Received Smith's letter of 2 September. Describes charms of the neighbourhood of Boxlet, his new living. Discusses Smith's dispute with Salisbury: Salisbury's use of his sisters' names in a false manner "degrades him from the rank of gentleman"; believes Salisbury wishes he never wrote his pamphlet ["Generic characters of English Botany"] but does not know how to retract it; does not intend to read any of Salisbury's "Paradisus Londinensis"; has thought him "too wild to take a lead" since a conversation with him about Salisbury changing the nomenclature of 'Erica'; advises Smith not to enter into a squabble with Sir Joseph Banks [over his unsympathetic attitude towards to Salisbury dispute], "like all great men, he in his way is open to the tittle tattle of designing persons"; Smith should mortify Salisbury with "contemptuous silence"; blames [William George] Maton for allowing the pamphlet into the Linnean Society whilst he was in the chair.

Smith should use the verncaular form of [John] Sibthorp and [Peter Simon] Pallas in his Errata, suggests wording for an explanatory note. His aquaintance with the Bishop of Norwich [Henry Bathurst (1744-1837)]. A botanist, Mrs Brereton, is coming to Boxley. In Boxley has observed 'Hieracium umbellatum', 'Chrysosplenium oppositifolium', 'Hedypnois hieracioides', and 'Crepis biennis'. Has looked in vain in Rochester for 'Viola hirta'. Thinks 'Orchis militaris' is not a variety. [Thomas] Marsham visited after staying with [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert, deplores Lambert's weakness in dispossessing himself of his landed property by giving the inheritance to his "unworthy sisters". His own daughters are still looking for husbands, "impoverished times for such a commodity".

Forwards remarks by [John] Harriman on 'Lichens'; Smith one of the few botanists competent enough to form a judgement.

Newly formed Agricultural Society of Jamaica desires Smith as an Honorary Member.

Thanks Smith for naming plant ['Roscoea'] after him in September issue of "Exotic botany"; discusses its claims to be a distinct genus based on his system. Unsure whether he should include the synoptical table in his 'Scitamineae' paper on account of it being "in the very teeth of Lin[naeu]s".

Ready to receive first parcel of herbarium Smith is preparing, and though [Liverpool Botanic] garden funds currently low is confident of success of a subscription for the herbarium. Has orders for several quatro copies of "Exotic botany"; asks [James] Sowerby to send direct rather than through booksellers. Suggests Sowerby and his son tour England to draw rare plants in private collections as research for "Exotic botany". Still considers Smith the "destined Editor of the works of Linnaeus"; discusses whether Smith should publish them by subscription. Proposes Lord [Edward Smith-]Stanley as FLS and requests certificate for his nomination.

Sending Smith a 'Chara' allied to 'Chara flexilis' found at Cley, Norfolk, previously sent to [James] Sowerby, and also sending the true 'Chara flexilis' for comparison. Desires Smith's opinion on whether they are distinct species, as he and [Dawson] Turner believe, and suggests amendment to Sowerby's drawing if so. Has found 'Salicornia radicans' and [William] Hooker has found 'Fucus amphibius', both at Cley.

[This letter is marked as a duplicate; Rottler's letter of 3 March 1807 [see RelatedMaterial below] mentions his sending a copy of this letter to Smith.]

Encloses duplicate of letter he sent 2 September 1805 [see RelatedMaterial]. Sending another small collection of plants, some of which are from Mysore and Ceylon, including: 'Ophiorhiza mungos'; believes one of the specimens is a new tree genus 'Galari maram', describes it; thinks two of the Ceylon plants are currently undescribed. Hopes Smith has received the "Gullimia" [drawing of a 'Polyandria by Elizabeth Gwillim, wife of Sir Henry Gwillim, Justice of the Supreme Court of Jurisdiction at Madras] and other dried specimens he sent earlier in the year.

Sent [James] Sowerby seeds of 'Seseli', specimen of "'Collinsonia anisatum' ['Collinsonia anisata'] Lyon. Cat.", specimens of "'Dahlia' now 'Georgina' Wild.", and will send 'Collinsonia tuberosum' Michx. ['Collinsonia tuberosa']. Was at Bristol when the West [Indies] fleet arrived, saw onboard Lord Seaforth's [Francis Humberston Mackenzie] ship his zoological and botanical collections, the latter was gifted to him by Lord Seaforth. Received collection of 'Fucus' from [Phillipe] Durand in Montpellier, [France], and a book on them by Ducluzeau, and specimens of 'Vallisneria' and 'Aldrovanda'. Received letter from [Jacques-Julien de] Labillardière who has finished his work on New Holland [Australia] plants, Labillardière laments Smith cannot see [Joseph Pitton de] Tournefort's [(1656-1708)] herbarium for "Flora Graeca".

[James] Sowerby will send Roscoe as many copies of "Exotic botany" as needed but warns him of Sowerby's poor business skills. "Exotic botany" has to become more profitable for Sowerby to take up Roscoe's plan [to tour the country drawing rare plants in private collections]; Sowerby had intended to stop it until publishers Longman and co. agreed to take it on. Transcribes text for Lord [Edward Smith-]Stanley's FLS nomination certificate.

About to send first 2000 plants of herbarium and wishes them to be purchased by or for a public body, specifically Liverpool [Botanic] Garden; confident of a total of 8 to 10,000 species, "a respectable herbarium, especially with Linnaean authority", excluding fungi, and treated to last as long as the paper.

On Roscoe's advice reprinted the first sheet of "Flora Graeca". Criticises habit for naturalists to use people's names "unchanged in the nominative, but declined", though regrets engraving of 'Salvia sibthorpii' in "Flora Graeca". Questions Roscoe on the authorities he used in his 'Scitaminiae' paper, including 'Canna augustifolia'. Discusses 'Amomum exscapum' following receipt of many new 'Amomum' species from [Adam] Afzelius including 'Grana paradisi'. Has learnt much from original Dutch manuscript of "Hortus Malabaricus" that Linnaeus received with the Surinam plants, including on 'Renealmia exaltata' and 'Amomum repens'. Received new species of 'Hedychium' from [Francis] Buchanan and will put one in Roscoe's Liverpool herbarium along with a duplicate of 'Roscoea', discusses rules for assenting its character. Discusses Correa's idea that every order has one or more genera with irregular and regular flowers, which he has seen confirmed with 'Leguminosae', 'Caryophylleae', 'Saxifraga', 'Celsia', 'Verbascum', and 'Iberis'. Thinks Roscoe should print the synoptical table with his paper [on 'Scitamineae'].

Notes that [Richard] Salisbury's "abusive pamphlet" has been quoted against him in Salisbury's "Paradisus Londinensis"; [William Fitt] Drake's opinion of the matter; resolved to remain silent but desirous for it to be known that the quarrel is about "more essential things than Bot[an]y". [Sir Joseph] Banks' sketch of 'Hura siamensium' and Retzius' description is all they have to identify the plant, a 'Globba'. Plans being made for Drake to obtain a government appointment in Buenos Aires, [Argentina]. Parliament dissolved; confident of [Thomas William] Coke and [William] Windham [(1750-1810), politician] for Norfolk.

The new Governor-General [Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto (1751-1814)] not sailing before Christmas. Had hoped to visit Smith in Norwich but delayed in his attempts to be named [William] Roxburgh's successor in India by Roxburgh having pushed for his son's appointment instead. Asks Smith to obtain [Amelia] Hume's support "or at least her being quiet".

Elected MP for Liverpool by a majority over both the other candidates.

Envelope, addressed to Smith, with note in red ink "Mr Roscoe's first Frank".

Congratulates Roscoe on his election as MP; excitement of his family. William Smith lost his Norwich seat here thanks to efforts of "contemptible beings". Considers the impact of Roscoe's election on the slave trade, which shows that "even Liverpool can do better without it"; general election excitement. Mr Creery will be glad of Roscoe's election.

Believes [Francis] Buchanan is mistaken about Roxburgh's son who is according to her "apprehension" in possession of his father's place [in India]. Believes [William] Roxburgh is neither soliciting "his late place, or for that son". Comments that Mr Roxburgh [probably William Roscoe (fl 1780s-1810) superintendent of East India Company's spice plantations at Fort Marlborough, Sumatra] has "succeeded particularly well", bringing "spices to perfection at Bencoolen, [Sumatra]" in the Company's own establishments, something they "have very much at heart". Though she generally wishes to serve anyone Smith esteems cannot in this case turn Roxburgh's son out. Amused by [William] Roscoe's and Smith's "different appellations" of Liverpool voters, Smith referring to them as "slave-mongers" and Roscoe as "worthy constituents". Wishes him well although believes he cannot in private life be a better man than the one he has turned out, "seldom the politicks of the study turn out well in the Cabinet". Happy to see men of ability come forward when England is in danger [fear of imminent French invasion], commenting on the poverty, depression, insolence and larceny in Europe under the "tyrant" [Napoleon Bonaparte]. In a postscript on recto of first folio Hume notes that the 'Nadina officinalis' is coming into flower.

Encloses Lord [Edward Smith-]Stanley's FLS nomination certificate and asks Smith to find two signatories. Asks for copies of his last arrangement of genus 'Canna' and the first copy of of his paper on 'Scitamineae' plants; agrees that the genus needs investigation; wishes he had seen Smith's 'Canna glauca' in "Exotic botany" as Smith's figure differs entirely from 'Canna glauca' of "Hortus Elthamensis"; his knowledge of the two kinds of the genus, the nerved leaved kind, including 'Canna lutea', 'Coccinea', 'Canna latifolia', and the glaucos kind, including 'Cannacorus' of "Hortus Elthamensis", Smith's 'glauca', 'Maranta arundinacea' and 'Maranta sylvatica', which both agree with 'lutea' of [Nikolaus von] Jacquin; small ink sketch of detail of plant. Intends to distribute 'Monandrian' plants to friends with stoves.

[Parts of this letter appears to have been written some time before its dating, as Roscoe mentions being called to offer himself as a candidate in the election, which he won in early November].

Intends to exercise Roscoe's "newly acquired gift of franking in the service of botany"; sends 'Tangionia hypophylla' for John Shepherd [(c 1764-1836, curator Liverpool Botanic Garden]. Sending Roscoe's 'Scitamineae' paper in several franks. Will ensure Lord [Edward Smith-]Stanley's FLS nomination certificate is completed.

Norfolk county elections are closing with [Thomas William] Coke and [William] Windham [(1750-1810), politician] "some hundreds" ahead of Wodehouse, and at one of his dinners Coke toasted "Mr Roscoe & the abolition of the slave trade [...] 3 times 3"; Coke's favourable opinion of Roscoe based on his winning the Liverpool election with the motto "no slave trade"; Roscoe should visit Coke and [Andrew] Fountaine to see their libraries, manuscripts, and porcelain.

[Letter possibly incomplete: no signature or valediction]

Thanks Smith for recommending him to [Amelia] Hume regarding campaign to be appointed William Roxburgh's successor [at Calcutta Botanic Garden] over Roxburgh's son and explains why "young Roxburgh" is not adequately qualified. Has started working on an index for his journal.

Apologises for the passage in his paper ["On the marine plants described in the Flora Anglica"] which referred to Mr [Lilly?] Wigg [(1749-1829), clerk in Dawson Turner's bank] and was "confessedly to produce a laugh"; suggests how the passage could be removed and additions to be made if it is printed.

Recent weather: snow followed by rain. Norfolk "a most unpleasant state from [political] contest", some details. His brother, now in the Admiralty, will frank letters for Smith.

'Lichen stellaris' and its affinities "very imperfectly understood" by English botanists: encloses specimens [not extant] and remarks [extant] on those occurring within this neighbourhood, except 'L. caesius' and 'L. aleurites', which are sufficiently known. Uncertain about his quotation of Acharius; necessity for a work on the subject according to [Dawson] Turner's recommendations in "Linnean Transactions" vol 7.

Notes written West Town, [near Lewes, Sussex], November 1804, on 8 lichens: 'Lichen cycloselis', 'L. ulothrex', 'L. virellus', 'L. pulverulentus', 'L. aipolius', 'L. anthelinus', 'L. stellaris', and a new 'Lichen'.

5 coloured drawings on 2 folios of several lichens, with pencil notes [by Smith] naming 'Lichen nigro-virens' found by Charles Lyell 1809 and 'Lichen pezizoides' found by Borrer. 8 partly coloured drawings on 2 folios of leaf, twig, and flower of 'Salix', with pencil notes [by Smith] detailing specimens found by Borrer in 1813 [unclear if drawings belong to this letter].

Regrets the accidents and misfortunes that have so far prevented him from meeting Smith; the climate here does not suit his "Indian constitution", intends to return there this spring. Just received a few ripe seeds of 'Cycas circinalis' from Calcutta, and were opened at Sir Joseph Banks' the other day, has reserved one for Smith to dissect.

Banks is to select the drawings for second number of third volume of his "Plants of Coromandel" tomorrow; he had intended to publish four species of his genus 'Colebrookia', but as Smith discovered 'C. bulbifera' to be 'Globba marantina' Linnaeus as published in "Exotic botany" asks whether they are all to be made 'Globba' and [Henry Thomas] Colebrooke [(1765-1837), administrator in India and scholar] given another genus, or be introduced under his old name.

Comments on errors in the first half volume of "Flora Graeca", including different trivial names for the same plant in plate 31 and the corresponding text; error in spelling 'Minae' for 'Mainae' and 'Messenae' for 'Messenia'; omission of vulgar Greek name of 'Cyperus'; Smith's misleading manner of setting habitats for ubiquitous plants such as 'Phillyrea', wild olive, Manna ash, 'Gladiolus communis', 'Iris sisyrinchium', and 'Iria bulbacodium'. Regrets Smith did not apply to him more for particular information, presumed he had [John] Sibthorp's journals but but suspects this was not the case. From his own edition of the journals disputes attribution of a 'Valeriana tuberosa' and comments on other plants mentioned in the journal including a new 'Valeriana', a new 'Salvia', 'Salvia argentia' and 'Salvia sibthorpii'. Has found 'Campanula hederacea' in Sussex.

Extract of a letter from Mrs Merry of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to Davies, 23 Sep 1806, in which she says she has a specimen that Smith is "dying for" but that she will not show it until Smith writes to [Henry] Muhlenberg. Also encloses a letter from Muhlenberg to Merry [not extant]. In respect of the shells Davies, and the specimen Smith stands to gain, requests the portrait of Smith promised to Davies but not yet received. Mr Wyley is to soon embark for the Cape [of Good Hope], asks Smith to recommend any useful books.