He and Mr Poulter have determined that what they once thought 'Zamia pumila' is in fact 'Zamia cycadis' of "Hortus Kewensis"; flowering in his garden, possibly for first time in Europe.

Contents of Linnean Society charter satisfactory, with the only remaining difficulty being the number of names in it; the Attorney and Soliciter General suggested the first Council, which was rejected by himself, [Thomas] Marsham, and Sir Joseph Banks on account of cost, so they are now examining precedents to include as few names as possible, or to otherwise limit Council names to 15.

Encloses letter, to be returned, which has recently caused much discord at the Society; account of the business, apparently related to nomination of [Johann Karl Adam] Murhard [(1781-1863)] as a FMLS.

[Richard] Pulteney has left his museum to the Society provided they keep it as a separate collection, or that it be sold at auction, the price being made up to £200 if necessary, and given to the Society for purchase of an annual medal of 5 guineas for best botanical paper. Banks has behaved "handsomely" to the Society.

Thanks Macleay for this care and attention to him. The plant Macleay sent from [John] Fairbairn is a new 'Cissus', not in Willdenow, if he gets the flowers will write a specific character to go at end of "Linnean Transactions".

Congratulates Macleay, [Thomas] Marsham, and Sir Joseph Banks on success of the Linnean Society charter; agrees that 15 Council names would be enough. Regrets Society discord, suggests course of action for allowing [John] Parkinson to produce testimonials in favour of electing [Johann Karl Adam] Murhard [(1781-1863)] a FMLS, and for Macleay to regulate [Jonas] Dryander until he comes to London, he is an "indifferent person, & fear[s] neither". Unable to decide on [Richard] Pulteney's legacy until they see what it consists of. Sending Macleay a turkey.

Thanks Smith for the "excellent Alderman" he sent [a Norfolk turkey]. Present [Walter] Wade's specimen of 'Eriocaulon septangulare' and extract from his letter to the Linnean Society. [John] Fairbairn unable to to acquire flowering specimen of the 'Cissus' until May.

Pleased to state that the recent discord at the Linnean Society between [John] Parkinson and [Jonas] Dryander over the election of [Johann Karl Adam] Murhard [(1781-1863)] as a FMLS has been satisfactorily settled; has always been of opinion that it was a personal quarrel originating in words spoken after the Chair had been left. The Society has decided to accept [Richard] Pulteney's museum on condition of its being kept a separate collection.

Encloses fructification of a palm new to him; describes the fructification. The Bishop [of Winchester, Brownlow North] has asked [James] Sowerby to visit to draw it. Description similar to 'Zamia pumila' [Smith has annotated "'Zamia cycadis' in margin of recto of second folio].

["Spec 20" written in pencil at top of verso of first folio]

Asks if the 'Fucus fastigiatus' of the Linnaean herbarium has any fruit on it as described in "Linnean Transactions" vol 3 p200, and if so requests smallest sample possible in order to draw it under microscope; he has made some important discoveries respecting fructification in this species and its affinities.

Requests to become a subscriber of "Flora Graeca". Does not wish the remaning volume of "Flora Anglica" ["Flora Britannica"?] to come out until the modern cryptogamists are more advanced. Has much to add to the physiology of 'Fucus' from parcels of winter specimens in fruit sent from Cornwall, Bognor, [Sussex], and the Isle of Wight.

Has sent letterpress of his third fasciculus [probably "Nereis Britannica"] to [Dawson] Turner for Smith's opinion. Hopes Smith received specimen of 'Lichen vulpinus'; observations. Encloses specimens of 'Byssus fulva', observations; drawings of 'B velutina v aurea', observations. Sent specimen of 'Auricularia papyrina' to Turner; observations.

[Spec 25 written in pencil at head of verso of first folio]

Having being requested by Government General of Bengal to gather informtion on the cultivation of cotton in China, he met with the subject at considerable length in a Chinese work, which has been translated and is now enclosed as a paper for the Linnean Society [see RelatedMaterial below].

Thanks for Smith's "authentic & decisive" information in response to his queries; leaves all his specimens in Smith's hands. Was not aware he sent specimens of 'Carex flava' intermixed with those of 'C. fulva'; encloses further spikes of the latter; observations. [Samuel] Goodenough sent him a copy of his "Linnean Transactions" paper on "British species of 'Carex'" but found no reference to himself for variety of 'C. muricata', but confirms the specimens Smith received are the same as the ones he formerly sent Goodenough.

Observations on other plants and specimens, including: 'Carex' resembling 'C. ampullacea', 'Dianthus caryophyllus', 'Mentha gentilis', 'Chara flexilis', encloses specimen of 'Trifolium striatum', saw 'Conferva aegagropila' hopes to acquire specimens soon. Intends to send Smith list of his desiderata.

[Spec 29 written in pencil at head of folio]

Thanks for Smith's letter of 2 March [1801] and 'Drosera' specimens. Botany has "afforded [him] a most agreeable relaxation" from more severe study; preparing fourth edition of his father's [William Withering] work ["An arrangement of British plants", first published 1776], though warns not much alteration or improvement can be expected; thanks for Smith's offer of assistance. Requests Smith's assistance regarding an "indifferent specimen" of 'Ranunculus gramineus' gathered in North Wales; observations, will send it. He recently applied to join the Linnean Society.

Has rewritten his lost description of 'Doryanthes', has enclosed it with two plates [not extant, see Related Material below]. In despair as after six years the Ambassador of Portugal, who is a relation of the Grand Inquistor, has reawoken the "ancient hatred" of his persecutors and desires to effect his ruin either in England if he can, or by sending him back to Portugal.

Encloses a specimen from the Cape of either 'Galanthus' or 'Leucojum', sent via Mr Rowley's brother, a sea captain. Is resuming his botanical studies with the assistance of "Flora Britannica". Longs for one or two distinct characteristics of grasses to be pointed out to him so as to avoid having to go into minute examination. [John] Underwood [(fl 1780s-1834)], gardener at Dublin Botanic Garden, is growing 'Anemone hortensis' in a greenhouse. Wishes that an "accurate and able" botanist would complete "Flora Londinensis". Glad that Smith's travels through Greece [writing of "Flora Graeca"] "are perform'd at the Desk" as "that climate don't seem to agree with English Constitutions", recalls the death in Greece of Mr Tweddale. Feels no alarm at the situation of Ireland but concern for the starving and situation of the poor. Obliged to Dawson Turner for remembering him. Remarks that if Smith ever quits botany he could look into Helen Maria Williams [(1762-1827) writer], "in the vast profusion of chaff there may be found a few good grains of fact". A friend just arrived from Paris was disappointed by the paucity of the Garden there.

The "Champion Potatoes" sent by Smith's mother from Norwich have been distributed and planted although have come up with both white and red blossoms, asks which is the true "Champion", Smith has annotated "the white is the right, orange stamina". Has been botanising with "Flora Britannica", approves that 'Cucubalus beken' is now 'Silene behen' but queries how it was determined. The only other plants he has seen are 'Draba verna' and either 'Fumaria capreolata' or 'Fumaria officinalis'. Believes the flower he sent previously was not 'Corolla supera' and therefore could not be either 'Galanthus' or 'Leucojum'. Suprised to find that 'Fumaria solida' and 'Fumaria lutea' are natives.

Felicitations on the Peace; appointed Professor at Madrid Jard. des Plantes.

Inaccuracies in [William] Hudson's ["Flora Anglica"]. Hudson's '[Carex] inflata' is not Smith's '[Carex] laevigata', recalls Hudson taking specimens of what he now knows to be '[Carex] filiformis' and believes this may be Hudson's 'C. inflata'. Notes that Hudson's 'Carex tomentosa', [in brackets 'C. filiformis'], is introduced, along with others, in the appendix, entirely on the authority of [John] Lightfoot who was unaware that this plant was the same. The '[Carex] vesicaria' and '[Carex] inflata' of his first edition were both varieties of the same plant. Comments on the pressure Hudson was under to produce a second edition, which along with his poor state of health accounts for the inaccuracies. Thanks Smith for the specimen of 'Poa bulbosa'. Encloses specimen of 'Cerastium latifolium' "from Dr Richardson's own habitat". Complains that [James] Dickson is being "tedious" with his fourth part of "Fasiculus", laments that "emolument should at any time be the sole object of publication, as then it is too apt to promote multiplication of species". Notes a numbness in his right hip, knee and leg.

Thanks Smith for medical advice, prior to his letter had used "Whitehead's oil of turpentine" which had caused his leg complaint to become much more painful so took to seabathing for six weeks, with improvements from the third. Thanks for specimens, agrees with Smith's descriptions of 'Poa compressa' and 'Poa caesia'. Smith's 'Poa alpina' has helped determine that his is a distinct species, possibly 'Poa glauca' of [William] Withering. Sending more specimens of it. Thanks Smith for information on 'Cersatium latifolium'. Has sent a specimen of a plant from Anglesea he believes may be Smith's 'Carex laevigata'. After reading Smith's description of it in "Linnean Transactions" realised a mistake he had made about 'Carex binervis', which he took for 'Carex distans', sends speciemens of 'C. distans' [extant]. Encloses some moss specimens. Asks Smith's opinion of [Olof] Swartz's "Dispositio systematica muscorum frondosorum Sveciae" and [Erik] Acharius' "History of Swedish Lichens".

Encloses a letter apparently received from [John Leonard] Knapp [not extant]. Asks if the handwriting is Knapp's and whether he should take any notice of it. Has found an 'Agaricus' (Withering vol 4 p.206) and named it 'Agaricus dillenii'. Enquires as to the whereabouts of [William] Bingley.

Three labelled specimens: queried specimen of 'Carex teretiuscula', Anglesea, sent May; 'Carex distans', Anglesea, sent June; 'Carex laevigata', Anglesea, sent July. Probably specimens sent with letter JES/COR/4/16.

Apologises for letter they sent Smith being given to Mr Smith Nurseryman in Covent Garden by mistake. Corrects mistake with 'Jungermannia connivens' in his ["Fasciculus plantarum cryptogamicarum Britanniae" (1785-1801)].

Lists habitats of species of 'Salix' he found in Scotland: 'Salix retusa', 'Salix reticulata', 'Salix lapponicum', 'Salix lanata', and 'Salix depressa'. Still has some unidentified willows.