His sarcastic review of Smith's "Introduction to Botany" in the "Edinburgh Review" a mistake as it was published before he could edit it, and that it was written years ago for another purpose. Stands by his remarks on its "delicacy", having found [Carl Ludwig] Willdenow's translated work ["The principles of botany"] unsuitable for "young ladies". Believes Smith incorrect on gases and that whilst odours may be products of natural bodies atmospheric air is not. About to embark on a mineralogical tour [of the Hebrides]. Has seen the "very splendid and costly "Hafod Tour"".

[Jonas] Dryander dead following an operation on a chronic abscess of the rectum and unrelated peritonitis. To be buried in St Ann's, Soho, London. Excited about printing of Linnaeus' "Lachesis Lapponica".

Has not received the letter or package Smith sent last year. Sending copy of his recently published book with Ortolani, "Statistica generale di Sicilia", and will send his "Indice d'ittiologia siciliana" once it is published. Corrects errors in the plants he sent with a previous letter: his 'Saxifraga tenella' appears to be 'Saxifraga hederacea' L.; his 'Orabanche rubia' perhaps a variety of 'O. fetida' Desf.; his 'Arum autumnalis' variety of 'Arum augustifolium' L.; his 'Hippocrepis biflora' variety of 'Hippocrepis [multisiliquosa]' L.; his 'Scabiosa sessiliflora' same as 'Scabiosa dichotoma' of Bernardino D'Ucria and 'Scabiosa parviflora' of [René Louiche] Desfontaines. Query on stigma of 'Cistus'.

Asks for the botanical news since 1805 and whether [Carl Ludwig] Willdenow's "Species Plantarum", [Christiaan Hendrik] Persoon's "Synopsis", and "L'Encyclopedie Methodique" are complete and available in England, following interruption of Sicily's communications with the rest of Europe. Requests copy of Smith's "Prodromus flora Graeca". Requests characters of all new plant genera described since 1805, lists the genera he knows only by name and gives an example of the format he would like them in [Smith has annotated in margin: "sent my paper from ann. of Bot."]. The genera are for his "great work", the aim of which is to apply a simple and uniform method to all plant genera in a similar manner as the classfifcation of animals in zoology.

Has sent Smith's letters to "poor Thompson" and commiserates with his apparent frequent misfortunes [possibly Thomas Perronet Thompson (1783-1869), the first governor of Sierra Leone to be appointed by the Crown in 1808, he was recalled in 1810 for exposing the former poor management of the colony]. Glad that Smith does not want him to exert himself for "the other extraordinarily knowing fool", reports a comment made in House of Commons on matter. Sorry he was not of the party in "the so well described library" [probably Thomas William Coke's library at Holkham, Norfolk], jokes that he would have made a better companion for Lord Spencer [George John, 2nd Earl Spencer] than Smith on account of his indoor and outdoor skills.

All students of botany here dismayed to be cut off from contact with British scholars. Has dedicated his new edition of Linnaeus' "Philosophia botanica" to the Linnean Society and is sending it via Hornemann of Copenhagen; currently unable to send his "Historia rei herbariae" (1807-1808).

Commends his friend, the son of Hagen of Königsberg, to Smith; wishes he could accompany him to Britain to study the treasures there. Requests news of Smith's studies and [Sir Joseph] Banks' old age.

Thanks for parcel of seeds. Numbered observations on enclosed plants, locally found: 1. 'Ribes'; 2. 'Orthotrichum affine'; 3. 'Polytrichum'; 4. 'Hypnum'; 5. 'Bryum' like 'B. caespititium', 'B. capillare', and 'B. bicolor'; 6. 'Equisetum' like 'E. variegatum'.

Will look for the new 'Saxifraga', which Smith intends to name 'S. pedunculodes'. Observations on 'Fassilago hybrida'. Asks if Smith received specimen of 'Urceolorea diamarta'. Observations on 'Primula denticulata' in Smith's "Exotic botany" and other exotic plants, lists those in his possession; asks if Smith can facilitate an exchange with [John] Shepherd [(c 1764-1836, curator Liverpool Botanic Garden] when next in Liverpool, lists his desiderata.

"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'.

Forwards a parcel of specimens from [George] Don, who is "as enthusiastic & indefatigable as ever".

Sending plants; 'Icones inedita'; accounts; Miss Watson has sent specimens of the 'Meum'.

Received Winch's letter of 1 June [1810] via [James] Sowerby; uncertain whether it was lost in his "multifarious museum". He has been working on the 'Lichen' part of his fourth volume [of "Flora Britannica"] but cannot begin it for the press until [William Jackson] Hooker comes to a conclusion with his 'Jungermanniae' ["British Jungermanniae" (1816)].

Numbered observations on Winch's plants: 1. 'Lichen rupestris'; 2. 'L. pruinosus'; 3. 'Hypnum rugosum'; 4. 'Gymnostonum'; 5-9. marked doubtfully by [Dawson] Turner, not confident of any of them. Uncertain who told them that 'Pyrola media' was found at Studley, [Warwickshire]; they must always be on guard against such erroneous information and mistaken species; determined to admit nothing into the sequel to his "Flora" of which he has not a specimen himself to examine and keep as an authority. 11. 'Chironia littoralis'; 12. a 'Juncus', possibly his 'J. maritimus'; 13. 'J. campestris'; 14. 'Agrostis fascicularis' Curtis; 'A. pumila', does not think it a species.

Turner, Hooker, and himself all "truly concerned" that Winch should have any "gloom" in his prospects, and hope they soon brighten.

[On recto of second folio] List of 15 plants sent 10 June 1810, corresponds with Smith's observations above [in Winch's hand].

Thanks for turkey, the "chief decoration of our Christmas dinner". [Robert] Brown engaged on "Hortus Kewensis". Lady Banks is better, and Banks' gout medicine continues to work, although [Samuel] Goodenough refuses to take it.

Sends seeds.

Introduces Baron Ch[ristian] von Vietinghoff, who wishes to become FMLS. He has created a catalogue of the plants of the Moscow Botanic Garden; had diploma of their Moscow Society sent to Smith some time ago; planning a new edition of his "Flora Germaniae", requests most recent issues of "English botany".

Thanks Smith for sending the willow-cuttings, especially 'Salix russelliana'. Sir Joseph Banks is "uncommonly well" after using a "French quack medicine" for gout, at the behest of Lord [George John] Spencer, called Eau Medicinale de d'Husson; short description of his relief after the first dose. Attests for efficacy of the medicine: Major [James] Rennell [(1742-1830), cartographer] and twenty others have all tried it with the same immediate relief, it is unknown from which plant it is derived. Death of [Henry] Cavendish [(1731-1810), natural philospher]; short obituary. Plans for altering and improving the Royal Institution have met with little opposition.

Mr Walker has arrived at Oxford, unfortunately the scholarship he enquired after will be occupied for some time but it is noted he has "more discretion than his unfortunate father and [...] his very ingenious but most indiscreet relative already resident". Sorry he missed Smith in London, had a severe illness in the spring which has caused the [Oxford Botanic] Garden to suffer but thanks Smith for the seeds. Received a copy of "Flora Graeca" for the Radcliffe library; the Bodleian Library have declined to purchase a copy in part due to expense, recent heavy expenditure on manuscripts, and conviction that [John] Sibthorp's executors will gift a copy anyway. Actions of the executors of Sibthorp's will respecting money. Does not believe the Bodleian will make any more natural history acquisitions.

Informs and consigns to Smith the description and drawings of the Malabar 'Cardamomum minus' he had made three years ago, including account of its cultivation. James Anderson of Madras had intended for it to be published in Asiatik Researches but the "commotions" which occupied the governor [Sir George Hilario Barlow, 1st Baronet (1762-1847), Governor-General of India, 1805-1807] during the latter months of his administration prevented its publication.

At request of the publishers sending Smith a copy of new edition of "Lee on Botany". Explains that he had no inclination to have any involvement with the new edition, but the publishers added his name and dedicated it to Smith in his name, "which is an effrontery truely in unison with Paternoster Row". Expects, if it is "a piece with all Lee's life" [James Lee (1715-1795), father of writer of this letter], that it will contain "many blunders & falsehoods".

Forwarded Smith's letter to Dr [John] Sims [(1749-1831), physician]. Suffering from a "smartish fit of gout". The engagement of a reader makes sitting in the chair at the Linnean Society "very pleasant". Wonders how the Society can express its dissatisfaction at [Richard] Salisbury's disrespectful treatment of [Robert] Brown [Salisbury's publication of names of 'Proteacea' first described by Brown, see RelatedMaterial]. The Parliamentary "storm" has begun. Glad Smith is so earnest about the fourth volume of "Flora Britannica". [Alexander] MacLeay "most dangerously ill with an inflammation in his bowels", concerned for his wife and twelve children.

Forwarded Smith's letter to George Don and [Pleasance] Smith's letter to Miss Casmajor. Informs Pleasance Smith he has read and profited from [John] Gay's [(1685-1732), poet and dramatist] "Fables". Hopes Smith fulfills his pledge of publishing fourth volume of "Flora Britannica" this spring. 'Hieracium murorum' growing in garden walls of Rose Castle, fears this information will be too late for Smith to publish and suggests including in Smith's next publication of Don's species. Cold weather has made his gout linger. An angry debate is coming up in Parliament; weary of party politics but this is preferable to Lord Grenville [William Wyndham Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville (1759-1834), prime minister 1806-1807] coming in with the "hungry, unprincipled fellows that must come in with him, both in Church & State". Pities Napoleon's new Austrian wife [Marie Louise of Austria (1791-1847), married 11 March 1810], "she is a good figure, it is said, & a fine shape, but her face is not handsome - rather short & wide" and fears for her happiness should she be infertile.