Received Smith's letter of 2 September. Describes charms of the neighbourhood of Boxlet, his new living. Discusses Smith's dispute with Salisbury: Salisbury's use of his sisters' names in a false manner "degrades him from the rank of gentleman"; believes Salisbury wishes he never wrote his pamphlet ["Generic characters of English Botany"] but does not know how to retract it; does not intend to read any of Salisbury's "Paradisus Londinensis"; has thought him "too wild to take a lead" since a conversation with him about Salisbury changing the nomenclature of 'Erica'; advises Smith not to enter into a squabble with Sir Joseph Banks [over his unsympathetic attitude towards to Salisbury dispute], "like all great men, he in his way is open to the tittle tattle of designing persons"; Smith should mortify Salisbury with "contemptuous silence"; blames [William George] Maton for allowing the pamphlet into the Linnean Society whilst he was in the chair.

Smith should use the verncaular form of [John] Sibthorp and [Peter Simon] Pallas in his Errata, suggests wording for an explanatory note. His aquaintance with the Bishop of Norwich [Henry Bathurst (1744-1837)]. A botanist, Mrs Brereton, is coming to Boxley. In Boxley has observed 'Hieracium umbellatum', 'Chrysosplenium oppositifolium', 'Hedypnois hieracioides', and 'Crepis biennis'. Has looked in vain in Rochester for 'Viola hirta'. Thinks 'Orchis militaris' is not a variety. [Thomas] Marsham visited after staying with [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert, deplores Lambert's weakness in dispossessing himself of his landed property by giving the inheritance to his "unworthy sisters". His own daughters are still looking for husbands, "impoverished times for such a commodity".

Praises the first part of "Florae Graecae prodromus", just received. Laments that because of "Bonaparte's rage" it cannot be made available in Europe, believes peace is impossible and he will not stop until he invades England and "the whole world is at his feet". Became involved in three contested elections for Parliament, upset to see Sir Sidney Smith lose his Rochester seat to a "monied banker who drove in the night before the election" [James Barnett (c 1760-1836)].

Regrets the "gross prurience of Linnaeus's mind" as seen in the several genera of 'Testacea' and the "vulgar lasciviousness" of 'Clitoria'. Considers Linnaeus' reasons for choosing the latter name 'Clitoria' and concludes that a literal translation of the first principle of Linnaean botany would "shock female modesty" and it is possible that many virtuous students might not be able to make out the similitude of 'Clitoria'. The name, like 'Chenopodium vulvaria', is "disgusting and horrid". Does not look at [Richard] Salisbury's publications and has not discussed anything with him since he and [Jonas] Dryander contended with his renaming 'Erica', including changing 'Erica tetralix' to 'Erica botuliformis' - sausage-shaped 'Erica'.

Admires Dawson Turner and asks Smith to thank him for his letter on '[Fucus] discors' and '[Fucus] abrotanifolius', hopes he and Smith will work out the essential difference between the two. [William] Hudson's specimen of '[Fucus] abrotanifolius' in his possession is the same as all the specimens found by Mrs [Ameila Warren] Griffiths [(1768-1858), algologist].

Account of his attempts to clear the Salisbury-Smith dispute whilst sitting as vice-president at Linnean Society: [William George] Maton excused himself from allowing Salisbury's pamphlet ["Generic characters of English Botany"] into the Linnean Society by pleading ignorance; told Salisbury at Sir Joseph Banks' that he was wrong to make the Linnean Society the arena for his and Smith's dispute and that the pamphlet should be withdrawn, to which he initially agreed and then reneged, Salisbury then gave him the roots of 'Crocus aureus' and seeds of a 'Dahlia'; attempted expunge the pamphlet from the Society with a Council but could not form one; [Alexander] Macleay has left the pamphlet out of the list of donations to the Society. Sorry to see that Salisbury has so many papers in the new "Linnean Transactions" volume but enjoyed [Thomas] Rackett and Maton's paper on British shells.

Was in London "when the explosion took place with respect to the late Ministers" [the "Ministry of All the Talents", a national unity government which was formed in February 1806 and broke up in March 1807 over Catholic Emancipation], the King [George III (1738-1820)] is "conscientious on the matter" and "would die before he consented to the giving of power to the R[oman] Catholics". [Jonas] Dryander has said both Smith and Salisbury have behaved badly, but Salisbury much the worse. Sees that Norwich has got rid Dr L Adkins, never could bear him.

Advises Smith not to engage with or react to [Richard] Salisbury in any way during next trip to London. [Jonas] Dryander is against Salisbury. Wish he had known that Smith's papers for "Linnean Transactions" had been voted to be printed and yet left out of the last volume. Salisbury "commits himself in all his writings - it does not require so able a naturalist as yourself to cut him up by the roots".

Sometimes gains more from attempting to solve difficulties than the solution to the difficulty itself. Agrees with Smith regarding his "Syllabus" and that in Smith's plain illustration and management it would become a very popular "Philosphia Botanica". Believes the best mode of strenghtening the Linnaean system is to suggest criticisms and hints on improving it. Laments that Artistotle did not begin Linnaeus' work but believes Smith has "laid a foundation of solid & progressive improvement". Advises Smith with his new work to retain all the classes as they now stand, especially ['Monoecia'], 'Dioecia', and 'Polygamia' as they are necessary to a system based upon the structure and situation of fructification. Smith's term "diclinia" correct and compares with substantive terms such as 'Monogynia' and 'Polygamia' and discusses Linnaeus' use of Latin genders. Dissatisfied with the look of [Dawson] Turner's "Fucus". Informed that Turner using remarks of his, [Ameila Warren Griffiths' (1768-1858)] and [Elizabeth Hill's (c 1760-1850)] in stating [John] Stackhouse's 'Fucus abrotanifolius' and 'Fucus disours' are the same plant, hopes they are properly credited, Stackhouse was too jealous to do so.

Discusses sending and receipt of letters.

Thanks for Smith's "Introduction to Botany", Smith writes with "great spirit". Believes "all natural history should be turned ot the mental imporvement of mankind", asks if Smith has seen [Samuel] Vince's "4 Sermons against atheism" ["A Confutation of Atheism" (1807)] in which he makes "astronomy speak in this high strain".

Fears letter sent to Smith on immediately of learning of his "advancement" [appointment as Bishop of Carlisle] is lost. Reassures Smith that he will not change or forget old friends, nevertheless flattered to find the King [George III (1738-1820)] taking the lead in bearing testimony to him.

Insists that he sent a franked letter to Smith after leaving Rochester, it included praise of Smith's "Introduction to Botany" [not extant]. His new duties at the House of Lords more time consuming than he anticipated. Thinks naming plants after unworthy people "lowers the science" [in reference to Richard Salisbury naming 'Hookera' after his botanical artist William Hooker [(1779-1832)]. Sends back Smith's work [for "Flora Graeca"] with queries on Latin usage for several items. Spent the day with [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert who has just received large addition of [New] South Wales plants to his herbarium. Sir Abraham Hume, Admiral and Mrs Essington, General [Francis (c 1758-1814)] and Mrs Grose, [Alexander] Macleay, [Thomas] Marsham, and Lord Seaforth were also there. Wrote to Dawson Turner correcting 'Griffithsii' to 'Griffithsiae'. Persuaded Hume to become a FLS. Shall discuss the new Geological and Entomological societies the next time he sees Smith. Mrs Lynn in decline. Hopes to visit Smith's sister in Liverpool on his way to Carlisle.

Discusses etymology and usage of 'Atho' in "Flora Graeca". Reassures Smith he read and sent a letter on Smith's "Introduction to Botany". Advocates revival of exhibits of material at Linnean Society meetings. Thinks Smith correct about Dr [Samuel] Johnson's [(1709-1784), author] "shard-born beetle". Sick of attending the "tiresome, ill-conducted debates" at the House of Lords.

Forwarded Smith's letter to [George] Don, did not know that 'Limosella' cannot be found in Scotland but remembers it growing on Hounslow Heath and cultivating it in his Ealing garden. There are no naturalists in the Carlisle area or anyone to collect plants. Lists plants he has observed in the area: the variety of 'Plantago maritima' called 'Loeflingii' by [William] Hudson, in elevated moist positions, smaller and with untoothed leaves, does Smith know of it growing in such conditions away from the sea; 'Salix pentandria' in all the moist hedges; 'Campanula latifolia' in shady lanes by Rose Castle; 'Fumaria capreolata' in cornfields amongst turnips, contrary to Smith's statement that it is a southern plant; 'Senecio sarracenicus', possibly escaped from a garden; 'Sanguisorba officinalis', a favourite Oxfordshire plant; 'Serapias latifolia'; 'Salix repens'; a tree called bird-cherry or heckberry, possibly 'Prunus padus'; 'Rubus corylifolius' is common. The hills and wastes are in a wild state and covered with 'Erica vulgaris', 'Juncus squarrosus', 'Tormentilla reptans', 'Lichen rangiferinus' and similar.

Received letter from Hugh Davies complaining that [Edward] Donovan [(1768-1837), zoologist] has attacked him and [Thomas] Pennant over the Beaumaris shark and trifurcated hake in Pennant's "British Zoology", claiming that Pennant did not refer to Davies' figure but instead fabricated his own, and that Pennant makes Davies guilty of gross misrepresentation over the trifurcated hake; Donovan concludes that these fabricated figures left Goodenough wrongly informed in his "Linnean Transactions" paper on the Porbeagle shark, and Donovan is convinced that the Beaumaris and Porbeagle sharks are the same. Goodenough convinced that both his and Pennant's figures are exact and the sharks are different. Exasperated by those, like [Richard] Salisbury, "thinking to raise themselves at other people's expense" and "carping jealousies" engendered by learned societies.

Rose Castle prettily situated but six miles from the nearest badly supplied market town and the house thermometer is already halfway between temperate and freezing.

Comments on two specimens he saw in [George] Don's open letter to Smith: if the 'Hypericum' is not named suggests 'ciliatum' or 'crinitum', and the 'Lamium' has a deeper coloured flower than any of its affinities. Warns Smith to not let [James] Sowerby disgust Don nor put him to needless expense as he is one of Smith's most valuable correspondents.

Events in Spain: Glad the populace and the Ministers are eager for an investigation into the "Portugal business"in Spain [Peninsular War, 1807-1814, war between France and Spain, Portugal, and Britain for control of Iberian Peninsula]. Goodenough enraged by Bonaparte's invasion, "never was there in the history of man a more barefaced invasion of natural right and justice". Eager to hear of the fourth volume of "Flora Britannica". Shall soon begin to think that there is a "party rising up bent on vexing old naturalists - Salisbury, [Edward] Donovan [(1768-1837), zoologist] - I would not willingly add Sowerby".

Forwarded Smith's letter to [George] Don and believes Don will be satisfied with Smith's conciliatory manner and correct his mode of publication, which is symptomatic of a general surplus of natural history publications: "everyone [is] publishing, quite to the nausea of purchasers, the commonest things - when [George] Shaw [(1751-1813), naturalist] published the cock-sparrow & the common snail, I thought it high time to discontinue the Nat[urali]st's Miscellany". Don's discoveries are very valuable; the 'Hypericum' and 'Equisetum' were new to him. Believes others have been more devious than Don has been in attempting to naturalise foreign plants; cites example of Laurents and himself sowing 'Sisymbrium polyceratium' in the streets of Bury [in reference to claims by James Donn of Cambridge Botanic Garden that Don had used Cambridge seeds to grow and then claim as plants indigenous to Scotland, see RelatedMaterial]. Thinks Don's 'Lamium' a distinct species especially if the leaves are constantly petriolated.

Hugh Davies sent him his three species of articulated 'Juncus' but one had no leaves to it [see RelatedMaterial below]. Remembers the 'Sempervivum sediforme' at Kew and contending with [William] Aiton [(1731-1793), gardener at Kew] that it was 'Sedum', Aiton convinced it was 'Sempervivum' on [Daniel] Solander's authority. Pleased by Smith's proficiency in Greek and with Dioscorides, recommends Theophrastus and Bodaeus' notes. Sorry to see that "envious creature [Richard Salisbury] again barking at you" and reaffirms that Smith is the "King of Nat[ural] History". Was not aware that Dr [John] Hull [(1761-1843), physician and botanist] was of such a "predatory turn". Eager to see "Flora Britannica" complete but glad to find "Florae Graecae Prodromus" progressing so well.

Forwarded Smith's letter to Mrs Smith. Firmly against allowing [Richard] Salisbury to "desecrate the name Castalia" and make it serve for the denomination of a plant inhabiting "foul, stagnating, fetid water" [Castalia was a nymph transformed into a fountain by Apollo]. Additionally objects to it on grounds of being contrary to the rules of analogy and its being a Greek word, thus having nothing to do with Latin etymology. Discusses in detail Dioscorides' nomenclature in reference to Smith's proposed 'Blephara' genus and suggets either 'Nuphar' or 'Madonia'. Suggests correction to Smith's 'Blephara' character. Still receiving invitations to dinner from the Geological Society after repeatedly stating that he cannot join them or any other dining society.

Suffering from a sharp attack of gout. Proposes three emendations, in Latin, of Smith's note of observation in "Flora Graeca" on 'Nymphaea' and 'Castalia' in order to check [Richard] Salisbury and give a Classical reason. Thinks that if the Spanish think themselves warriors and fight a pitched battle it will put a quick end to their hopes [Napoleon's invasion of Spain in 1808]. The 'Sedum ochroleucum' Smith sent is growing well.

[Note] "Charles Lyell Esq, Lyndhurst, Hants." at foot of second folio.

a "dreadful" six day journey from Carlisle to London brought on gout. Discusses 'Nymphaea' as mentioned in Theophrastus, Dioscorides, and Stephen's "Thesaurus". Not surprised at [James] Donn's [(1758-1813), curator of Cambridge Botanic Garden] attacks on [George] Don if he "learned any of the tricks of Thomas Agnew, to whom he was second at Kew" [Donn had accused Don of using seeds from Cambridge to grow into plants to claim as indigenous to Scotland, see RelatedMaterial]. Thanks Smith for offer of a turkey. Has not had a chance to see the "Anti-Jacobin".

Thanks for the turkey. [James] Brodie sent a letter to Miss [Elizabeth] Hill [(c 1760-1850), algologist] via himself, in addition sent him specimens of '[Fucus] lycopodioides' and 'Brodiaea'. Received report from the Bishop of Chester [Henry Majendie (1764-1830)] that the King [George III (1738-1820)] is "perfectly well & in high spirits"; the "Jacobinical rumours" of abdication and regency border on treason. Sir Joseph Banks recovering from a slight attack of gout.

Has letter for Smith from [James] Brodie. Invites Smith to dinner before going on to the Linnean Society with [Thomas] Marsham, "the sight of the three fathers of the Society marching in together must be, as the French say, grand and magnificent". Has a copy of his sermon before the House of Lords on fast-day for Smith [see RelatedMaterial].

Discusses etymology of 'Ethulia', 'Euclea', and Linnaeus' non-scholarly formation of names. Fears death of Lady Amelia Hume will remove Sir Abraham Hume from natural history. Continually asked when the fourth volume of "Flora Britannica" is out. Had told a group of country botanists in Carlisle region that Smith was coming to visit, they shall be disappointed. If Smith visits next year requests root of Smith's "pale primrose-coloured Carnation".

Thanks Smith for his intention to send the second volume of "Florae Graecae Prodromus". Smith's "Piquote pink" carnation a curious plant, the yellow one sounds "very extraordinary" and requests a flower. In a letter to him [James] Brodie confused an enclosed specimen of 'Scirpus setaceus' for a 'Carex', reminds him of the time [William] Withering sent a drawing he was sure was a new 'Carex glareosa' and was in fact 'Eriophorum angustifolium'. The 'Sedum ochroleucum' Smith sent flourishing, asks if it will survive being kept in the open air. Everyone impatient for fourth volume of "Flora Britannica".