Pleased to of recovery of Smith's health in his letter of 2 [January 1806]; his own bad health forced him to leave Bengal. Regrets his and Smith's missing each other in Liverpool; now little chance of their meeting until Smith comes to London in April. Contemplating a return to Bengal as the climate here is not agreeable. Comparing his specimens with [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert's; Lambert has almost convinced him that [Charles] Konig's 'Argostis linearis' is Smith's 'Panicum dactylon'; recommends Sir William Jones' figure of former in "Asiatick Researches" vol 4; requests Smith's assistance with all his Indian plants.

Thanks for specimens of native camphor; at present the nature of the substance is incomprehensible. Would like to become FLS; states his involvement in establishing the [Liverpool] Botanic Garden as example of his promoting botany. [John] Shepherd [(c 1764-1836, curator Liverpool Botanic Garden] going on well; considerable additions made to the collection since Smith left. Comments on "unprincipled attack" on [William] Roscoe's "Leo X" in "Critical Review"; pained to observe such a "spirit of illiberality" in one of their most popular periodicals.