Forwarded Smith's letter to [George] Don, did not know that 'Limosella' cannot be found in Scotland but remembers it growing on Hounslow Heath and cultivating it in his Ealing garden. There are no naturalists in the Carlisle area or anyone to collect plants. Lists plants he has observed in the area: the variety of 'Plantago maritima' called 'Loeflingii' by [William] Hudson, in elevated moist positions, smaller and with untoothed leaves, does Smith know of it growing in such conditions away from the sea; 'Salix pentandria' in all the moist hedges; 'Campanula latifolia' in shady lanes by Rose Castle; 'Fumaria capreolata' in cornfields amongst turnips, contrary to Smith's statement that it is a southern plant; 'Senecio sarracenicus', possibly escaped from a garden; 'Sanguisorba officinalis', a favourite Oxfordshire plant; 'Serapias latifolia'; 'Salix repens'; a tree called bird-cherry or heckberry, possibly 'Prunus padus'; 'Rubus corylifolius' is common. The hills and wastes are in a wild state and covered with 'Erica vulgaris', 'Juncus squarrosus', 'Tormentilla reptans', 'Lichen rangiferinus' and similar.

Received letter from Hugh Davies complaining that [Edward] Donovan [(1768-1837), zoologist] has attacked him and [Thomas] Pennant over the Beaumaris shark and trifurcated hake in Pennant's "British Zoology", claiming that Pennant did not refer to Davies' figure but instead fabricated his own, and that Pennant makes Davies guilty of gross misrepresentation over the trifurcated hake; Donovan concludes that these fabricated figures left Goodenough wrongly informed in his "Linnean Transactions" paper on the Porbeagle shark, and Donovan is convinced that the Beaumaris and Porbeagle sharks are the same. Goodenough convinced that both his and Pennant's figures are exact and the sharks are different. Exasperated by those, like [Richard] Salisbury, "thinking to raise themselves at other people's expense" and "carping jealousies" engendered by learned societies.

Rose Castle prettily situated but six miles from the nearest badly supplied market town and the house thermometer is already halfway between temperate and freezing.

Further thoughts on "Kuamos"["Cyamus" transliterated from Greek alphabet, appropriated in English as "legumen"] following his previous letter of 12 September 1808. As Theophrastus was the earliest Greek writer to use "Kuamos" conjectures that the Hindu 'Nymphaea nelumbo' may have been first imported from the East by Alexander the Great, and introduced to Egypt in a similar way. Explains why the "Kuamos" held to be an "abomination" by the Ancient Egyptians, according to Herodotus, was not 'Nymphaea nelumbo'.

Sends Egyptian plants ; has found Papyrus growing at Damietta ; particulars of his travels in Egypt and America.

Further discussion of controverted passage in the "Monthly Magazine"; believes it may only be a figure of speech; regret of the writer in offending Smith. Has completely relinquished idea of reviving "Annals [of Botany]"; miscommunication between himself and Dr [John] Sims. [Jonas] Dryander working on new edition of "Hortus Kewensis".

No summary available.

Offers to send specimens of four distinct species of 'Maranta' from Liverpool Botanic Garden, which with Jacquin's 'M. lutea' completes all he knows of the genus. Regrets cessation of "Exotic botany" not only for [James] Sowerby's "excellent" figures but for disseminating "true sound Linnean principles" at a time when they are attacked in other publications; convinced a quatro edition could be successful; Smith's "English botany" by far the "most scientific & perfect Flora in any language or country" but it is ending soon and "Exotic botany" would be more worthy of Smith's skills and more widely appreciated in other countries. Offers his opinions for Smith's proposed "Illustrations of Botany" and chapter on Jussieu's system.

Agrees with Smith that events in Spain have ruined all "ideas of peace" and any effect his pamphlet might have had on the public; criticises the triumphalism of the war party; believes Napoelon might have only attacked Spain as an additional point of offence against Britain; fears the consequences, either the further extension of his despotism, or a complete revulsion in the affairs of Europe. Glad of Smith's good health; describes bad health of his sons.

Recent social events in Liverpool. [Liverpool] Botanic Garden is "flourishing" and almost out of debt so can now make a final arrangement for Smith's duplicate Linnaean herbarium.

Long delay in receiving Smith's note and present of 20 February [1808]. Encloses paper for the Linnean Society; may otherwise include it as note in his work on Anglesey plants ["Welsh botanology" (1813)]. Notices by last number of "English botany" that he is too late to make statement about 'Lichen bicolor'. Concerned to hear of [Richard] Salisbury's "continued insolence" toward Smith, and how [Edward] Donovan [(1768-1837), zoologist] "insults the ashes" of [Thomas] Pennant; intends to respond on latter.

Sent [James] Sowerby specimens of his new 'Potamogeton', previously thought it an elegant 'Euphorbia'; observations.

No summary available.

Thanks for letter and seeds of 'Limosella aquatica'. Recently received letter from [James] Sowerby containing a statement of his fasciculus [presumably Don's "Herbarium Britannicum" (1804-1812)], the first he has received since publishing the first 5 years ago; in "consequence of his negligence" he has brought "very considerable expense" and will be forced to give it up after printing seventh and eighth numbers. If Sowerby was the sole publisher of "English botany" he would not send any further plants, but encloses 4 of his recent discoveries for Smith's account.

Numbered observations on enclosed specimens: 1. 'Hypericum barbatum' or 'H. elegans'; 2. unknown species of 'Lamium', like 'L. amplexicaule', suggests 'L. intermedium'; 3. possible 'Juncus fasciculata'; new species of 'Equisetum'. Had intended to send them to be published in "Linnean Transactions". Identified one of the grasses he sent Smith last year as 'Agrostis arumdinacea', and has possibly found 'Bromus triflorus'.

Comments on two specimens he saw in [George] Don's open letter to Smith: if the 'Hypericum' is not named suggests 'ciliatum' or 'crinitum', and the 'Lamium' has a deeper coloured flower than any of its affinities. Warns Smith to not let [James] Sowerby disgust Don nor put him to needless expense as he is one of Smith's most valuable correspondents.

Events in Spain: Glad the populace and the Ministers are eager for an investigation into the "Portugal business"in Spain [Peninsular War, 1807-1814, war between France and Spain, Portugal, and Britain for control of Iberian Peninsula]. Goodenough enraged by Bonaparte's invasion, "never was there in the history of man a more barefaced invasion of natural right and justice". Eager to hear of the fourth volume of "Flora Britannica". Shall soon begin to think that there is a "party rising up bent on vexing old naturalists - Salisbury, [Edward] Donovan [(1768-1837), zoologist] - I would not willingly add Sowerby".