Reassures Smith that [William] Sole did not leave anything abusive towards Smith in his manuscripts [Sole took umbrage at Smith's classification of 'Mentha' in "Flora Britannica"]. Explains that Sole did not know Linnaeus' system and believed that the authority of Jean Johannes Bauhin [(1541-1613)], Caspar Bauhin [(1560-1624)], Sir John Hill [(1714-1775)], [John] Ray and others were sufficient to establish the species and Smith should consider these notes "harmless remarks of a mind cowed by disappointment". Sole's notes now in possession of a friend of Smith's, and one unknown clergyman has already been denied permission to publish them. As Smith plans to dedicate a genus to Sole relinquishes his own intentions for same, if 'Agrostis minima' is to be used suggests substituting 'minima' for another word, hopes [James] Sowerby has delinated it in the same way. Requests ['Agrostis littoralis']. Found a ['Bromus arvensis'] that corresponds exactly with the specimen in [William] Sherard's [(1659-1728)] herbarium and with [Johann Georg Daniel] Leers' [(1727-1774)] and "Scheuatzer's" descriptions, subsequently his representation will differ from that in "English Botany".

Pleased to hear Smith has [Edmund] Davall's herbarium. Is currently organising his Cape [of Good Hope] plants from [William] Roxburgh and [Arthur] Philip [(1738-1814) first governor of New South Wales], will give Smith duplicates. Letters arrived from the "Investigator" [Matthew Flinders' expedition to map Australian coast], surprise that they have already surveyed the unknown part of coast of New Holland from [?] to Bass Straits. [Ferdinand] Bauer [(1760-1826)] has made 360 drawings of new plants. A box of seeds has been sent. Asks of Smith's progress reviewing manuscript for Lambert's book "Description of the genus Pinus". Received books from Spain including complete works of [Antonio José] Cavanilles and fourth voulme of "Flora Peruviana", comments on the 'Alstroemeria' described therein. [Karl Friedrich von] Gaertner [(1772-1850)] is visiting and working on his herbarium. A group of Spaniards are currently in England and planning to travel to the interior of Africa, including [Simon de Roxas] Clemente [y Rubio]. Has fourteen numbers of "Annals of Natural History" from Spain. Encloses an unspecified item sent by the late Snelgrove of Norwich. Thanks Smith for herrings.

Requests information from Smith on Linnaeus' unpublished manuscripts for new edition of [Richard] Pulteney's "A general view of the writings of Linnaeus". Planning to include diary of Linnaeus and some original unpublished letters if he succeeds in purchasing them. Requests Smith's knowledge on the medical part of Linnaeus' writings.

Received Smith's and [John] Pitchford's parcels of plants. Intends to send a paper on mosses, lichens and ferns for next "Linnean Transactions". Asks after "Flora Britannica" and [James] Sowerby's "English Fungi". Sends some grasses for Smith's judgement and requests specimens of others, Smith has marked those he sent from a longer list: 'Scirpus multicaulis', 'Poa procumbens', 'Dactylis striola', 'Festuca vivipara', 'Festuca uniglumis', 'Arundo calamagrostis', 'Triticum loliaceum', 'Juncus maritimus', 'Juncus spicatus', 'Carex loliacea', 'Carex filiformis', and 'Carex tomenstosa'. Note from Smith that he sent: 'Poa subcaerulea', 'Carex pauciflora', 'Carex chordorrhiza', 'Avena distichophylla', 'Phalaris ariculata', and 'Scirpus caespitosus'. Requests Smith to send back the drawings of fungus he sent [in 1795].

Cut off by the war; working on a new book on fungi; has never received diploma from the Linnean Society and thinks he was not elected.

Hopes Smith is recovered from illness which left him unable to read. Appointed Dean of Rochester and comfortably lodged, however, the town itself is "naval, military, & suited to the various business of a dockyard" and does not perceive much literature in the minor canons. Fears intellectual isolation but hopes to make an aquaintance with Mr Wrighte, foreign secretary of the Antiquary Society. Informed that the country about Rochester is well situated for botany but lacks the encouragement of a companion and discouraged by the "loose fellows from the navy and dockyard with their doxies". Thinks Smith's 'Carex [divisa]' is a good figure but wishes he consulted him first as he would have informed him of the variations caused by soil types, following observations on Isle of Sheppey. Thinks [William] Hudson in his first edition ["Flora Anglica"] took Smith's 'L. chrysophthalmus' for Linnaeus' 'juniperimus'. Asks Smith's opinion of [Thomas] Marsham's book ["Entomologia Britannica"]; thinks it "gives great consequence to English entomology". Greeting for the Bishop of Norwich [Charles Manners-Sutton (1755-1828)].