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Details of their journey to Portsmouth, [Hampshire], to sail for Madeira on the Falcon under Captain Nash. His son stronger and more cheerful since leaving home and has no heats or chills. They have the best letters of recommendation and gun portfolios for amusement as there will be quails, red legged partridges and rabbits in abundance.
Sends specimen of grass he found in a wood near Newtown Barry, Ireland, believes it to be close to Smith's 'Festuca calamaria'. List of habitats of Irish plants observed by him. Disappointed in attempts to establish a botanical garden of hardy herbaceous plants with Lord Valentia [George Annesley] by the "ignorance or imposition of nurserymen", asks Smith to recommend anyone in Norfolk willing to assist. Asks whether there is a treatise on the genus 'Aster', the descriptions in "Hortus Kewensis" and Marten's "Dictionary" being "very confused". Lord Valentia sends an index to first four volumes of [Carl Ludwig] Willdenow's "Species Plantarum". From the seeds Smith sent has been able to grow 'Helianthus decapetalus', 'Polymnia canadensis', 'Eupatorium kuhnia', 'Carduus carinatus', and 'Allium nutans'.
Thanks for Smith's "Tour"'. Comments on sermon by Smith's friend Houghton. Hopes to see Smith soon.
Received [James] Crowe's and Smith's subscriptions for Linnean Society charter.
Received balance of Smith and [James] Crowe's subscriptions to Linnean Society charter. He has been at Dover, [Kent], and all along the coast to Margate. [George] Shaw returned Huber's paper "without altering it in the least degree".
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.
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]
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.
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".
Ill-health has prevented him from sending for the willow specimens. Received collection of seeds from [William] Roxburgh including 'Smithia', Milne [(fl 1800s-1810s) William Beckford's gardener] has had some, offers to Smith. Also received from Roxburgh "the largest collection of specimens that ever came from India at one time" in part for Smith and Sir Joseph Banks. Transcribes Roxburgh's list explaining each layer of specimens within the chest. Notes four new species of nutmeg, fine specimens of 'Commersonia echinata' in fruit and flower, 'Rubus moluccanus', however none are named. Dined with [Jonas] Dryander and [Alexander] Macleay. Requests specimens and cuttings of the willows. In postscript states the great quantity of 'Molucca' specimens and mentions [Richard] Salisbury and Mill Hill.