Thanks Smith for naming 'Opegrapha lyelli' after him and accepting numerous specimens, believes the species is distinct despite variations towards 'Opegrapha dendritica' and 'Opegrapha pulverulenta'. Thanks Smith for the notice he took of 'Lichen pollinarius' in "English Botany" which encouraged him in further investigation of mosses and lichens in his vicinity.

Has left specimens from George Don for Smith with [James] Sowerby. Employed Don to plant a shrubbery at his Angus residence, praises his botanical skills. Don accused by his "namesake at Cambridge" [James Donn (1758-1813) curator of Cambridge Botanic Garden] of acquiring from Cambridge his "pretended discoveries" as seeds, including: 'Hypericum barbatum', 'Centaurea intybacea', and 'Lamium dissectum?'; his 'Potentilla opaca' is the 'Potentilla obscura', and doubts 'Galium verrucosum'. Recommends Don's habitats be examined by trustworthy botanist; laments that neither [Dawson] Turner, [William Jackson] Hooker, or [William] Borrer ever went to Forfar during their trips to Scotland.