Just returned from trip to Brighton, [Sussex]. Proposes to publish a quarterly journal on natural history covering all three brances; details of plan for Smith's opinion. Asks Smith to undertake the botanical section and recommend the whole to Longman and Rees [publishers].

Responds to queries in Smith's letter of 8 September [1809]: will send 'Lamium' seeds; has found no evidence of 'Lychnis alpina' being planted, despite rarity, difficulty of ascertaining how many seeds it proudces, describes similar instances with 'Gentiana nivale', 'Gnaphalium sylvaticum', 'Sonchus caeruleus', and 'Hieracium molle'.

Numbered remarks and observations on plants, headed 18 May [probably date of Smith's reply to Don's letter of 3 April 1809]: 1. will try to identify the 'Ranunculus'; 2. 'Saxifraga' new species; 3. 'Potentilla' new species; 4. 'Grimmia' new species. Obervations on 'Ranunculus alpestres'; 'Crepis pulchra'; species of 'Silene'; 'Cochlearia groenlandica'. Observations on numbered specimens in his last letter: 8. argues case for naming new 'Saxifraga' 'S. peduncularis'; 9. "certainly not 'Stellaria cerastoides' but a 'Cerastium'.

Will send seeds of 'Spergula maxima'.

[Copy or draft] Thanks Bernardi for pamphlets and Cupani book. Would like specimens of the rare plants described in Bernardi's works, especially the 'Orchideae'. Happy to help with his botanical correspondence. Sending an [unnamed] English book, the introudction of which translated into Italian may encourage the study of botany in Italy. Hoping to finish the fourth volume of "Flora Britannica" by next winter. Believes Bernardi's 'Allium album' is 'Allium lacteum' of "Flora Graeca".

Sending specimens of 'Arundo neglecta', 'Rottboellia filiformis', very rare, 'Silene alpestre', and non-descript 'Poa'; observations. Observes what Goodenough says about 'Viola', there seem to be 3 species under name 'V. canina'. Does not think 'Arundo neglecta' can be what [John Leonard] Knapp has drawn for 'A. calamagrostis'; supposes he has received better 'Rubus' specimens from [Charles] Lyell.

Detailed observations on 'Avena', particularly 'A. pubescens' and a new glaucous one. Found new species of 'Aira' by the sea. Could not find 'Chaerophyllum'. Seeds for 'Galium witheringia' all gone for this year, but will collect seed next year as it is a common plant here. Sorry to disagree with Goodenough on the 'Gnaphalium'. Encloses seeds of two varities of 'Daucus mauritanicus'.

Desires Goodenough's opinion on remainder of the plants he sent via Lyell. Sent [James] Sowerby a 'Cochlearia', who thought it 'C. anglica', would like opinion on this and 'Potentilla tridentata', which grows amongst roots of 'Erica vulgaris'.

Delayed sending plant specimens for Smith from George Don and they now have mildew. Was unable to accompany Don to verify habitats of 'Lychnis alpina' and 'Ranunculus alpestris' at the Rocks of Clova in Scotland but believes he has no intention to deceive. Refers to Don's discoveries of 'Cheiranthus incanus', 'Oenothera biennis', and 'Potentilla tridentata' and his response to letters from Smith and Samuel Goodenough as evidence, along with description of his methods. Discusses Don's interactions with Smith's 'Festuca triflora', 'Arundo neglecta', 'Chaerophyllum aureum', 'Chaerophyllum sylvestre', 'Saxifraga geranioides' and other 'Saxifraga'. Smith still to pronounce on Don's 'Carduus polyanthemos', [James] Brodie thinks it 'Carduus leucographus'. Establishing plantations in the north, would like large quantities of 'Salix russelliana' if its use in tanning is proven, requests recommendation for nurseryman to supply 'Salix fragilis', and asks whether 'Populus tremula' is the poplar that grows in Swedish forests. Looking forward to seeing fourth volume of "Flora Britannica" and Linnaeus' "Lapland Tour".

Cover from enclosure sent by Samuel Goodenough.

Three specimens, labelled: two of "autumn flowering specimen of the 'Saxifraga' [Smith] purposed to call 'peduncularis'", and one of "'Silene alpestris' on a rock on a mountain to the east of Clova, 1795" [plants sent to Smith by Don, via Goodenough].

Numbered observations on enclosed specimens: 1. nondescript 'Poa', different from most other species including 'P. compressa'; 2. 'Asplenium alternifolium' from America; 3. an 'Agaricus' growing on 'Trichosotum lanuginosum'; 4-5. 'Biameages' [?]; 6. possible 'Lichen abietinus' of "English botany"; 7. 'Conferva' growing on decayed 'Agaricus'; 8. 'Conferva'; 9. [indecipherable, same as 4 and 5]; 10. 'Dicranum strumiferum'; 11. minute 'Grimmia'.

Long desiderata for his garden, to be sent by franks or ship from London to Dundee.

No summary available.

Smith need not fear burdening Goodenough with his post. Sorry to see that the impudence of the Carlisle choristers has "blazened forth in the public papers" [the choristers refused to sing at services until their salaries were raised]. Asks Smith to bring native specimens of 'Ophrys corallorhiza' when he comes to London, previously received a foreign specimen of it but it is now found near to Edinburgh. Asks if Smith has figured 'Serapias latifolia', a bed of is growing wild near Rose Castle. Presumes [Hugh] Davies will rise to [Edward] Donovan's [(1768-1837), zoologist] letter in the "Gentleman's Magazine" on their dispute over fish [see RelatedMaterial]. Expecting a "fiery session" in the House of Lords this season on account of the British troops in Spain and Walcharen and Catholic Emancipation and equates the political situation to that directly before the fall of Carthage and the French Revolution.

His family's tour of the north: visited Edinburgh, the south country of Scotland, Westmoreland to visit the Bishop of Llandaff [Richard Watson (1737-1817)], then Liverpool, [Lancashire]. Asks if Smith has seen Mr Blundell's collections at Ince, [Lancashire], where there are very fine marbles including a Theseus; he made him present of the "real hand" of his Bachuus, which is now complete. Disappointed to return to find rebuilding of Hafod ongoing.

Wishes Smith would print something in his "Tour of Hafod" to contradict the rumours that the Hafod estate is entailed on the male line, and to state that his daughter [Mariamne Johnes] will inherit it all.