Copy of JH's midsummer examination questions—17 on Greek drama, 22 on Mechanics—at St. John's College. Currently reading P. S. Laplace's Système du monde, which confirms WH's theory of galaxy formation. T. W. Hornbuckle reports that money has been received from Bruce & Co.
Sends letter from [Georg Franz] Hoffmann and copy of "Hortus Mosquensis"]. Intends to publish a work on the rare plants of northern and southern parts of Russia, asks Smith to procure him some English subscribers. Requests plants from Botany Bay, [Australia]. Has sent Sir Joseph Banks a prospectus of his other work on the insects of Russia, asks Smith to procure subscribers for this also. Sends twenty packets of seeds of "the rarest plants of the Cokases", intends to send more.
Appoints Thomas Marsham as a Vice-President in place of Jonas Dryander, deceased.
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Received Smith's letter of 25 April. Expecting to leave [India] in two years and will bring with him a large collection, although it will not be as interesting as the one from Nepal. His collection of fish is more curious and increasing rapidly, has been unable to trace more than a few in Lacépède. This year is working in the Bhagalpur district of India. A squabble the previous year between the British and Nepalese governments has prevented him from obtaining seeds and flowering specimens of the officinal plants of the Indian Alps. Has managed to procure specimens of one genus, similar to 'Caltha', two species used for medicinal purposes and resemble either the 'Ranunculus arvensis' or 'Ranunculus acris', and another species which is one of the most violent poisons known in India and is used by the natives on their arrows.
Introduces himself. Sends list of habitats of various indigenous plants [see RelatedMaterial below]. Sends a 'Lichen' and a 'Sphaeria' for determination. He has been conducting experiments on the 'Berberis communis' and obtained results similar to those in "Philosophical Transactions [of the Royal Society]". Also sends paper on botanical societies in Manchester [see RelatedMaterial below].
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Received Smith's letter of 24 April [1810]. Suffering from severe headaches, for which he has just returned from a retreat in the upper provinces; was unable to pursue any natural history inclinations and has become a "much worse botanist" than when he left England; preparing to visit the Cape [of Good Hope] or St Helena for the headaches, and will also visit England if they persist. Whilst at Cawnpore found 'Rhododendrun boorans' for Calcutta Botanic Garden and Marquis of Blandford [George Spencer-Churchill]; [William] Roxburgh sending drawing taken from dried specimen. Also found: 'Berberris ilicifolia', 'Rubus' with yellow fruit, a 'Quercus', 'Pinus longifolia', and a 'Betula'. Transplanted a tree from Cawnpore to Calcutta Botanic Garden, Roxburgh thinks it a 'Humea'; observations.
Has a specimen of 'Breccia' or pudding stone, a mineral, for Sir Joseph Banks. Pleased to hear of Banks' desire to establish a Botanic Garden at Ceylon. Concerned to hear of [Robert] Brown's desertion of the Linnaean School.
News of several lady friends and JG's progress in law studies.
Sends copy of his "Illustrationes Theophrasti". Would like to see a new edition of Theophrastus.
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Asks about nature of Classics examination JG must take to be considered for admission to Cambridge.
Received Smith's letter of 28 October 1810. Sends paper for Linnean Society on two new species of crustacean and lists the others he plans to send. Plans to send package of 100 rare, new, or doubtful Sicilian plants. Comments and corrections on his plants: his 'Primula bicolor' differs from 'Primula acaulis'; lists differences that ought to to be obsevred if his 'Xolantha' is only a variety of 'Cistus guttatus'; plans to send his 'Crocus longiflorus'; question on calix of 'Sedum atratum'; confirmation of his 'Malva peduncalata'. Recently received books: Smith's "Prodromus Florae Graecae" is of great use in Sicily; "Hortus Kewensis", 2nd ed., useful for advancing his knowledge of new genera; and [George] Shaw's "Ichthyology" [presumably from "General zoology"], thinks it inferior to Lacépède, on which it was modelled. Offers to describe Australian plants. Asks after plants sent by himself and [Antonio] Bivona [Bernardi] including 'Orobus siculus' and 'Astragalus siculus'; asks if 'Orabanche rubia', 'Orchis undulatifolia', and 'Orchis bipunctata' are new.
To the Linnean Society: sending plants for Smith with Antonio Arrossi, of Messina; confusion over whether Smith has retired to the country or died. Plant queries for Linnean Society, including: 'Trifolium mauritanicum', and 'Sinapis virgata'. Offers to send any biological specimens from Etna region.
Signed [William Fitt] Drake's Linnean Society nomination certificate and sent on to [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert. Just received [William Jackson] Hooker's "interesting" work on Iceland ["Journal of a tour in Iceland" (1809)]. Sent oysters.