Sends this before Smith leaves Norwich. Thanks for parcel and trees, though some in poor condition. Intends to attend Linnean Society anniversary meeting. Thanks Smiths for congratulations on his military honours [Lieutenant-Colonel of Diss Volunteers], though he would prefer to be one step lower, as his current one involves great trouble and responsibility; reassures Smith his position does not involve any hard riding, though suffered from "gravel" recently, but it passed through.

Discusses reports of the dissolution of Parliament; worries that it will give Bonaparte opportunity to attack whilst the country is in confusion of a general election. The volunteers have had a great influence in preventing invasions, and in the last war and at the time of the Mutiny were the "salvation of the country".

Detailed description of a 'Carex' he is unable to identify, requests Smith's opinion. List of plants growing in Worcestershire and not yet figured in "English Botany", offers to send specimens. List of habitats of plants found by him in West of England and Guernsey. Pleased to hear third volume of "Flora Britannica" is published but wishes there was an English translation of it, "for the benefit of lady botanists", believing it would have sold well and "made the last edition of [William] Withering unnecessary". Disappointed that [James] Sowerby has not proceeded further in his work on fungi. Rough description of possible 'Ophrys arachnites' from Switzerland, believes it may be allied to 'Ophrys apifera'. Has received seeds of "very indifferent quality" from Lord Valentia [George Annesley] in Calcutta, India.

Informs Smith of additional locations of 'Carex incurva' in Scotland following Smith having only given the location as found in Lightfoot's "Flora Scotica" in the third volume of "Flora Britannica".

Satisfaction at Smith's division between 'Salix russelliana' and 'Salix fragilis' of Linnaeus. Describes his interest in this willow and notes how his grandfather [John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford (1710-1771)] introduced it to Bedfordshire and had it distributed amongst the tenants.

Flattered at having a plant named in his honour but prefers Blandford to be used over Spencer.

Sending box to Linnean Society containing 400 plants gathered in Portugal by himself and his father, [William Withering], most of which are present in the catalogue he presented to the Society last spring. Comments on "unfortunate necessity which most men now feel of forsaking the milder sciences which can only flourish in peaceable times, for the barbarous study of War".

Asks if there is a "manufactory of cast chains" in Norwich. Thanks for Smith's introduction for Dr Morgan to [Jonas] Dryander and Sir Joseph Banks' library, which he intends to use to view works by Schreber and Bloch. Corrects Smith on Dr Morgan's identity, who is a young man. Offers to send copy of his work on Welsh music, knowing that Smith is musical.

Written on printed survey for Bingley's book "British Zoology" [2 pp], comprising a list of animals and three queries on habits and corrections. Thanks for Smith's comments on his "Tour of North Wales". Working on "British Zoology" alongside his county history [of Hampshire]; particularly using Sonnini and La Cepede. Requests introductions to naturalists, particularly [William] Markwick, [George] Montagu [(1753-1815), naturalist], and [Dawson] Turner.

The grass Smith sent is in his herbarium as 'Festuca glauca', Curtis also had it under same name, but cannot find any description of it; it is like 'F. pumila'.

Thanks for Norfolk biscuits; apologises for delay in thanking Smith. Account of a fatal duel in Liverpool; outrage of the trial. A new work on respiration by [John] Bostock. They expect Dr Sancliffe of Cambridge to deliver a course of popular lectures on chemistry.

Asks after Smith's health following their parting at Chester, [Cheshire]; his own health has been poor. Asks when they may apply for third volume of "Flora Britannica". Requests recipe for fixing plant specimens and to prevent insect damage.

Received Smith's letter but regrets there is still a misunderstanding regarding appointment of [James] Sowerby as publisher [of "Flora Graeca"]; [Thomas] Platt [(d 1842), one of John Sibthorp's executors, supervised the publication of "Flora Graeca"] still disapproves of this on grounds that a booksellers shop is the most direct channel of communication between editor and public. Platt will engage with White to sell it; apologises to Sowerby and blames vice-chancellor [of Oxford University] for not bestowing management of the fund to them.

Difficulties of Smith's new work ["Flora Graeca"]. If beginning his botanical pursuits again he would make a work comprising the new or rare plants he has introduced; the next best thing he could do was to keep his collection as open to possible to draughtsmen such as [Ferdinand Lucas] Bauer [(1760-1826), botanical artist] and [James] Sowerby, and [Henry Charles] Andrews [(fl 1790s-1830s), botanical artist] and [Sydenham Teast] Edwards [(1768-1819), botanical artist], though the former two have not had cause to use it. Initially averse to his name being given to any genus. He has not been so abundant in new plants since cutting of his communications with the Cape.

Should have shown Smith one of his Sireenagur plants of which he previously sent Sir Joseph Banks a drawing; allied to 'Rhododendron', differences. Observations on two 'Dillenia', one with yellow flowers and the other with white. Sending forest seeds for Smith's friend. Requests that Smith preserve the marks on the packages he sends so as to act as a reference for future exchanges of information. Sending some of the bark of the "Booranas" and seed [the ally of 'Rhododendron'].

Returning from his tour of the north England and southern parts of Scotland, but no longer able to call on Smith in Norwich, was also unable to visit Wales and Liverpool. Thanks for Smith's introduction to Colonel Phillips of Manchester. Sending capsules of "Boorans".

Delayed in sending parcel of drawings for Smith's inspection, details of how he will do this. Defers invitation to Norwich. Notes on 'Dillenia aurea'. Thanks for "Exotic Botany" and introduction of his name in same.

[James] Dickson brought specimen of 'Linum trigynum' for [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert to determine; the same was in his Sirrenagur enumeration of "Asiatic Annual Register" 1800; will send drawing; observations. Will also send drawings of [William] Roxburgh's 'Capparis aphylla'; observations [annotation "not sent"]; and a 'Bignonia undulata' [annotation "sent"], which he had previously sent plants of to Calcutta Botanic Garden; observations.

Thanks for specimens of 'Salix' and 'Targionia'; compared the 'Salix' with those in [James] Crowe's garden, observations on 'S. argenta'. Can supply Smith with as many Chimney-Sweeping Society papers as needed.

Sending Smith numbers of "Annals of Botany" "merely a small mark of the great respect due to [Smith] from every votary of botany"; requests Smith's advice for its improvement; will make room for any paper by Smith, requirements of this. The specimen of the inflorescence of a gynandrous plant Smith sent is of the new genus mentioned in note to [Olof] Swartz paper, but unable to identify the species; [Ferdinand] Bauer [(1760-1826), botanical artist] has drawn two similar plants at Kew; proposes name 'Venenatia'; dismisses [Adam] Afzelius claim of that name for Sierra Leone genus. Believes Wendland and Schrader named plant after Baron Hake ['Hakea'], Hanoverian director of Herrenhausen garden, merely to flatter him. Comments on plan of [Martin] Vahl's [(1749-1804), botanist] "Enumeratio Plantarum". Asks Smith publicly acknowledge receipt of [Edmund] Davall's herbarium in "Annals of Botany".

Received Smith's paper on "difficult set of plants" [for "Annals of Botany"]; wishes Smith had added specific characters to Andrew's species; agrees that 'Anotium' constitutes a genus but there are errors in referencing. Asks if attached specimen from Kew [extant] is a new species of 'Gompholobium'. Discusses 'Chorizema' [in reference to Smith's paper]; advises Smith to quote French original of Labillardiére's "Voyage"; a new species of 'Chorizema' with juster claim to name 'C. ilicifolium', encloses leaf [extant] to illustrate. Discusses drawings of fructification of Smith's genus. Mislaid his notes on the new gynandrous genus but will publish it as 'Ventenatia' at first opportunity.

A drawing of 'Ipomopsis elegans' by Mrs Delany is at Sir Joseph Banks'. In reference to Smith's paper, Banks' points out that is [Daniel] Solander had lived he would have arranged the plants in question, and that the two Forsters have never been at New Holland. Wonders who "this Caley" is, as he is not the Botany Bay [George] Caley [(1770-1829), botanist].

Specimen, possible 'Gompholobium'.

Small fragment of a plant, labelled "'Daviesia acicularis'?".