawson] Turner, [John] Davies of Trinity College, [Thomas] Hoy [(c 1750-1822)], [Thomas] Marsham, [Alexander] Macleay, [Lewis Weston] Dillwyn [(1778-1855)], Forster, [William George] Maton, [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert, Symonds, and [Thomas] Rackett. Account of speeches and toasts. Sorry to see that older members such as [James] Dickson, [John] Fairbairn, and [John] Francillon [(1744-1816), jeweler and naturalist] did not attend either the morning or evening. [Abraham] Rees [(1743-1825)], [Robert] Hodgson, [Thomas Andrew] Knight, and Davies Giddy attended in the morning but not evening, and Sir Abraham Hume, Lord Valentia [George Annesley], and the Bishop of Salisbury [John Fisher] [(1748-1825)] promised to attend in the evening but did not.

Pleased to hear that Smith is recovering from his fever with medicines and sea air but asks why, given his propensity for fevers, he has not found a preemptive remedy to be applied at the first signs of one. An abundant harvest expected in Cumberland. Has used his entomological knowledge to cure his farmer's fears timing when to bring in the hay after observing that any approach of rain brings out insects such as 'Tabanus pluralis'. Enquires after the fourth volume of "Flora Britannica". His given his son, Edmund, Smith's "Introduction to Botany". Glad that Smith is to finish settling the Linnean Society's business with the Prince Regent. It never rains all day in his part of the country. Takes it for granted that America will have to be classed as an enemy but hopes peace will be preserved [War of 1812, fought between Britain and USA over British interests in North America, 1812-1815].

Brief description of 'Gnaphalium sylvaticum' of "Flora Britannica" found whilst walking on an old moor "now unfortunately under the plough". Asks if he was correct regarding 'Astragalus campestris', and [George] Don's 'Carex nivalis'. International affairs: America's "avowed friendship for Buonaparte", Russia's retreat from the French, and Spain's lack of spirit after all the assistance Britain has given.