Thanks Smith for his letter regarding the "little 'Dianthus'", comments on how the blossoms sometimes abruptly close at mid-day. Sending specimen and seeds of a possibly new 'Astragalus' [Smith has annotated above "only 'pilosus'"], which [George] Don had preserved for himself, a living specimen has been sent to Sir Joseph Banks but it has not been acknowledged. Gives a brief description of the leaves.

New year greetings, in Latin. Busy with his literary and business work, especially correcting and proof reading. Thanks for Smith's present of books of last year, delighted with Smith's "Tour of the Continent". Asks Smith to value works of Columna [Smith sent copies owned by Edmund Davall to Roscoe as a prospective buyer]. Smith should ask of Messrs Cadell and Davies a poem called "The Press", written by his printer, and published as a specimen of typography and to show the excellence of its mechanical execution and engravings.

Asks Smith to consult on possibilities of his 16 year old son, James, being placed with [Samuel] Taylor to learn practical farming. At [Liverpool Botanic Garden] two new houses have been completed and filled with plants and five more to be finished; [John] Shepherd [(c 1764-1836, curator of the garden] says when complete it shall challenge "all the kingdom in point both of elegance & convenience".

Thanks for turkey. Agrees that Cuvier is highly deserving of becoming a FMLS but reminds him there is a limit of 50 FMLS. Queries Latin form of "habitat in Newfoundland" and "habitat in Long Island" for [Edward] Rudge's paper on American 'Carex' for "Linnean Transactions".

Sending dried plants he gathered in Portugal to Smith for determination. Details of the expedition, undertaken with Count Hoffmannsegg for a "Flora Lusitanica". Comments and questions on 'Genista lusitanica', 'Parietaria lusitanica', 'Lavatera lusitanica', 'Scilla lusitanica', 'Cynoglossum lusitanica', and 'Echium lusitanica'.

Thanks Smith for letter and renewal of their correspondence. Delighted by Smith's description of the "real study of botany" and she often regrets that so many make botany consist of "a long catalogue of names & classes, instead of directing the mind to discover the affinity plants bear to each other and their medicinal virtues", and she is convinced that people would have fewer medical complaints it they attended more to simples. Caught in storm of snow and hail on return journey from an excursion to Devil's Bridge, where building work is being carried out on a house two of her father's old servants are settled in.

They intend to stay in London for two months and she is anticipating the "charming music" she will hear at the opera and other amusements. Mr Viganoni will attend her in London so they will have "some delightful concerts".

Note by Thomas Johnes thanking Smith for his criticisms, shall write fully soon.

Requests garden plants from Mackays [nursery], including: Liquidamber, Catalpha, Tulip tree, Oriental plane, and several 'Ilex'. Describes conditions for march he made to Yarmouth, [Norfolk], and back [Woodward was lieutenant-colonel of the Diss Volunteers]; spent his evenings with [Dawson] Turner, who is busy correcting his "Muscologia" proofsheets.

Exchange of presents. The genus 'Echium'.

Thanks for information in letter of 30 December [1803]; remarks on 'Splachnum urceolatum' and Much obliged for information contained in previous letter; comments on 'Splachnum urceolatum' and 'Byssus lepro-viridus'. Encoses specimens of 'Alopecurus alpinus' and 'Poa flexuosa'.

Numbered observations on enclosed specimens: 1-5. 'Lichen'; 6. 'Lotus'; 7. another 'Lichen'. Would like Smith's opinion on 'Galium arvensis', 'Bryum', 'Hypnum', and 'Orthotrichum' sent in previous letters. Accepts Smith's offer to send "Flora Britannica", would also like any cryptogam specimens.

Pleased that Smith is to lecture at the Royal Institution: he is limited to ten lectures but everything else is Smith's decision. Past examples of payment options, with Mr Grave, "public curator of Oxford", who gave two courses of ten lectures on civil architecture received £50 for each, Mr Dalton of Manchester received nearly the same for the same amount of lectures on Natural Philosphy, whilst three London lecturers who have chosen courses of six lectures on history, belle-lettres, and painting will receive life subscriptions for themselves and their wives, valued at £40.

Observations on what he thinks is 'Hypnum ruscifolium'. Would like Smith to take another look at an 'Eriophorum' previously sent, which he is sure is 'E. angustifolium'.

Numbered observations on enclosed specimens, largely collected in summer of 1802: 1. a nondescript 'Phascum', proposes name 'P. inundatum' or 'P. purpureum' [Smith annotation: "'Ph. stoloniferum'"]; 2. 'Orthotrichum bipartium'; 3. 'Fissidens polycarpus' [Smith annotation: "D. 'polycarpum'"]; 4. 'Dicranium flagillaris' [Smith annotation: "'D. furescens'"]; 5. a 'Bryum' near 'B. pulvinatum' but distinct; 6. probably a variety of no.4; 7. a 'Bryum'; 8. what he now thinks a 'Grimmia', previously 'B. acutum' Linnaeus; 9. possible variety of 'B. acutum'; 10. 'Bryum patens'; 11. variety of 'B. patens'; 12. variety of 'B. patens'; 13. 'Bryum sericeum' or 'B. elongatum'; 14-16. 'Bryum'.

Thanks for turkey. Surprised that [John] White has not yet sent Smith his "Description of the genus Pinus", [William George] Maton has complained of the same, but those now being printed are on much better paper. Paid £130 for Surinam collection with [Edward] Rudge, it contains 3000 plants. Believes it contains all of [Jean Baptiste Christophore Fusée] Aublet's [(1720-1778) French botanist] plants and hundreds not described by him. Specimens inlcude 'Portlandia hexandra', 'Gustavia augusta', 'Gustavia fastuosa', 'Styrax bengain', 'Dipterix odorata', and 'Siphoria elatica'.

Forgot to include specimens of 'Alopecurus alpinus' and 'Poa flexuosa' mentioned in his last letter, encloses with this letter.

Numbered observations on enclosed specimens: 1. a 'Hypnum' possibly 'H. flagillari' of Dickson; 2. a 'Hypnum' near 'H. scorpioides'; 3. a 'Hypnum' near to 'denticulatum'; 4. 'Hypnum uncinatum'; 5. a 'Hypnum' he believes to be 'H. filimontasum'; 6. a 'Hypnum' near to 'H. serpens'; 7. an unknown 'Hypnum'; 8. possible 'Hypnum uncenatum'; 9. an unknown 'Hypnum'; 10. an unknown 'Hypnum'; 11. possibly 'Hypnum scorpioides'; 12. an unknown 'Hypnum'; 13. an unknown 'Hypnum'; 14. possible 'Bryum mucronulatum'; 15. a 'Bryum' variety of no.14; 16. new species of 'Helvela'; 17. a 'Bryum' formerly thought to be 'B. hypnoides'; 18. 'Bryum nudum'; 19. a 'Jungermannia'; 20. a 'Phascum'; 21. a 'Lichen'; 22. a 'Lichen'; 23. 'Grimmia recurvat'.

Asks Smith's opinion of the 'Dicranium ovale' he sent [Dawson] Turner in 1802, and which Turner thinks is 'Trichostomum microcarpon'.

Twenty numbered specimens, some with annotations by Smith; numbers 7, 20, and 22 not extant.

Postmark 30 January 1804. Two specimens of grass, labelled.

Asks after letters, books, and plant specimens he, [José Antonio] Pavon, [Hipólito] Ruiz [López (1754-1816), botanist], and [Francisco] Zea sent three months ago; fears they have been intercepted.

Thanks for election as FMLS; recommends Pavon and Ruiz, his former pupils, for same. Asks Smith's opinion of current theory in Spain regarding location of the stigma of 'Iris'. Requests that sending of "Linnean Transactions" should not be hindered, and offers to send anything required by the Society, to try to repair the damage suffered to such exchanges through cause of the war.

Asks after Smith's health following their parting at Chester, [Cheshire]; his own health has been poor. Asks when they may apply for third volume of "Flora Britannica". Requests recipe for fixing plant specimens and to prevent insect damage.

Satisfied with the terms for placing his son, James, with the farmer [Samuel] Taylor. Sent his other son, Robert, to a public school at Macclesfield, [Cheshire], after to the "great terror of all the family" he had a "violent fit of Chemistry". Sends banknotes as payment for the "two rare works of Columna" sold by Smith. Pleased bust of Smith is liked as he greatly values the original model given him by [George] Bullock [(1783-1818), sculptor]. Reminds Smith of his promise to visit Liverpool again, and hopes Smith's work on a herbarium for Rocoe is progressing. Thanks for election as FLS. Offered some "very interesting" medals by Mr Stevenson.

Smith about to receive copy of "A description of the genus Pinus" which is far superior to the earlier copies. Occupied with the Cayenne plants [Lambert purchased collections gathered in South America by Jospeh Martin and captured by English privateers], "never was such a collection ever before imported". Contains about 1700 species with no old plants except for those of [Jean Baptiste Christophore Fusée] Aublet [(1720-1778) French botanist]. Five new species of 'Roupala' and five or six of 'Myristica'. Reminds Smith he is still looking for scarcer species of willow.

Asks if there is a "manufactory of cast chains" in Norwich. Thanks for Smith's introduction for Dr Morgan to [Jonas] Dryander and Sir Joseph Banks' library, which he intends to use to view works by Schreber and Bloch. Corrects Smith on Dr Morgan's identity, who is a young man. Offers to send copy of his work on Welsh music, knowing that Smith is musical.

Sends several copies of prospectus [for his work "Herbarium Britannicum" (1804-1812)], a sheet explaining his method for choosing habitats, preferring those not hitherto published by any author, and a magazine containing account by Mr Neil of the life of [John] Mackay [(1772-1802), employed at Dickson nursery, Edinburgh], errors with list of plants.

Numbered observations on enclosed specimens: 1. 'Lycopodium annotinum' of Linnaeus; 2. 'Erica vulgaris'; 3. a 'Galium' or 'Asperula' [Smith annotation: "'G. palustre' caule & pedunc. scabris"]; 4. a nondescript 'Saxifraga' he previously called 'S. tinctoria'; 5. a 'Draba' related to 'D. verna', cultivated 10 years [Smith annotation: "'verna'?"].

Has heard from [John Leonard] Knapp that he has found the 'Aira ulginosa' he [Don] sent Smith some years ago.

Asks Smith to sign certificate for his diploma so as to practice as MD, at request of Professor Beattie of Aberdeen. Has found 'Daphne laureola' growing near him; heard that 'Cypripedium calceolus' grows locally though yet to find it. Death of his wife, his youngest daughter dangerously ill with same illness.

Has observed 'Falio aeruginosus' ['Circus aeruginosus' ?] very common on peat moors, and 'Parus biarmicus' in the sedges, they hope to find nests and eggs of the latter, "an object much desired by ornithologists". Found an 'Orchis' very like 'O. monorchis'.

[Smith has briefly noted contents of his reply] happy to sign, suggests Dr [John] Sims, [William George] Maton, or [Robert] Batty for other signatory. Asks "who & what is Mr [James] Bicheno".