Accouunt of a dinner at William Smith's. Attending Linnean Society anniversary meeting. Lord Valentia [George Annesley] has given him many new shells. His future plans, including visits to Blackheath, and giving 6 more lectures, ending on 14 June.

Account of Linnean Society anniversary meeting; [Richard] Salisbury and others did not vote; the dinner attended by 63 people, the largest number yet, including Bishops of Winchester and Carlisle [respectively Brownlow North and Samuel Goodenough], Lord Valentia [George Annesley], Sir Abraham Hume, Sir Thomas Gage, and [John] Symmons. A toast was made to him by Valentia, stating that whatever the Linnean Society is or has been is owed to Smith, and he presented Goodenough and [Thomas] Marsham as being with him the first 3 projectors of the Society.

Visited Sir Joseph Banks this morning and was discussing botany with [Jonas] Dryander and [Robert] Brown when Salisbury entered; his "Paradisus [Londinensis]" stopped for want of money, though Banks gave Hooker £50; spoke civilly to Salisbury at Linnean Society about a 'Narcissus' that was there; Salisbury looks thin and pale, and Brown "cannot abide him". Thinks his and [James] Sowerby's new work will proceed; details. His "Introduction [to Botany]" praised by all the people he most depends on. Attended opera with [James] Crowe and family. Future visits to Blackheath and Kew; [William Townsend] Aiton was at the dinner.

Letter scented with balm of Gilad.

Sending Smith flowering 'Saxifraga' specimens gathered near Killarney, Kerry. Hopes Smith received the 'Euphorbia hibernica' he sent in spring. Smith should be wary of reports that 'Acorus gramineus' has been found in Ireland until he has been able to determine the facts. Sends his "Sketch of lectures on meadow and pasture grasses" for Linnean Society. [Andrew] Caldwell in a very bad state of health.

Encloses a specimen of grass which she is informed is not known in England; the seeds of it came among some flax seeds from Archangel, [Russia]. Requests Smith's opinion [Smith has annotated "'Lolium arvense'"].

Returns [William Jackson] Hooker's paper, which he and [Dawson] Turner have both looked over.

Never had much hope for the war before, but from the first of the Spanish resistance he has always hoped; cares not who manages the country as long as they do it well, but concedes the Ministry have conducted themselves with "singular wisdom & discretion", and the King's [George III (1738-1820)] speech "was in the same style". Returns his paper on 'Hookeria' and a paper on snakes not worth publishing.

At the end of their tour of Wales, "nowhere human industry adds so much to the attractions of fine rivers & fine mountains". Sending "the most beautiful little fungus I ever saw"[Smith has annotated underneath: "'Ag[aricus] androsaceus' JES"] found by river Wye. Hopes [James] Mean [(fl 1810s-1820s) gardener to Sir Abraham Hume at Wormleybury] has sent Smith the 'Uvaria'. Hope to visit [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert on their journey home.

Sends corrected and enlarged volume [of his "Index Plantarum"]; uncertain how to proceed with publication.

Replies to Roscoe's letter of 1 May. Thanks for Roscoe's notes on 'Canna', though there is not much new information; asks native country of Roscoe's 'Canna latifolia' and any authority used. Doubts whether [James] Sowerby will continue "Exotic botany" as it does not sell enough for a profit, though if he went on slowly it would pay. His work for [Abraham] Rees' "Cyclopedia" has increased and now includes the whole botanical part and biographies of botanists following death of [William] Wood; he has accepted as it sells 5000 copies and will help advance botany; he puts an "S" to articles he wishes to be responsible for.

New edition of his "Introduction to Botany" printing but has only made corrections. Intends to produce a new work called "Illustrations of Botany" with figures of new and interesting plants and genera, with possible chapter illustrating and criticising Jussieu's system. Second part of "Florae Graecae prodromus" printing and will finish "Flora Britannica" this winter. As usual will spend September in Lowestoft, [Suffolk]. His health is good but has been anxious for Roscoe's sons' health. Forced to to give up his visit to Lancashire but hopeful for next year. Thanks for Roscoe's second pamphlet, admires the introduction but observes that recent events in Spain are unfavourable for Roscoe's ideas of peace, and "sickens at the old story of subsidising Austria & Co again!".

Discussion of toads: asks after Roscoe's tale of a "toad in a hole in a wall" having just read a similar account in Roesel [von Rosenhof's (1705-1759)] "Historia naturalis rariarum"; his own observations of three live natterjack toads in his possession, 'Bufo terrestius foetidus' of Roesel t24; [Thomas] Pennant's "British Zoology" quotes Sir Joseph Banks on natterjacks but not Roesel.

[Letter probably incomplete: text interrupted, no signature or valediction]

Sorry to inform Smith that the reports that 'Acorus grammineus' has been found in Ireland are false; questioned the gardener who found it who confessed he had it from a garden several years ago; [John] Templeton [(1766-1825), father of Irish natural history], [James Townsend] Mackay [(1775-1862), curator of Botanic Garden, Trinity College, Dublin], and Dr [Whitley] Stokes [(1763-1845), physician and botanist] are scouring the mountains for it.

[Andrew] Caldwell has died.

Thanks for parcel of plants, his joy at receiving "this treasure" from Smith, whom he considers his "teacher in botany". Account of his botanical education, which began with Smith's "Compendium florae Britannicae" when studying in Germany.

Enquires after protocol for sending papers to the Linnean Society. Discusses German botanical authors and their publications, including [Johann Friedrich] Blumenbach, [Albrecht Wilhelm] Roth, and [Friedrich Wilhelm von] Leysser; botanised with the latter. Hopes Smith received and enjoyed the medical paper he sent.

Following their discussion the previous evening has looked into the earliest meaning of the word "Kuamos" ["Cyamus" transliterated from Greek alphabet, appropriated in English as "legumen"] with references to Homer's "Illiad", "Odyssey" and "Batrachomyomachia", cross referencing with [Christian Tobias] Damm's "Lexic. Homeric", relates his conclusions. Believes Theophrastus may have been the first to apply it to 'Nymphaea nelumbo' and compares other ancient writers' usage of the word.

[Drafts or copies of three letters, the first undated, the second 18 September, and the third 11 October]

Asks Konig to inform writer of the "Monthly Magazine" Botanical Reports to redress injustice made against him in passage on [Richard] Salisbury's 'Erodendrum turbiniflorum'; explains his dispute with Salisbury and insists it is not botanical; his resolution not to respond to anything of Salisbury's. Report was also unjust to [Henry Charles] Andrews [(fl 1794-1830)]. Explains his misrepresented comment in former Report about ignorant travel writers. Notes on 'Tropaeolum pinnatum' of Andrews. Pleased to hear Konig is to revive "Annals of Botany" or similar work.

[18 September] short version of above letter.

[11 October] Satisfied with Konig's letter to botanical reporter of the "Monthly Magazine" but insists a statement appear clearing himself of any culpability. Sorry "Annals of Botany" is not to continue.

Arrangements for printing of papers. Sorry "Linnean Transactions" vol 8 is so thin; his paper on 'Brodiaea' would have helped and is a fresh reason why he regrets not publishing it now. [James] Brodie's friends think not publishing it defeats the compliment, and all think it an "undue deference to a villain who is our disgrace" [Richard Salisbury had published 'Brodiaea' as 'Hookera' in "Paradisus Londinensis"]; several Council members lamented to see him forced to yield to "such opposition" and the brutality with which it was enforced. He knows Macleay acted for the best and feels the "bulk of the Society entirely guiltless", and will continue to send papers.

Has requested proofs of all [James] Sowerby's plates for his and [William Jackson] Hooker's papers on mosses, following the mistake he made with 'Hookeria lucens' in "English botany". Expecting a visit from [Robert] Brown.

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".

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.

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".