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Grief at death of Lady Rockingham [Mary Watson-Wentworth]. Mrs [Pleasance] Smith regrets that she never knew her personally. They saw the death notice in the Norwich paper the evening after sending box of apples and biscuits. Preparing a general account of Lady Rockingham for the "Monthly Magazine" and asks her age, presumes she will be buried in York Minster.

Praises Smith's "Exotic Botany"; flattered by the dedication. Criticises Smith for his treatment of "the poor snail" [Smith's response to criticism of his "Flora Britannica" in the "Monthly Magazine"] and thinks [William Fitt] Drake would have handled it better; applauds Drake's appearance in "Annals of Botany". Approves Smith's title page for "Flora Graeca". Saw Frederick Smith [Smith's brother] in Liverpool; looking forward to visit by Smith and Mrs [Pleasance] Smith.

Thanks for Smith's letter of 13 [January 1805], which came "very opportunely", as without it they would have had nothing to read at Linnean Society meeting. "Linnean Transactions" volumes being forwarded as instructed. Requests Smith's assistance in obtaining enough support to prevent election of Dr Maver.

Lady Rockingham's [Mary Watson-Wentworth] character. She was 68 years old on 4 August last year. Himself, Mrs Thornton, and Grieg, her gardener, attended her to her burial in York with two mourning coaches of 6 horses each in addition to 6 horses on hearse and another mourning coach and 6 horses which met her at Doncaster, [Yorkshire], on orders of [William Fitzwilliam, 4th Earl] Fitzwilliam [(1748-1833)]. A great number of her Badsworth, [Yorkshire], tenants and her respectable friends were at York, and a great number of shops were shut up as a mark of respect.

Regrets that Hillingdon and all the stock are to be sold but does not yet know about the plants.

As executor of Arthur Bruce's will sends Smith copy of the excerpt from it [on second folio, in a different hand] bequeathing Smith the whole of Bruce's herbarium. Short obituary of Bruce and further details of his will.

Sending a parcel to Roscoe containing "Exotic Botany"; thanks for his flattering letter. Defends his response to Mr Caley in the "Monthly Magazine" [who had criticised Smith's "Flora Britannica" and Linnaeus' use of language]; he seldom quarrels, but when he does "it is best to do it decidedly, & have done with it", and is happy that he has had so few literary quarrels, aside from with Lamarck and [William] Curtis.

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Has just returned from Lewis [Lewes], Sussex, surprised to find herbarium of [Peter Simon] Pallas in possession of [John Marten] Cripps [(1780-1853) traveller and antiquary]. It contains all the plants of "Flora Rossica", Gmelin's "Flora Sibirica", and Pallas' "Travels". Also complete collection of Forster's plants, and several of Sir Joseph Banks' South Sea plants, Pallas being the only person Banks sent any to. Pleased with Smith's "Exotic Botany". A "curious conversation" at Soho Square, asks Smith if he [Lambert] ever signed Dr T's certificate [Robert John Thornton (1768-1837) physician and writer on botany, angered several botanists in pursuit of completing his work "New Illustration of the Sexual System of Linnaeus"].

Asks Smith to write to White [publisher] to confirm the amount he is due for his translation [of Linnaeus' Lapland travel journal, for Smith's "Lachesis Lapponica"].

[Smith has drafted his reply on verso of second folio]: has agreed with White to pay Troilius £60 for the translation; explains his deal with White and the need to ascertain the value of Troilius' translation in comparison to others and the fact that the final translation was less complete through Troilius not knowing Latin. Asks Troilius to suggest suitable amount over £60 to compensate for this trouble.

Surprised to hear from [Carl] Troilius that the amount owing to him is £82 10s, instead of £60 as Smith mentioned [translation fees for "Lachesis Lapponica"]; Troilius has left the matter entirely in Smith's hands.

Thanks Mrs Smith for turkey. Proposes amended title page for the "Flora Graeca", as suggested by [Jonas] Dryander, and suggestions for what to include in the introduction, including history of the work and [John] Sibthorp's sacrifices.

Thanks for Smith's letter received yesterday; forwarded its enclosed letter to Dublin. Glad Smith likes the second volume of his Froissart [(c 1337-c 1405), French chronicler] translation; the "British critic has used me handsomely, the Edinburgh very well, but has shown great ignorance". White [publisher] has the third volume and will have the fourth in May. Blasts those he thought his friends; in future shall "keep the world at a distance". Discusses his planned transations of other French chroniclers: [Jean de] Joinville [(1224-1317)] and [Enguerrand de] Monstrelet [(1400-1453)]. Will be happy to see Smith and Mrs [Pleasance] Smith in August.

Asks in which book they can find a 'Volkameria', a "beautiful cocinea spiry plant", which he has but unable to find in any of his books, would be grateful to Smith for any seeds. His conservatory and garden prospering, especially since making his cook also his gardener. [William] Roscoe's severe fit of gout is delaying his "[Life and Pontificate of] Leo X". Praises drawing skills of Mariamne [Johnes, his daughter]; he thinks her copies of the etchings in Spencer's "Leonora" are equal to the originals.

Reply to Banks letter of 22 February 1805. Agrees with Banks suggestions concerning the introduction to "Flora Graeca", [John] Sibthorp's work will be fully acknowledged with modest reference to Smith and others. In general approves of title but still needs further consideration to convey true nature of the work and its composition. Is now at work on the Prodrumus "Flora Graeca".

Sends manuscript of his work ["Index plantarum" (1807)] for Smith's opinion. Comments on current "deranged" state of plant names, thanks to alterations by Willdenow and others. Difficulties procuring Willdenow's "Species plantarum"; would like to see "Flora Graeca"; admires Smith's "Exotic botany". List of Willdenow plant names.

Thanks for turkey. Interested by Smith's account of his "poisoning plan", Sir Jospeh Banks says it will "eat up plants & paper in the course of two or three years". Asks when Smith will begin publication of "Lapland Journey". Clarifies conversation relating to [Robert John] Thornton [(1768-1837) physician and writer on botany], part of a dispute involving Mr Caley publishing unprovoked assaults on Lambert in the "Imperial Review". Sends a box of "Lambert nuts", believes it to be a new species, relates how his father grew first tree in country hence their common appellation. Relates coincidence of [Jonas] Dryander and [Charles] Konig also both knowing them as "Lambert nuts" from their respective Sweden and Germany, but from the German for "long-bearded". [Peter Simon] Pallas mentions it in his "Travels in the Crimea".

Returns Sir Joseph Banks' pamphlet on wheat blight; observations on blight. Uncertain whether he has ever seen barberry plants at Rollesby, [Norfolk], and though he acknowledges the poor soil has never heard of any remarkable wheat blight. Has never seen confirmation of barberry causing blight but knows of a tenant who is eradicating all barberry in the hedges around his fields. Hopes the seeds of the blighted grass have blown across to Europe to do their enemies "more damage than the Catamarans have done". Wonders whether night of severe frost in June may have caused the blight; other observations on wheat blight and Banks' remarks. Speculates on airborne seed of fungus.