Replies to Roscoe's letter of 25 July. Spent a month at Lowestoft, [Suffolk], with family of his wife [Pleasance Smith]; she and [William Fitt] Drake have both regained their health following seabathing, and on return to Norwich they saw the Kindersleys. His sister [Fanny] now in Liverpool and is happy in the connections she has formed, hopes Roscoe has met her. Looking forward to his lectures in Liverpool next summer, for which he has prepared a new course of lectures. Plans to dedicate "Exotic Botany" to Roscoe, due to appear 1 December. Asks if Roscoe has seen Captain [Thomas] Hardwicke; Smith sent seeds of his to Roscoe. Hopes [John] Shepherd [(c 1764-1836, curator Liverpool Botanic Garden] sent Lady [Amelia] Hume and Mr Cooper of Norwich the plants he promised. Asks Shepherd to prepare a collection of uncommon Botany Bay, Cape, and West Indies seeds to be sent to the Empress in France [Joséphine de Beauharnais (1763-1814), wife of Napoléon Bonaparte] and requests confidentiality, though it it will be sent publicly through the Trade Office. Hopes his sister gave Shepherd the "parrot tulip" bulb._x000D_

Asks Roscoe's opinion of the criticism Smith's "Flora [Britannica]" received in November edition of the "Monthly Magazine". Asks after progrerss on Roscoe's "[Life and Pontificate of] Leo [the Tenth]", informs him of progress of [Thomas] Johnes' translation of Froissart [(c 1337-c 1405), French chronicler]. Working on "Prodromus Florae Graecae" this month. Recommends Sims' and Konig's "Annals of Botany", to which he intends to send a paper on the "Decandrous Papilionaceous plants of New Holland"; believes he has found a way to classify them. Encloses part of 'Humea elegans'.

His joy at receiving a letter from Smith. Pleased Mrs [Pleasance] Smith recovered her health through sea-bathing; Liverpool is "the most frequented bathing place in the kingdom". All his Liverpool friends "charmed" with Mrs Martin [Smith's sister] but concerned she is walking too long. Flattered by Smith's proposal to dedicate "Exotic Botany" to him.

Responds to points in Smith's previous letter: has not seen Captain [Thomas] Hardwicke, though received seeds and letter from him; [John] Shepherd [(c 1764-1836, curator Liverpool Botanic Garden] sent Lady [Amelia] Hume plants two months ago, and she sent back specimen of 'Humea elegans'; Shepherd hopes to send Cooper cuttings of 20 kinds of 'Passiflora' in the spring, their collection has considerably increased; safely received parrot tulip roots; will soon send packet of seeds from the gardens; observed the "minute criticism" [of Smith's "Flora Britannica"] in the "Monthly Magazine" and agrees the author must be handled "with tenderness". His "[Life and Pontificate of] Leo [the Tenth]" [(1805)] in final parts of fourth volume. Ordered "Annals of Botany" with "Exotic Botany". Glad of progress in his son [James, placed with Norfolk farmer Samuel Taylor] and [William Fitt] Drake.

Insists on sending Roscoe his ["Exotic Botany"] instead of him ordering it through booksellers, insisting it is not a return for copies of Roscoe's "Lorenzo" and "Leo"; relates anecdote about Sir Richard Jebb [first baronet (c 1729-1787), physician] to illustrate this. Thanks Roscoe for his concern about health of Smith's sister, Fanny [Martin], but assures him she is "naturally very strong". Responds to questions in Roscoe's previous letter concerning Captain [Thomas] Hardwicke, Mr Cooper, and [John] Shepherd [(c 1764-1836, curator Liverpool Botanic Garden].

Defends his response to "the poor coxcomical "butterfly"" in the "Monthly Magazine" [criticism of Smith's "Flora Britannica"], which is to be first article in magazine next month, by reason of the same persons letter on the language of Linnaeus in 5th volume of magazine. Looking forward to receiving Roscoe's "Leo" and is enjoying [Thomas] Johnes' translation of Froissart [(c 1337-c 1405), French chronicler]. Hopes Roscoe will enjoy "Annals of Botany", to which he has sent a paper for the third number, due in January. Transcribes proposed title page for "Flora Graeca", in Latin, asks Roscoe's opinon. Praises maturity of James Roscoe. [William Fitt] Drake sends his compliments.