Sorry to hear from [Andrew] Caldwell that Smith has not received the £5 2s 6d, which he assures Smith he sent two years ago; wishes Smith had mentioned it directly to him before, and Caldwell has now taken care of the situation.

Recommends John Hailstone [(1759-1847), geologist] to the Linnean Society; his skills and knowledge. Distress of [Richard] Relhan, his wife and seven or eight children; had hoped to make up the sum of money being paid for his herbarium but informed of difficulties.

Heard of Smith from their friend [Andrew] Caldwell, who has just returned from Norfolk. Encloses undetermined specimen of 'Polypodium'. Encloses a previously undescribed 'Tremella', for which he suggests 'T. vagans'; description and observations. Discusses errors with [William] Withering's 'Acrostichum ilvense'.

Requests to anonymously pay [John] Harriman's lifetime FLS subscription as FLS. Asks whether Smith thinks the "famous" 'Cycas revoluta' at Farnham Castle, [Surrey], is sage as commonly bought or not.

Received Smith's parcel as he was leaving for Bulstrode [home of Duke of Portland in Buckinghamshire]. Discussion of 'Carex': has not been able to run through Smith's synonyms; there are two synonyms referred to in [Pier Antonio] Micheli's [(1679-1737)] plate which Goodenough quoted for 'C. rigida'; believes Smith's 'C. binervis' grows near Hastings, Sussex, had always thought it different from 'C. distans'; Smith's 'C. micheliana' "a good species"; asks Smith to rename his 'C. vesicaria' as there are "cogent reasons" for the existing 'C. vesicaria' name; believes Linnaeus' 'C. vesicara' was 'C. sylvatica'. Astonished that [Robert John] Thornton's [(c 1768-1837), physician and writer on botany] work is now printing ["A new illustration of the sexual system of Linnaeus"]. Desperate for Smith's "Flora [Britannica]" to come out; believes under Smith's "correct auspices [botany will] stride on to perfection". Sending Smith's corrected manuscripts to [John] White [publisher] but asks who "Hull." often quoted by Smith is; suggests alternatives for the words "scrotiforme" and "genitalia" to spare Smith's "character for delicacy". Eager for Scottish specimens of Smith's new 'Carex' species, particularly 'Carex incurva'.

On verso of second folio Goodenough notes that "Enchiridion" would be a good name for Smith's "Epitome" but as there is already a work under that title suggests "Synopsis" instead.

In Exmouth on account of his daughter; she has been unwell for months and recently more so though believes her lungs are not affected and that the disorder is nervous. His sister has received great benefit from taking foxglove under Dr Moncrieffe though just received letter that a fresh tubercule is inflaming. Beddoes currently has five ladies under his care, each in a hammock in a close room with an Alderney cow.

Will send any marine plants he finds to [James] Sowerby though presently none are washed up and the rocks are barren except for 'Fucus vesiculorus' and 'Ulva compressa', 'Rubia' on cliffs, and '[Calystegia] soldanella', 'Crygium campestre', 'Cuphorbia' and he supposes [William] Hudson's 'Ononis repens' on sand banks between cliffs and beach. Complains that having expected to live on John Dory can get nothing but small whitings and herrings every two or three days.

Hopes Smith will be able to get the "Flora [Britannica]" out by next spring, as planned. Has been unable to look through the "Greek Botany". Could not find 'Arabis stricta' at St Vincent's Rock, Bristol, but did observe 'Gentiana amarella', 'Geranium sanguineum', and both 'Lichen dioica'. Hopes Smith is able to quash all feuds in the "subscription library". Ireland is currently "perfectly quiet". Confirmed in his suspicions that the "Dutch expedition" would not succeed, "the very idea of forcing a government on a nation is intolerable" [Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland, campaign of 27 August 1799 to 19 November 1799 during the War of the Second Coalition, to promote an uprising by followers of the former stadtholder, William V, against the Batavian government].

Sent [James] Sowerby 'Fucus tomentosus' and will send other marine plants. Observations on local plant 'Eryngium campestre'. His daughter's symptoms: regular chills followed by slight heats since last August but nothing prevalent till the last week; Dr Hunter of York and Dr Downman of Exmouth both conclude the lungs not affected but an abscess in her throat; Hunter prescribed bark and port wine but the bark disagreed with her bowels but now absorption of matter has given way to regular expectoration of pus, loss of flesh and appetite and hair, uncertainty whether the pus is from the lungs, trachea or oesophagus but supposes a large quantity can only come from the lungs. Delightful climate. Lady East reads Sertularice and [John] Ellis [(1710-1776), botanist] daily.

Thanks Smith for his recent visit to Farnham and for his observations on 'Cycas [revoluta]' and other plants. Infers that 'Cycas' is dioecious from Bauer's painting of a male plant at Vienna and the lack of the corculum in his seed. Shall put aside a specimen of the seed and frondeal leaf for the Linnean Society, thanks for account from [Carl Peter] Thunberg. Thanks Smith for Cape seeds.

Sending drawing of a "minute species" of 'Jungermannia', made in November 1798 [extant]. Bryant has it in his collection, and [John] Pitchford sent him some; [James] Dickson named it 'minima'. Description of the plant. Notes for if it is published in "English botany"._x000D_

[Note to James Sowerby in Smith's hand on recto of second folio] 'Jungermannia divaricata' Smith, to be drawn for table 719 of "English botany"; asks Sowerby to take note of Francis' remarks and to return the specimens and drawing._x000D_

Eight small drawings of plant on single folio, coloured.

Sent a parcel of plants by coach, chiefly cryptogamic; numbered detailed descriptions and observations of the specimens, including: 'Polypodium lonchitii', 'P. aculeatum', 'P. rheticum', 'P. dryopteris', unidentified 'Lichen', 'Trichia fragiformis', 'Veronica montana', 'Primula elatior', 'Sphaeria mori', 'Carex digitata'. Discovered 'Saxifraga umbrosa' in 1796, communicated habitat to [William] Bingley.

Thanks for Smith's last two letters and the seeds. Thanks Smith's brother for the fearnoughts [thick woolen overcoats] which are "very acceptable for our poor"'; requests annual supply. All improving with him and his family: his daughter's [Mariamne Johnes] health better daily, as well as her wisdom, status and beauty; his wife recovering quickly from a very severe cold; his own health the best for ages, which he attributes to the wines from Smith's friend, Voght; his farm "answering amazingly"; all his sales have been successful; and if he gets his asking price for an estate he is selling he will be "clear", after which he can concentrate on translating Froissart [(c 1337-c 1405), French chronicler].

Believes that Lloyd, a "dirty dog of a parson" with a curacy in Norfolk, started the rumour that he was to sell Hafod to Mr Crowe.

Thanks Smith for sending mint plants; if number 11 of the mints is easily procured he would like it to complete the set. Hopes the people of Norwich are raising subscriptions for relief of the poor "at this distressing time", as is happening here; his sister and Mr Dixon have set up a soup shop at Henham selling it at 1d a quart. Encloses plates of his 'Peziza [cuticulosa]' [extant] for Smith to send Persoon, will search for specimens.

Plate of 'Peziza cuticulosa'; description and engraving.

Thanks for specimens of 'Mentha' and copy of Smith's paper on same [see RelatedMaterial below]; discusses classification of 'M. sativa' and 'M. gracilis'.

Gave Smith's remembrances to Sir William and Lady East, she is a "most charming woman" who received great benefit from being in Exmouth. Sir William has recommended steaming, milk and figs or some softening effluvia for his daughter to promote suppuration and healing of the abscess which now certainly lies in the throat. His sister Mrs Nicholas has returned to London and Dr Moncrieffe prescribes continued use of foxglove though her stomach is destroyed. Bad weather destroyed 'Euphorbia paralias' he found though slowly sending 'Fucus' to [James] Sowerby. Has 'Fucus pulmatus' Lightfoot and is satisfied from his observations at Scarborough, [Yorkshire], that the species is distinct; observations on other varities including 'F. coriaceus', 'F. tureicus', and 'F. hepaticus'. Will save 'Lichen caliendrinus' to "ornament" Smith's head next anniversary. Encloses full sized specimen of Porteus 'Fucus ceranoides' of [William] Hudson and will collect all varieties for Sowerby; thinks he has seen the "Dyers Lichen" figured in "English Botany" but unable to get it off the rock.

Sir William asks what 'Laver' is, being convinced that it is "sea liverwort" and not 'Ulva lactua' of modern botanists.

Honoured to be mentioned in "English Botany" but uneasy lest he erroneously judged 'Anchusa officinalis' indigenous. Describes habitat of a 'Gnaphalium margaritaceum' he has found and believes is indigenous, offers to send specimens. Believes a 'Lonicera caprifolium' in Elsfield Wood, Oxford, is indigenous there, criticises [John] Randolph, Bishop of Oxford, for believing it is a variety of common honeysuckle. Long list of habitats of rare plants found this year [by Butt].

Has spent the last eight months in the 2nd Regiment militia which has prevented him from pursuing his botany interests. Glad Smith has seen 'Cycas revoluta', Smith will to determine whether the genus should with the palms or the ferns. Jokes that the "ardour in botanical pursuits is so great" he would not be surprised to hear Smith had found [Carl Peter] Thunberg's 'Disa longicornis', 'Serapias melaleuca' and 'Ixia maculata' in Britain.

His friend, Dr Salt of Birmingham, has found 'Gnaphalium margaritaceum' in Longdon parish, near Lichfield, [Staffordshire], in a meadow with small stream running through it. Sent in addition to [Thomas] Butt's letter [of 17 December 1799].

Has always considered economy of time superior consideration to expense in engravings for "Flora Graeca"; believes the work cannot be solely given to [Ferdinand Lucas] Bauer [(1760-1826), botanical artist] and requires assistance of Mackenzie, as Sir Joseph Banks originally recommended. Recommends enlisting "other artists of merit" such as [James] Sowerby, but unsure how to resolve the issue and requests Smith's opinion as editor. Requests that a drawing be given to Mackenzie to engrave.

Sending second part of second volume of his edition of "Species plantarum", containing classes 'Dodecandria', 'Icosandria', and 'Polyandria'. Third volume, to follow shortly, will contain 'Didynamia', 'Tetredynamia', and 'Monadelphia'. Discusses various species of 'Carex' still under dispute, including 'Carex montana', 'C. leporina', 'C. canescens', 'C. globularis', 'C. ovalis', 'C. paradoxa', 'C. dioica', 'C. reflexa'.