Since his last letter has been "seized with a paroxysm of gout in both hands and feet". Sends specimen of a "stranger", annotated in the margin by Smith 'Rubus'. Refers to the drawing of a fish he sent in his last letter, believing it to be the "15 spined stickleback figured by Pennant" but believes other aspects of it make it of the genus 'Syngnathus". Wishes Smith luck with the "English British Flora". Sends another specimen, Smith has annotated above 'Sagina procumbens'.

Introducing her son Henri.

Received Smith's letter of 16 September, pleased he is "assisting the cause of Botany in Liverpool" [establishment of botanic garden] and hopes to see some of [Nathaniel] Wallich's Nepalese plants there. Wallich "works like a horse" dispatching plants from Calcutta Botanic Garden around the world. Hopes to return to England in 1821. His studies have focused on zoology rather than botany, receiving specimens from Nepal through Wallich's intercourse, the country is rich in 'Phasianus'. Has a "fine Alligator's head for the Society", 'Crocodilus' of [George] Shaw, and a 'Gangeticus' [gharial], figures in Shaw ["General Zoology"?] are "wretched". Pleased Smith has grown a 'Rhododendron' from the seeds he sent, would like the credit of introducing the first Indian species to England, "they do not thrive in the moist air of Bengal". Has requested latest volumes of "Linnean Transactions" and "Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society" from [William George] Maton.

Wishes to meet Smith and see the Linnaean herbarium..

Thanks for turkey. [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert unable to write as suffering from a toothache. A vote at the Linnean Society led by Lambert failed in removing the "tanners' and some other house", smell so offensive that [William George] Maton had to leave before dinner was over. A mild winter. Describes attractions of Boyton House, Wiltshire, including gardens. Praises Smith's "sublime hymns". Discusses poetry including "odditys [sic]"of Lord Byron and Lord [Thomas] Erskine's [1st Baron Erskine (1750-1823), lord chancellor] poem "The Farmer's Vision". Sir Joseph [Banks] ill, discussion of [Sarah Sophia] Banks' will [(1744-1818), sister of Banks and collector of antiquarian items, ]. Has seen Lady Banks and the Countess Bentinck, and Maton in connection with Banks' health.

Smith's candidature for Botany Professorship at Cambridge University. [James Henry] Monk's [(1784-1856) Regius Professor of Greek, Cambridge] attack on Smith in "Quarterly Review". Believes Smith will never carry the professorship or lectureship, due in part to changing circumstances in professorships at Sidney Sussex College. Observes he and Sir Joseph Banks were negligent in supporting James Donn [(1758-1813)] and [Arthur] Biggs [(1765-1848)] for curatorship of Botanic Garden without fully knowing their religious persuasions.

Introduces Michaud.

His father [Franz Karl Mertens] suffering from a "tedious & painfull" indisposition of his eyes, so on his father's behalf thanks Smith for present of willow cuttings, but as only nine of the eighteen specimens have grown requests fresh replacements and asks that they to be sent via his brother-in-law Theodore Zimmermann. Lists those willows that grew at end of letter: 'Salix malifolia', 'Salix russelliana', 'Salix acuminata', 'Salix lanceolata', 'Salix hirta', 'Salix rubra', 'Salix purpurea', 'Salix decipiens', and 'Salix phylicifolia'.

Relates history of his edition of Linnaeus' "Systema vegetabilium" produced with [Johann Jacob] Römer [(1763-1819), Swiss physician and botanist] and others, asks Smith to give his blessing to the project and join in the defence against the rival natural systems of [Antoine Laurent de] Jussieu and [Augustin Pyramus] Decandolle. Asks for Smith's advice on the sixth volume, which will include the 'Umbelliferae' and 'Pentandria'.

Thanks for the foregoing.

Offers Smith loan of correspondence of [Emanuel Mendez] da Costa [(1717-1791), naturalist].

Options for publication. Shall obtain Miss Currer's correspondence collection for Smith's consultation.

Discusses inclusion of Miss Currer's [John] Ray's letters in ["A selection of the correspondence of Linnaeus" (1821)].

Has brought letters of [Peter] Collinson [(1694-1768)] and [Johann] Dillenius to Linnaeus for Nichols' inspection; approves of plan for making a separate publication of scientific letters. Hopes Nichols will be able to procure Miss Currer's [John] Ray letters. Uncertain how long he will remain in London, "the town air is always poison to me".

Sends Smith letters of Linnaeus, [John] Ellis [(1710-1776)], and [Peter] Collinson [(1694-1768)]. Additional note on correspondence of [John] Lightfoot.

Has prepared the entire correspondence of Linnaeus and [John] Ellis [(1710-1776)] for the press, as well as [Daniel] Solander's letters to Ellis, [Peter] Collinson's [(1694-1768)], [José Celestino Bruno] Mutis' [(1732-1808)] from South America, and almost finished with Dr [Alexander] Garden's [(1730-1792)]. Asks to borrow Nichols' "Literary Illustrations" vol 1. Will prepare a short biographical memoir for each persons' letters, and will send a fragment of each hand for engraving. Thoughts on arrangement of volume. Expects to be in Liverpool from April till 20 May.

Apologises for delay in remarking on plants sent by Swainson; finishing his part of Rees's "Cyclopedia". "Little hairy fern with simple fronds" found Rio Janeiro agrees in size and shape with 'Blechnum Lanceola' of Swartz in Stockholm Transns. for 1817. p. 71. t. 3. f. 2; observations. Grass marked 'Digitaria of Persoon?' is 'Paspalum conjugatum' Willd. Sp. M., also 'P. dissectum' of Linnaeus' Syst. Nat. ed. 12. v. 2. Dark-cold grass from "deep forests at Pernambuco" another 'Paspalum', species unknown. 'Cyperus', 'culm triangular, bogs at Pernambuco' unknown. "Very rare" grass, from "sandy table lands in the interior of Pernambuco", close to 'Agrostis radiata' of Linnaeus. 'Cassia' "in dry sandy tracts" unknown. A new 'Lythrum', near 'racemosum' but distinct. An 'Eriocaulon fasciculatum' of Lamarck & Willdenow, or very near it. Their plant appears to want the many awlshaped leaves of the common calyx, or involucrum. A 'Campanula' appears to be 'C. minor ['minima'] africana, erini facie &c', Hermann Leigd. Bot. 108. t. 111, erroneously cited by Linnaeus for his 'C. erinoides'; has this plant from Sierra Leone. Does not have his 'Hyptis' under that genus, does not seem to be any of Willdenow's.

Happy to draw up a paper of "Plantae Brasilienses"; does not anticipate it being very difficult, having the Linnaean herbarium, all of Rublet's specimens, and Commerson's; impossible for anyone to do such a work without seeing those specimens. However, his next work must "absolutely be a British Flora in English long promised", so cannot undertake Swainson's work at present, and is also pressed by "Flora Graeca". Believes the 'Graminae' would be the most difficult part.

Encloses specimen of handwriting of Linnaeus. Cannot think of any other person, except [Robert] Brown, "who cannot do half he is engaged in", competent enough to do what Swainson wants, "as it ought to be done".

[Draft or copy]

Hopes Smith recovered from the indisposition he suffered when he "honoured our town [Liverpool] with [his] instructive visit". Forced to give up botanical part of his Brazilian collections so as to focus on the zoological side, which is his main interest anyway, but anxious that botany should benefit from his collecting in places where no one has been but himself; offers to present any able botanist with collection of his duplicates, on condition of results being presented to Linnean Society; asks Smith to propose it to any of his competent botanical friends.

Preparations for his lectures progressing well; currently lodging with Revd James Yates, previously stayed with the Corries, a friend of the Martins [Smith's sister and brother-in-law]. His lectures crowded and "grow fuller every time". He is going to Mr Gatton's next. His plans for returning to Norwich.

Sends 100 kinds of seeds; list of desiderata.