Sends "English botany" as usual but late, and adds profile of [Peter Simon] Pallas as a present from [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert, who has given the plate to Linnean Society. Sends a couple of drawings for "English botany" and some of Smith's specimens and drawings. He has begun some things for "Icones pictae", asks if Smith wishes to go on with it. Hopes to get faster out of debt this year. Encloses £20 bank note and package from [William] Borrer.

Sending profile of Pallas, plants, and drawings until some "Flora Graeca" is sent.

Sending plants; 'Icones inedita'; accounts; Miss Watson has sent specimens of the 'Meum'.

Sending what plants he can for "English botany" and two "Flora Graeca" plates, including the frontispiece. Sends an 'Hieracium' from [Jonathan] Salt [(1759-1815)] of Sheffield. Uncertain what to do with [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert's 'Cnicus tuberosus'.

[Written on recto of proof page from "English Botany" no 2249, dated February 1811]

Thanks for drawings and "curious residium of burnt banknotes". Thinks it would be more valuable to keep the copyright of "English botany" as a perpetual source of income rather than selling it. Returning drawings for "English botany" no.244 and "Flora Graeca", finishing the third fasciculus. Has named and returns Sowerby's Labrador plants, except 'Swertia rotata' and true Linnaean 'Campanula uniflora', and his Irish 'Agrostis'. Requests return of German book on fungi. Sends specimens of 'Carex salina' and 'C. ustulata', with another 'Eriophorum' from "indefatigable" George Don.

[Draft of Sowerby's reply, in pencil:] Sends plants and drawings.

Sends new British plants for determination. Has heard through [Joseph] Sparshall that at least three people have died from eating poisonous fungi; frustrated that there is not "more Philanthropy shown on this head", suggests text for a handbill outlining dangers of 'Agaricus virosus'.

Sends numbers as usual and encloses £15 note. Also sends a little bit of ulmin on elm bark, finds similar substance on oak, hornbeam, and horse chestnut and asks Smith's botanical friends to look out for it; has recommended it to the Society of Arts as excellent for finishing in water colours, in same way that Sir Joshua Reynolds [(1723-1792), painter] used 'Asphaltum' in oil.

Requests Smith to revise enclosed 4 numbers of "English botany" and number enclosed in last.

Just received "Flora Glottiana" and one of [George] Don's "Fasciculi of Dried Plants" for Smith. [William Elford] Leach has been recommended by [Dawson] Turner and [William Jackson] Hooker to get certificates signed by Linnean Society members in support of his candidacy at the British Museum, will add his name if this happens.

Transcribes extract from letter by [John Russell, 6th] Duke of Bedford, in which he recommends Smith take up continuation of "Flora Rustica", now that interest in agriculture as a science is well established; his own thoughts on subject.

Unable to make out the flowers on Sir Thomas Gage's specimen of 'Trifolium squarrosum', will hope for an earlier gathered specimen next year.

Returns 4 drawings with descriptions for no.263 [of "English botany"]. He has heard or done nothing regarding the vacancy at the [British] Museum, and if Sowerby had wished it would have done more for him than anyone else, even though [William] Bingley and his brother, Frederick, applied to him first; the position not to be had "without much exertion", and would be a "place of abject drudgery and dependence", knowing the "domineering & meddling char[acte]r of some of the trustees.

Sends 9 more drawings for "Flora Graeca" and 4 drawings to finish present volume of "English botany"; a "melancholy feeling" at finishing that work. Informed by David Booth George Don's death from putrid sore throat; his family left in poverty; has collected money for them; the family wish to sell the plants in his garden before they are dug up, asks for advice from [James] Dickson and the Andersons; Dawson Turner "very bountiful as usual, to this poor family". [William Jackson] Hooker to be married to Turner's eldest daughter [Maria Sarah (1797-1872)].

[Draft of letter in Sowerby's hand]: relates Don's death and plight of family and seeks recommendations for the family to sell the plants.

[Notes in pencil]: sums of money collected by Smith for Mrs Don.

Sorry Smith has been so ill, hopes not to hurry him. Will appreciate Smith's advice about "English botany" indexes. Encloses further patterns for "Flora Graeca" and letter from [George] Anderson on plight of late [George] Don's family for Smith and [Dawson] Turner's consideration. Asks to borrow Linnaean specimen of 'Ostrea diluviana' for drawing; thinks a work on Linnaeus' shells "would perhaps answer a good purpose".