Hedwig's letter of August 1802 did not arrive until May 1803; delayed replying until able to send packet of plants but frustrated. Thanks for signet ring, which he wears in remembrance of Hedwig's father, [Johann Hedwig (1730-1799)]; praises his work, which he has used in classifying mosses for "Flora Britannica" vol 3. Offers to propose Hedwig as a FMLS

Sends specimen of 'Humea' and an elm-leaved 'Grewia' for determination. Has a 'Nymphea' very similar to 'Carnia' but the flower is milk-white and nocturnal. Fears of invasion by the French, living in "anxious dread of the great little man's visit". Comments that the "great victory" achieved by the English merchant "China ships" fighting off [Charles-Alexandre Léon Durand] Linois' [French admiral] attack, without a convoy, was a "glory".

Sending dried plants he gathered in Portugal to Smith for determination. Details of the expedition, undertaken with Count Hoffmannsegg for a "Flora Lusitanica". Comments and questions on 'Genista lusitanica', 'Parietaria lusitanica', 'Lavatera lusitanica', 'Scilla lusitanica', 'Cynoglossum lusitanica', and 'Echium lusitanica'.

Thanks for turkey. Surprised that [John] White has not yet sent Smith his "Description of the genus Pinus", [William George] Maton has complained of the same, but those now being printed are on much better paper. Paid £130 for Surinam collection with [Edward] Rudge, it contains 3000 plants. Believes it contains all of [Jean Baptiste Christophore Fusée] Aublet's [(1720-1778) French botanist] plants and hundreds not described by him. Specimens inlcude 'Portlandia hexandra', 'Gustavia augusta', 'Gustavia fastuosa', 'Styrax bengain', 'Dipterix odorata', and 'Siphoria elatica'.

Smith about to receive copy of "A description of the genus Pinus" which is far superior to the earlier copies. Occupied with the Cayenne plants [Lambert purchased collections gathered in South America by Jospeh Martin and captured by English privateers], "never was such a collection ever before imported". Contains about 1700 species with no old plants except for those of [Jean Baptiste Christophore Fusée] Aublet [(1720-1778) French botanist]. Five new species of 'Roupala' and five or six of 'Myristica'. Reminds Smith he is still looking for scarcer species of willow.

Marquess of Blandford's [George Spencer-Churchill] collections will be "more worth seeing that any private collection in this country", discusses Blandford's enthusiasm for botany. Blandford has sixteen men working in his botanic garden. Mentions Blandford having written the "History of the 'Nymphae lotus'" in last number of [Henry Charles] Andrews' "Botanists' Repository", figured from his aquarium where it flowered for first time in England. 'Dammera' arrived at Kew with "the China treasures". Received 500 species of dried plants from Cape [of Good Hope] including sixty-one 'Protea', and capsules of 'Ochroma lagopus' from island of Nevis, from which he has raised thirteen plants, [William Townsend] Aiton is anxious to have it at Kew. "Little John from Van Diemen Land [Tasmania]" has a cargo for him. Asks after "the British Garden" and "Flora Graeca".

Questions Smith on Linnaeus' published works, his acquisiton of the Linnaean collections, and progress of the Linnaean system in Britain, for new edition of [Richard] Pulteney's "A general view of the writings of Linnaeus". Intends to include a diary of Linnaeus he recently purchased. Asks if Smith is publishing "Lachesis Lapponica".

Sends copy of 'Flore de Malmaison' by command of the Empress, also his 'Anat. et Physio. des Végétables.'

Received Smith's letter regarding [John Mackay's (1772-1802), employed at Dickson nursery, Edinburgh] alleged plagiarism of [George] Don, gives his own opinion of the matter including analysis of Don's character. In reference to 'Stellaria cerastoides' and 'Thlaspi hirtum' believes it is due to miscommunications and assumptions, [Smith has annotated in the margin stating similar], and condemns Mackay's "silence". Agrees with Smith's plan to mention the claims of Don and others when discussing the plants in question and saying nothing of Mackay. Some observations of the 205 plant specimens in 141 genera Neill gathered in Sheltand and Orkney, including: 'Lichen calicaris' covering the standing stones of Stennes; 'Byssus aeruginosa' coating interior of St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, Orkney; and the hardy oat 'Avena strigosa' which is cultivated instead of 'Avena sativa'. Also gathered shells of 'Trochus ziziphynus', 'Pecten pusio', 'Astrea maxima', 'Arca glycinieris', and 'Bulla ligniaria', Rothesholm Head (Rousom Head).

Asks after letters, books, and plant specimens he, [José Antonio] Pavon, [Hipólito] Ruiz [López (1754-1816), botanist], and [Francisco] Zea sent three months ago; fears they have been intercepted.

Thanks for election as FMLS; recommends Pavon and Ruiz, his former pupils, for same. Asks Smith's opinion of current theory in Spain regarding location of the stigma of 'Iris'. Requests that sending of "Linnean Transactions" should not be hindered, and offers to send anything required by the Society, to try to repair the damage suffered to such exchanges through cause of the war.

Thanks for invitation to Norwich. Thanks for name of bookseller stocking the book [Etienne Pierre] Ventenat wishes to acquire.

Encloses his moss desiderata [not extant]. Encloses specimens, including: 'Myostis', 'Fontinalis capillacea' called Moss of Copens, mosses, and 'Hypnum triforium'; observations [Smith has annotated in margin].

Thanks for information in letter of 30 December [1803]; remarks on 'Splachnum urceolatum' and Much obliged for information contained in previous letter; comments on 'Splachnum urceolatum' and 'Byssus lepro-viridus'. Encoses specimens of 'Alopecurus alpinus' and 'Poa flexuosa'.

Numbered observations on enclosed specimens: 1-5. 'Lichen'; 6. 'Lotus'; 7. another 'Lichen'. Would like Smith's opinion on 'Galium arvensis', 'Bryum', 'Hypnum', and 'Orthotrichum' sent in previous letters. Accepts Smith's offer to send "Flora Britannica", would also like any cryptogam specimens.

Postmark 30 January 1804. Two specimens of grass, labelled.

Forgot to include specimens of 'Alopecurus alpinus' and 'Poa flexuosa' mentioned in his last letter, encloses with this letter.

Numbered observations on enclosed specimens: 1. a 'Hypnum' possibly 'H. flagillari' of Dickson; 2. a 'Hypnum' near 'H. scorpioides'; 3. a 'Hypnum' near to 'denticulatum'; 4. 'Hypnum uncinatum'; 5. a 'Hypnum' he believes to be 'H. filimontasum'; 6. a 'Hypnum' near to 'H. serpens'; 7. an unknown 'Hypnum'; 8. possible 'Hypnum uncenatum'; 9. an unknown 'Hypnum'; 10. an unknown 'Hypnum'; 11. possibly 'Hypnum scorpioides'; 12. an unknown 'Hypnum'; 13. an unknown 'Hypnum'; 14. possible 'Bryum mucronulatum'; 15. a 'Bryum' variety of no.14; 16. new species of 'Helvela'; 17. a 'Bryum' formerly thought to be 'B. hypnoides'; 18. 'Bryum nudum'; 19. a 'Jungermannia'; 20. a 'Phascum'; 21. a 'Lichen'; 22. a 'Lichen'; 23. 'Grimmia recurvat'.

Asks Smith's opinion of the 'Dicranium ovale' he sent [Dawson] Turner in 1802, and which Turner thinks is 'Trichostomum microcarpon'.

Twenty numbered specimens, some with annotations by Smith; numbers 7, 20, and 22 not extant.

Sends several copies of prospectus [for his work "Herbarium Britannicum" (1804-1812)], a sheet explaining his method for choosing habitats, preferring those not hitherto published by any author, and a magazine containing account by Mr Neil of the life of [John] Mackay [(1772-1802), employed at Dickson nursery, Edinburgh], errors with list of plants.

Numbered observations on enclosed specimens: 1. 'Lycopodium annotinum' of Linnaeus; 2. 'Erica vulgaris'; 3. a 'Galium' or 'Asperula' [Smith annotation: "'G. palustre' caule & pedunc. scabris"]; 4. a nondescript 'Saxifraga' he previously called 'S. tinctoria'; 5. a 'Draba' related to 'D. verna', cultivated 10 years [Smith annotation: "'verna'?"].

Has heard from [John Leonard] Knapp that he has found the 'Aira ulginosa' he [Don] sent Smith some years ago.

Observations on what he thinks is 'Hypnum ruscifolium'. Would like Smith to take another look at an 'Eriophorum' previously sent, which he is sure is 'E. angustifolium'.

Numbered observations on enclosed specimens, largely collected in summer of 1802: 1. a nondescript 'Phascum', proposes name 'P. inundatum' or 'P. purpureum' [Smith annotation: "'Ph. stoloniferum'"]; 2. 'Orthotrichum bipartium'; 3. 'Fissidens polycarpus' [Smith annotation: "D. 'polycarpum'"]; 4. 'Dicranium flagillaris' [Smith annotation: "'D. furescens'"]; 5. a 'Bryum' near 'B. pulvinatum' but distinct; 6. probably a variety of no.4; 7. a 'Bryum'; 8. what he now thinks a 'Grimmia', previously 'B. acutum' Linnaeus; 9. possible variety of 'B. acutum'; 10. 'Bryum patens'; 11. variety of 'B. patens'; 12. variety of 'B. patens'; 13. 'Bryum sericeum' or 'B. elongatum'; 14-16. 'Bryum'.

Just received "Flora Britannica" and "a valuable collection of specimens" from Smith, which are useful to him when preparing to set out on botanical excursions, one of which he hopes to make in 4 week's time.

Observations on enclosed 'Hypnum crista-castrensis', which he has known since 1787. Has found 'Hemerocallis flava' but it seldom flowers. Intends to send several possible new mosses along with collection of lichens and jungermannia. Will send the first number of his fasciculus ["Herbarium Britannicum" (1804-1812)] for Smith to [James] Sowerby, details of the printing. [James] Donn [(1758-1813), curator of Cambridge Botanic Garden] of Cambridge is an old acquaintance of his but of no relation, first met at Kew in 1785. Lists plants to appear in next fascicule, for Smith's opinion. Also sends Smith specimen of 'Dicranum flavescens'. List of his desiderata, largely cryptogams, some have marks against them.

Two specimens. Small piece of note paper, annotated "for G Don 'Dicranum subulatum' Hedw.".

[Samuel] Dickenson, "who prepared the botanical part of a new history of Staffordshire", has told [John Russell, 6th] Duke of Bedford he believes 'Salix russelliana' to be 'Salix fragilis'. Bedford has asked Abbot to compare the two from "Flora Britannica" and [William] Withering's book. Abbot's observations, which he asks Smith to confirm. Has sent 'Thlaspi campestre' to [James] Sowerby. Has good stations for 'Senecis viscosus', 'Dianthus armeria', 'Rumex sanguineus' and 'Allium carinatum'.

Would have recommended Don [James Donn] to be gardener of Kensington Gardens but George III appointed William [Townsend] Aiton, gardener of Kew, instead. An immense acquisition of living plants from China collected by a gardener from Kew, which along with the Cayenne plants of "last winter" must make Kew "far superior" to any other botanic garden. Kew has also received a vast collection of seeds from the unknown parts of New Holland [Western Australia], and are growing plants from seed from the same place sent last winter. Peter, Brown and Bauer are left behind in Sydney, New South Wales.