Received Smith's letter of 30 April 1800 together with Smith's "publications and plants of New Holland", had given up expecting them. Encloses a duplicate of his previous letter of 14 October 1806, which accompanies a parcel of plants [see RelatedMaterial below]. Received Mr Kindersley's letter, shall reply when books for the female asylum arrive.

Sends list of New Holland [Australian] plants he received from Labillardière [not extant], requests any specimens Smith can add. Sends a sample of velvet woven in colours, capable of replicating portraits and other subjects, from a technique devised by Gregoire in Paris, it is superior to Mr Town of New Bond Street's similar product. Overwhelmed by reading Smith's "Introduction to Botany", corrects Smith's pronounciation of "Holmskiöldiaf" in same.

Received Smith's letter of 15 October [1806]. Sorry that he could not send Smith cuttings of 'Salix phylicifolia' and 'Salix sphacetata' as the place he got them from for [John] Lightfoot has since been cleared and ploughed. Has sent Smith a box of doubtful specimens including 'Salix' and other plants, listed: 'Salix myrsinites' Linnaeus and Lightfoot; undetermined 'Salix'; 'Salix fusca'; 'Salix arbuscula'; 'Salix lapponum'; 'Salix raticulata'; possible 'Salix incubacea'; 'Arbutus alpinus'; 'Erica dabaecia'; 'Azalea procumbens'; 'Rubus arcticus'; 'Cornus suecica'; 'Carex atrata'; '[Festuca calamaria]'; 'Acrostichum ilvense'; and 'Lycopodium inundatum'. Glad that Smith has principal charge of publishing of "Flora Graeca". His home and family life.

Sending this letter and enclosed specimens via [James] Sowerby, contains 'Grimmia nigritia', 'G. inclanata', 'G. schisti', 'Bryum gulaium' and 'Bartramia alpina'. Also encloses mosses, a 'Lichen', and a grass found in the white mine near Forfar [Smith annotation: "'Aira caespitosa'"] in 1807. Intends to undertake botanical excursion to the Cairngorns and Clova Mountains soon, but is unsure whether to collect for Sowerby, having heard nothing from him about previous specimens. Requests seeds of 'Felia muscosa' and 'Limosella aquatica'. Requests Smith's opinion on these and previous specimens.

Observations on the two kinds of 'Dianthus' termed by gardeners "pink & carnation"; argues that they are not both 'Caryophyllus', as Smith determines them in "Flora Britannica", and proposes 'Caryophyllus' and 'Hortensis'; provides characters with three small ink sketches of plant details.

Criticises tendency for botanists to determine a plant at first glance without investigating its characteristics or examining whether existing descriptions are correct, so that incorrect specific distinctions are copied from edition to edition, even though they are useless for identification purposes.

[Note at head verso of first folio: "Read Dec. 15 1807"]

Has not received the plants Smith mentioned in his last letter. Has sent the requested 'Lichen' specimens, did not want to send them before completing his "Lichenographia universalis", now printing; collection now contains almost 900 specimens, will send more as occasion arises. [Heinrich] Schrader thinks the new lichen work "definitive". Also enclosing letter and parcel for Dawson Turner.

Discusses 'Dianthus caryophyllus' and proposes two additions to Smith's description of the genus, being 'caryophyllus' and 'hortensia', with three small sketches in pen illustrating his argument. Justifies his course of study.

Unable to give Mr Patterson any information regarding the state of George III's flock of merino sheep. Had recommended to the King [George III (1738-1820)] for a ram to be sold for 25 guineas, a "fine wooled sheep". The King's flock of the negretti strain of Spain, "finer than the original flock". One ram castrated this year because of a few "king hairs" in his wool but has not had one other sheep that did not pass the judgement of the wool-stapler, who annually examines each sheep.

Friendly criticism of Smith's book; wonders whether he relied too much on [Erasmus] Darwin who was "too poetical to be correct" and [William] Forsyth who was "too cunning" to be quite so pure as Smith supposes him. Pleased to hear that the second fasiculum of "Flora Graeca" is to be printed soon. Genus 'Silene' has always been obscure and remarks on this subject will be welcome.

Assures Smith that he does not think ill of him if they differ in opinion. Relates a series of experiments with peach, cherry and pear trees for investigating [William] Forsyth's claim for regenerating old trees with his "plaster", at the request of George III. Asks whether in the Norfolk dialect a turkey's nest is called her "rip".

Agrees with Banks that a turkey's nest is known as a "rip". Comments on dispute between [William] Forsyth and [Thomas Andrew] Knight over Knight's insinuating pamphlets against Forsyth's paste for regenerating fruit trees. Smith says he can produce sections of Forsyth's trees "which tell their own story", will further enquire into the matter. Disgusted by the "backbiting" of authors and artists and London, and scornful of the effect of London society on minds. Thinks [Samuel] Goodenough will be a dignified and useful bishop. 'Buxbaumia aphylla' has been found at Roslin, [Midlothian], by Mr Maughan.

Thanks for books. Plants wanted by the Empress.

Smith has drafted his reply on recto of second folio: thanks for books. Apologises as he can no longer send the Empress any seeds or plants. Sends his "Exotic Botany" nos. 2 to 23 and "Introduction to Botany", including a copy for Broussonet, and six ferns from Botany Bay, [Australia]: 'Lindsaea microphylla', 'Lindsaea linearis', 'Darea' nov. sp., 'Marattia' nov. sp., 'Schizaea bifida', and 'Woodwardia caudata'. Asks if they knew each other in Paris in 1786 or 1787.

Sending continuation of his "Historia lichenum tinctor. Svec."; [Olof] Swartz has already sent two installments; publication plans for remainder of work. News of [Erik] Acharius and Swartz.

Regrets the "gross prurience of Linnaeus's mind" as seen in the several genera of 'Testacea' and the "vulgar lasciviousness" of 'Clitoria'. Considers Linnaeus' reasons for choosing the latter name 'Clitoria' and concludes that a literal translation of the first principle of Linnaean botany would "shock female modesty" and it is possible that many virtuous students might not be able to make out the similitude of 'Clitoria'. The name, like 'Chenopodium vulvaria', is "disgusting and horrid". Does not look at [Richard] Salisbury's publications and has not discussed anything with him since he and [Jonas] Dryander contended with his renaming 'Erica', including changing 'Erica tetralix' to 'Erica botuliformis' - sausage-shaped 'Erica'.

Admires Dawson Turner and asks Smith to thank him for his letter on '[Fucus] discors' and '[Fucus] abrotanifolius', hopes he and Smith will work out the essential difference between the two. [William] Hudson's specimen of '[Fucus] abrotanifolius' in his possession is the same as all the specimens found by Mrs [Ameila Warren] Griffiths [(1768-1858), algologist].

Account of his attempts to clear the Salisbury-Smith dispute whilst sitting as vice-president at Linnean Society: [William George] Maton excused himself from allowing Salisbury's pamphlet ["Generic characters of English Botany"] into the Linnean Society by pleading ignorance; told Salisbury at Sir Joseph Banks' that he was wrong to make the Linnean Society the arena for his and Smith's dispute and that the pamphlet should be withdrawn, to which he initially agreed and then reneged, Salisbury then gave him the roots of 'Crocus aureus' and seeds of a 'Dahlia'; attempted expunge the pamphlet from the Society with a Council but could not form one; [Alexander] Macleay has left the pamphlet out of the list of donations to the Society. Sorry to see that Salisbury has so many papers in the new "Linnean Transactions" volume but enjoyed [Thomas] Rackett and Maton's paper on British shells.

Was in London "when the explosion took place with respect to the late Ministers" [the "Ministry of All the Talents", a national unity government which was formed in February 1806 and broke up in March 1807 over Catholic Emancipation], the King [George III (1738-1820)] is "conscientious on the matter" and "would die before he consented to the giving of power to the R[oman] Catholics". [Jonas] Dryander has said both Smith and Salisbury have behaved badly, but Salisbury much the worse. Sees that Norwich has got rid Dr L Adkins, never could bear him.

Advises Smith not to engage with or react to [Richard] Salisbury in any way during next trip to London. [Jonas] Dryander is against Salisbury. Wish he had known that Smith's papers for "Linnean Transactions" had been voted to be printed and yet left out of the last volume. Salisbury "commits himself in all his writings - it does not require so able a naturalist as yourself to cut him up by the roots".

Sometimes gains more from attempting to solve difficulties than the solution to the difficulty itself. Agrees with Smith regarding his "Syllabus" and that in Smith's plain illustration and management it would become a very popular "Philosphia Botanica". Believes the best mode of strenghtening the Linnaean system is to suggest criticisms and hints on improving it. Laments that Artistotle did not begin Linnaeus' work but believes Smith has "laid a foundation of solid & progressive improvement". Advises Smith with his new work to retain all the classes as they now stand, especially ['Monoecia'], 'Dioecia', and 'Polygamia' as they are necessary to a system based upon the structure and situation of fructification. Smith's term "diclinia" correct and compares with substantive terms such as 'Monogynia' and 'Polygamia' and discusses Linnaeus' use of Latin genders. Dissatisfied with the look of [Dawson] Turner's "Fucus". Informed that Turner using remarks of his, [Ameila Warren Griffiths' (1768-1858)] and [Elizabeth Hill's (c 1760-1850)] in stating [John] Stackhouse's 'Fucus abrotanifolius' and 'Fucus disours' are the same plant, hopes they are properly credited, Stackhouse was too jealous to do so.

Discusses sending and receipt of letters.

Thanks for Smith's "Introduction to Botany", Smith writes with "great spirit". Believes "all natural history should be turned ot the mental imporvement of mankind", asks if Smith has seen [Samuel] Vince's "4 Sermons against atheism" ["A Confutation of Atheism" (1807)] in which he makes "astronomy speak in this high strain".

Fears letter sent to Smith on immediately of learning of his "advancement" [appointment as Bishop of Carlisle] is lost. Reassures Smith that he will not change or forget old friends, nevertheless flattered to find the King [George III (1738-1820)] taking the lead in bearing testimony to him.

[Aylmer Bourke] Lambert unexpectedly visited but was in a peculiar mood and evasive regarding a promised visit to Smith in Norwich. Sorry to hear of [James] Crowe's death, said to be from a carbuncle boil. Lambert writes that Sir Joseph Banks is bedridden with a large abcess in his leg. Expects a contrast when either [George] Shaw or [Charles] Konig succeeds [Edward Whitaker] Gray [(1748-1806), physician and curator] at the British Museum. Shortly leaving for London.

Asks if Smith saw his letter in the Bury Paper of 21 January discussing mistletoe on oak; the man who first saw it surrounded by sycamores and maples loaded with mistletoe could not find it again, Cullum had intended to place an oaken bough with mistletoe on either side of the President's chair at Linnean Society meeting. Lambert took young plants of 'Holosteum umbellatum' and 'Sisymbrium polyceratium' growing near his house.