Forwarded Smith's letter to [George] Don and believes Don will be satisfied with Smith's conciliatory manner and correct his mode of publication, which is symptomatic of a general surplus of natural history publications: "everyone [is] publishing, quite to the nausea of purchasers, the commonest things - when [George] Shaw [(1751-1813), naturalist] published the cock-sparrow & the common snail, I thought it high time to discontinue the Nat[urali]st's Miscellany". Don's discoveries are very valuable; the 'Hypericum' and 'Equisetum' were new to him. Believes others have been more devious than Don has been in attempting to naturalise foreign plants; cites example of Laurents and himself sowing 'Sisymbrium polyceratium' in the streets of Bury [in reference to claims by James Donn of Cambridge Botanic Garden that Don had used Cambridge seeds to grow and then claim as plants indigenous to Scotland, see RelatedMaterial]. Thinks Don's 'Lamium' a distinct species especially if the leaves are constantly petriolated.

Hugh Davies sent him his three species of articulated 'Juncus' but one had no leaves to it [see RelatedMaterial below]. Remembers the 'Sempervivum sediforme' at Kew and contending with [William] Aiton [(1731-1793), gardener at Kew] that it was 'Sedum', Aiton convinced it was 'Sempervivum' on [Daniel] Solander's authority. Pleased by Smith's proficiency in Greek and with Dioscorides, recommends Theophrastus and Bodaeus' notes. Sorry to see that "envious creature [Richard Salisbury] again barking at you" and reaffirms that Smith is the "King of Nat[ural] History". Was not aware that Dr [John] Hull [(1761-1843), physician and botanist] was of such a "predatory turn". Eager to see "Flora Britannica" complete but glad to find "Florae Graecae Prodromus" progressing so well.

Smith's reply to Goodenough's letter dated 12 November 1808. Has Bodaeus' Theophrastus but as [John] Sibthorp's intention was to illustrate Dioscorides does not intends to go further with "Flora Graeca" or "Florae Graecae Prodromus". Requests Goodenough's advice whether to follow [Richard] Salisbury's new generic name for 'Nymphaea alba', 'Castalia', after the manner the petals "chastely fold over & cover the organs of impregnation", in "Florae Graecae Prodromus". Smith would prefer it to be after the Castalian fountain of Greek mythology. Salisbury has separated it from 'Nymphaea lutea' as proposed by Smith in "Introduction to Botany". Believes that 'Nymphaea alba' in Dioscorides provides enough evidence for keeping that name and proposes 'Blephara', also from Dioscorides, for the other generic name, and provides characters for each. Observes how curious it is that 'Nymphaea alba' is strictly gynandrous according to the more correct character of 'Gynandria'.

Believes he has quoted Dr [John] Hull [(1761-1843), physician and botanist] more than commending him, he is a "mere compiler". Bishop of Norwich [Henry Bathurst (1744-1837)] gratified to hear of Goodenough's remembrances and is quite recovered, although he lately had a fall at Holkham, [Norfolk, home of Thomas William Coke] after opening the cellar door. Asks Goodenough to frank enclosed letter to Mrs Smith in Liverpool. Amelia Hume's 'Chrysanthemum indicum' in flower. Will send part of his 'Sedum ochroleucum' in a frank for Goodenough to grow.

Forwarded Smith's letter to Mrs Smith. Firmly against allowing [Richard] Salisbury to "desecrate the name Castalia" and make it serve for the denomination of a plant inhabiting "foul, stagnating, fetid water" [Castalia was a nymph transformed into a fountain by Apollo]. Additionally objects to it on grounds of being contrary to the rules of analogy and its being a Greek word, thus having nothing to do with Latin etymology. Discusses in detail Dioscorides' nomenclature in reference to Smith's proposed 'Blephara' genus and suggets either 'Nuphar' or 'Madonia'. Suggests correction to Smith's 'Blephara' character. Still receiving invitations to dinner from the Geological Society after repeatedly stating that he cannot join them or any other dining society.