Sends copy of [Peter] Collinson's [(1694-1768)] manuscripts for approval. Purchased from Lord Bute [John Stuart, 1st Marquess of Bute (1744-1814)] the last part of herbarium of "Garcin" which contains all of Haller's plants including Haller's 'Orchidiae', and Lord Bute's herbarium, which he intends to go to a friend.

Complains about his publisher White who has not sent out books as promised and made imperfect copies of Lambert's book. Complains about an individual [possibly Richard Salisbury] who borrowed Lambert's copy of [Charles] Konig's work on ferns and made notes in the book. After discussion with [Robert] Brown also observed that this individual did the same in Sir Joseph Banks' copy of Smith's "Introduction" in reference to "Menzies plant", a dispute over how he obtained his information. Lord Valentia [George Annesley] has just had a "dreadful operation", the first sheet of his "'Travels" has just been printed, intends addressing Salisbury severely in the first volume over his "very indecent paper". Has just written an account of his own herbarium for possible publication.

Has looked over Governor [Philip Gidley] King's [(1758-1808)] plants from New Holland [Australia] and added 300 new species to his own collection. Has things to tell Smith about "a certain person". Mrs King has brought back a case of 6000 insects she intends to part with and a case of shells she means to keep.

Dined with Sir Abraham and Amelia Hume. Apologises for the unintentional affront of giving a specimen to Andrews without realising Smith wanted it. Received collection of New Holland [Australia] specimens from the bursar of Governor [Philip Gidley] King's [(1758-1808)] ship including a 'Fabricia' in flower. Has set aside [Jacques-Julien de] Labillardière duplicates for Smith. Smith styled a "celebrated lecturer" in latest number of [Richard] Salisbury's "Parad[isus Londinensis]", hopes never again to have to entertain Salisbury or [William] Hooker [(1779-1832), botanical artist for "Paradisus Londinensis"].

Assured [Robert] Brown that Lady Essex has not grown the New Holland plants 'Corylus' and 'Psychilis' as evidenced from her gardener's ignorance and Hooker's continued misinformation [it was revealed that Salisbury had stolen drawings from Sir Joseph Banks and published them as his own]. Requests specimen of 'Juniperus oxycedrus' from [John] Sibthorp's collection as no one knows what it is. Received from Mr Hamilton specimen of the "Cedar of the Ancients" taken from the Acropolis in Athens, [Greece], appears to be 'Juniperus bermudiana' or 'Juniperus oxycedrus' of Hawkins. Speculates on Smith's future articles for [Abraham] Rees' "Cyclopedia".

Has dined several times with Sir Abraham and Amelia Hume, on the last occassion Lady de Clifford was there dividing a box of Cape bulbs. Hopes to see Smith's paper in tomorrow's "Monthly Magazine". [Richard Salisbury] "begins to expect there has [sic] been some enquiries about Lady Essex's nonentities"; he and [Robert] Brown now believe that Salisbury stole his figure of 'Byblis' from Sir Joseph [Banks'] [Salisbury had claimed that he figured the Australian plants 'Corylus', 'Psychilis', and others from Lady Essex's garden, who never had the plants].

Given [Lieutenant-]General Francis Grose's [(1758-1814) Governor of New South Wales, 1792-1794] collection of New South Wales plants collected by [William] Patterson [(1755-1810)]. Also collection of drawings of birds, fish, animals, and plants. Amused by Smith's letter in "Monthly Magazine" [in April 1808 edition, explaining the dissolution of his friendship with Richard Salisbury]. Dismisses Smith's suggestion that it is Dr [William Fordyce] Mavor [(1758-1837)] who writes in the magazine, everyone believes it is [Charles] Konig, gives his reasons.

Thanks for "fine specimen of ornithology". Has been with Dr [Edward Daniel] Clarke. [George] Jackson has returned from Cambridge with remainder of collection of [Peter Simon] Pallas' plants, a gift from Clarke, including 'Molinia jubata', an "extraordinary plant". Botany "again revived in Soho Square" [home of Sir Joseph Banks]. [Jonas] Dryander working on "the New Holl." and new edition of "Hortus Kewensis". Has a parcel of Indian plants for Smith from [William] Roxburgh. Sir Abraham Hume reports that Amelia Hume is very ill.

Query regarding 'Mespilus tanacetifolia' and Smith's variety in "Florae Graecae prodromus". Reviews first volume of Lord Valentia's [George Annesley] "Travels", wishes there was more natural history and less politics. About to begin his "summer campaign" on Salisbury Plain with Sir Richard Hoare.

A packet from [Jacques-Julien de] Labillardière for Smith. Received latest editions of "Annals du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle" which include the whole of [René Louiche] Desfontaines' "Choix de plantes du Corollaire de Tournefort". Received from Mr Coxe a copper plate of [Peter Simon] Pallas from St Petersburg, will give it to Linnean Society to accompany his paper. Obtained all of [Alexander von] Humboldt's works on plants. Has been busy on Salisbury Plain, is going to Longleat, [Somerset], to visit Lord Bath [Thomas Thynne, 2nd Marquess of Bath (1765-1837)], says of Lady Bath "my Lady fancys [sic] herself very fond of plants but I fancy she is not". Proposes Sir Edward [Hulse] and Mr Duke as Linnean Society members.

Discusses a "curious communication" containing as "much botanical as well as physical information" [presumably a paper or figure by Richard Salisbury]. States they "are only at war with the immoral not the scientific part of "that fellow of nuisance and scandal"", concludes that [Salisbury] is now received at Soho Square [home of Sir Joseph Banks] as Lady Hamilton [(1765-1815) mistress of Lord Nelson] would be [following discovery of Salisbury stealing Sir Joseph Banks' drawings and publishing them as his own]. Discusses history of a disputed related drawing. Death of Amelia Hume. Discusses distinctness of the two species of 'Aegiphyla'.

[Letter incomplete: sections cropped, presumed destroyed]

Busy with live and [Peter Simon] Pallas' dried specimens of 'Astragali', including all of the species featured in Pallas' book on the genus, some include notes from Gmelin's herbarium. Has received large box of lemongrass in flower from [James Webbe] Tobin [(d 1814)] of Nevis, long "a desideratum among all of us". Believes it is 'Andropogon nardus' Linn. and the true 'Spikenard' of the ancients. [Richard] Salisbury's publication of his work on 'Protecea' is in "such direct opposition to Soho Square" [home of Sir Joseph Banks], as well as to the Linnean Society that it is regarded as "infamous". Discusses Linnean Society news and nominates the Marquess of Bath [Thomas Thynne, 2nd Marquess of Bath (1765-1837)] as new Honorary Member, says Lord Bath pointed out the differences between the two 'Mespilus'. Has specimens of the two 'Aegiphyla' for Smith, which were discussed by [Jonas] Dryander and [Charles] Konig. [William George] Maton has been with the Queen [Charlotte (1744-1818), wife of George III] again and Mr Hausman is making a catalogue of her herbarium.

"Sarum Knight" and "Knight Sarum" [Richard Salisbury and Joseph Knight (c 1777-1855), gardener for George Hibbert (1757-1837, merchant] "do not quite agree in their tales" [regarding Salisbury's publication of Robert Brown's names for 'Proteacea' under Knight's name, see RelatedMaterial]. Will send specimens of 'Aegiphyla' and lemongrass. Has or will see [Samuel Goodenough], Sir Abraham Hume, Sir Richard Hoare, and [Robert] Brown. Smith to send specimens of 'Typha minor' and 'Phlomis lunarifolia'. Offers to send specimens of 'Phlomis samia' and the "Cliffortium" plant. [Edward Daniel] Clarke's "Travels" about to be published, he has given the 500 species of plants to Lambert.

Specimens and seeds for Lambert, Smith, [Robert] Brown, and Liverpool Botanic Garden from [William] Roxburgh. Received letter from Francis Buchanan just returned from two year absence to Calcutta, India. Received specimens from Nevis from [James Webbe] Tobin [(d 1814)] including 'Sophora [...]sperma' in flower. Met Lord Grenville [William Wyndham Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville (1759-1834)] at Whiteknights [home of George Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford] who is creating large collection of plants and arboretum of pines. Lord and Lady Essex, Countess Brühl, and Sir Walter Scott were also in attendance. Blandford has spent £7000 on his garden in last three years including £3000 on hardy shrubs. Describes a 'Convolvulus' at Englefield, Berkshire, bearing thousands of flowers, sent specimen to Soho Square [home of Sir Joseph Banks], "they know nothing of plants". Describes an 'Anneslea' of Roxburgh's in White Knights aquarium. Has found amongst [Edward Daniel] Clarke's Egyptian specimens 'Mimosa lebbeck', believes it is 'Mimosa speciosa'. Mr Baker intends to buy Sudley [Sudeley] Castle Estate, Gloucestershire.

Has been staying at Sir Richard Hoare's, along with Bishop of Salisbury [John Fisher (1748-1825)], his wife, and [John] Constable [(1776-1837) painter], who is patronised by the Bishop and is making views of the area; he is "well acquainted" with Smith having dined at his house in Norwich. Persuaded Bishop to become a FLS. Enquires whether Smith has given up his genus of 'Duchesnea'.

Obtained a 'Melaleuca caurina' from the Fonthill Sale [home of William Beckford (1760-1844)]. Has enjoyed the "Lapland Tour" ["Lachesis Lapponica"]. Lists publications recently acquired from Paris including: "Annals du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle"; [Kurt] Sprengel's "Philiosophia Botanica"and "Historia Rei Herbaria"; [Aubert Aubert Du] Petit-Thouars' "Essais Sur La Vegetation"; [Christiaan Hendrik] Persoon's "Synopsis plantarum"; [Andre] Michaux's [(1746-1802)] "Histoiredes arbres forestiers de l'Amerique Septentrionale"; [Tussac's] "Flore des Antilles" containing 'Alstroemeria edulis'; three new numbers of [Alexander von] Humboldt's [from his voyage to South America] containing 'Bonplandia trifoliata' and 'Mikania guaco'.

Glad genus 'Lamium' he sent was better than he expected, looks forward to seeing it in [Abraham] Rees' "Cyclopedia". Visited Cassiobury Park, Hertfordshire, home of Lord Essex [George Capel-Coningsby, 5th Earl of Essex (1757-1839)], guests included the Duchess of Leeds, Lady de Clifford the younger, Lady Monson, Lords of Ross and Jersey, and Lord Erskine. Nominated as auditor of Royal Society accounts alongside Sir Joseph Banks, Lord Valentia [George Annesley], and Sam Davis, India director. Praises work of Sello [presumably Lambert's assistant], intimate friend and pupil of [Carl Ludwig] Willdenow, he went through herbarium of [Alexander von] Humboldt and [Aimé] Bonpland. Given Lady Staunton's [Jane Staunton (1753-1823) wife of Sir George Leonard Staunton, 1st baronet (1737-1801)] China collection, "the greatest collection except Pallas" he ever received, will send Smith duplicates. Requests specimen of 'Lathyrus amphicarpos'. [Richard] Salisbury working on 'Erica'. Will send Smith all of [Peter] Collinson's [(1694-1768)] papers when Banks has finished with them, [Robert] Brown thinks them curious.

Thanks for seeds, delayed by [Friedrich Traugott] Pursh's printing of "Flora Americana". [Robert] Brown to visit before going onto Oxford, also visited by Sir George Staunton and [Thomas] Hardwicke. Comments on Smith's 'Magnolia' article in Rees' "Cyclopedia", has two drawings of Plumier's 'Magnolia'. Sends specimens of 'Silene' from Dover, [Kent], for Smith's opinion.

Lady Essex has taken up botany. He has never had so many new plants from foreign seeds, including Mexico. Much amused by second volume of Clark, though laments meddling of the booksellers.

["Spec 14" written in pencil at top of verso of first folio]

Has sent [James] Sowerby 'Carduus tuberosus'. Relates how a grandson of Dr [Nehemia] Grew [(1641-1712) pioneering of plant anatomy] introduced himself. Hopes to soon send to Sowerby an 'Oenothera' in flower from Mexico. Recommended Smith's "Introduction to Botany" as the best introductory work for a friend's sons.

Has manuscript copy of [Peter Simon] Pallas' autobiography by way of [William] Coxe [(1748-1828)] and a German life of Pallas possibly by [Kurt] Sprengel is at Sir Joseph Banks'. Received a letter from Dr [Eriedrich Ernst Ludwig von] Fisher of the Gorenki Gardens, [Russia], stating that Pallas left all his natural history collection to the Academy of Berlin where he died. Has sent 'Leptospermum', 'Plumeria pudica', 'Justicia americana', and 'Russelia' to [James] Sowerby for "Exotic Botany". Has grown a new species of 'Brucea' from seed, and plants from Mexico. Pleased at Smith's good prospects for Cambridge professorship. Death of [George] Shaw from a bowel complaint. Sent Sir Jospeh Banks plants of the true chili, believes Smith is wrong about them.

Thanks for basket of game. [Thomas] Nuttall [(1786-1859)] admitted a member of Linnean Society and Lord Louvain proposed.