Forwarding packet for Smith from [Olof] Swartz. Encloses a catalogue of Northumberland and Durham plants; vouches for authenticity of habitats should Smith wish to quote them. Sent a rose growing in local hedges to [James] Sowerby last summer, uncertain whether it was worth drawing; observations. Asks Smith's opinion of numbered specimens in Swartz' packet.

Informed of Smith's illness by his "new & valuable correspondent", [James] Brodie. Regrets that any dispute "should have arisen with a man who having proved himself capable of premeditated, & continued, deceit must have ever remained a charatcer for mistrust" [presumably a reference to Richard Salisbury's dispute with Smith]. Recommended Loudon to Mr Price of Foxley as he was going into that neighbourhood, but Price objects to much of Loudon's book.

Wrote paper for Linnean Society testifying [William] Hudson's "Flora Anglica" in response to so many of the marine plants in "English Botany" not conforming with Hudson's. Received 'Pyrola uniflora', the last he wanted, from Brodie. His only botanical neighbour, Archdeacon Pierson, has died of pleurisy in very bad circumstances; his herbarium of 1500 English and 2000 exotic dried plants on paper 18 inches by 12 to be sold at York, he would always go back and improve his specimens whenever he found better.

Grief at the death of his eldest son. His wife and other children only narrowly escaped [the fire]. His family are now recuperating at Coltishall, [Norfolk], is concerned for the well-being of his wife. Endeavouring to take comfort in botany. Will soon return [William Fitt] Drake's manuscript. Moved by and grateful for Smith's expressions of affection and friendship.

Lists contents of the chest he is sending Smith to look after, including: Rheede's "Hortus Malabaricus", [Elizabeth] Blackwell's "[A curious] Herbal", and folios of drawings of plants and fungi, including a "beautiful crimson" 'Convolvulus' he has not seen in any books; recommends it for "Exotic botany".

No summary available.

Introduces the bearer of the letter, [William Dandridge] Peck, professor of natural history at University of Cambridge [Harvard University], Massachusetts, who has been in Sweden. Hopes Smith received the parcel he sent last year via [Nathaniel] Winch. Sends his reprinted paper on 'Orchidae'. Hopes Smith received the letter he sent last December . Encloses a letter to be forwared to [Archibald] Menzies.

Urges Smith not to publish [George] Don's moss as a new 'Gymnostomum', as it would be "injurious" to Smith's credit. Hopeful his wife's recovery will continue following the death of their son. [Nathaniel] Winch claims that 'Pyrola media' is 'P. minor'; he says Smith has a parcel from [Olof] Swartz. Asks to borrow "Stockholm Transactions" vol 22 for [Erik] Acharius' papers on 'Collemata'. Encloses two or three 'Lichen'. Will send parcel for [James] Sowerby, and will resend all he has published to [James] Dickson if he wishes it, though does not expect any new publication from him.

Encloses specimen of 'Gymnostomum donnianum' [extant], named by Dr [James Edward] Smith and to be included in "English botany" for next April, also encloses a magnified drawing of it and letter from the artist [both extant]. Asks Brodie to transmit the whole to Smith. [Dawson] Turner thought it the 'Grimmea pusilla' of "Flora Britannica" but after examining five hundred specimens he is sure it is not.

Letter from James Neill, Lauriston Road, to George Don, Edinburgh, 12 February 1806: describes how he drew the magnified drawing of 'G. donnianum' with a solar microscope, a method he believes is new. Pencil drawing of 'G. donnianum' and specimen of same, wrapped in paper.

Note by Brodie to Smith on cover, forwarding the whole.

Received Winch's parcel a few days ago, enclosing one from [Olof] Swartz; thanks for present of Winch's work ["The Botanist's guide through the Counties of Northumberland and Durham"] and specimens enclosed in it, particularly 'Hypnum cordifolium' and 'Dicranum fuscescens'. Thanks Winch for his numerous communications through [Dawson] Turner and [James] Sowerby, "which have enriched "English botany"".

Numbered responses to Winch's queries on plants: 1. like 'Hypnum rugosum'; 2. like Ehrhart's 'H. rugosum' but has not the "proper rugosity"; 3. 'Cochlearia officinalis'; 4. an 'Epilobium' he gathered on glacier of Chamouin in Savoy and supposed variety of 'E. alpinum', near 'E. roseum'; 5. a 'Chironia'; 6. 'Eriophorum polystachion'; has no means of ascertaining 'Bartiamia ithyphylla'; of the exotics 1 is a 'Caucalis' unknown to him, and the rest are 'Buphthalmum aquaticum', 'Statice monopetala', 'Fumaria parviflora', 'Frankenia hirsuta', 'Tribulus terrestris', and possible 'Scabiosa plumosa'; 7. 'Pryola media' of Swartz; 8. 'Pyrola folio rotundo'; "always a matter of wonder what all Rivinius's 'Pyrolae' were".

Turner's family in far better health and spirits than could be expected after "the dreadful loss of his only son by fire".

[On recto of second folio] List of specimens, corresponds with Smith's observations above [in Winch's hand].

No summary available.