Sending box to Linnean Society containing 400 plants gathered in Portugal by himself and his father, [William Withering], most of which are present in the catalogue he presented to the Society last spring. Comments on "unfortunate necessity which most men now feel of forsaking the milder sciences which can only flourish in peaceable times, for the barbarous study of War".

Thanks for Smith's letter. Gratified that Smith accepted the portrait of his father [Johann Hedwig (1730-1799)] he sent, his loss; pleased Smith is using his father's classification in describing the mosses in "Flora Britannica" vol 3. Intends to request moss specimens from [James] Dickson from his new work, for his own continuation of his father's work on mosses, though he is struggling to find a publisher. Offers to send Smith moss collection. Has written a book on ferns after microscopic studies of many genera; would like it to be published and engraved in Britain; requests Smith's assistance; offers to send paper on ferns for Linnean Society.

Should have shown Smith one of his Sireenagur plants of which he previously sent Sir Joseph Banks a drawing; allied to 'Rhododendron', differences. Observations on two 'Dillenia', one with yellow flowers and the other with white. Sending forest seeds for Smith's friend. Requests that Smith preserve the marks on the packages he sends so as to act as a reference for future exchanges of information. Sending some of the bark of the "Booranas" and seed [the ally of 'Rhododendron'].

Sends copy of 'Flore de Malmaison' by command of the Empress, also his 'Anat. et Physio. des Végétables.'

"Unhinged" by his trip to London and return journey to Allerton [Hall, near Liverpool], where he enjoyed the "attractive company" of his friend [Henry] Fuseli [(1741-1825), painter]. Looking forward to Smith's planned trip to Liverpool next year. Received Smith's letter of 6 [June] containing parcel of Indian seeds collected by Captain [Thomas] Hardwicke. Hopes Smith has seen his son, James, at Norwich; asks his opinion of James' health.

Returns part of the original and sheets of the translation [of Linnaeus' Lapland travel journal, for Smith's "Lachesis Lapponica"]; explains his conventions.

Disappointed to not go to Norwich but was too busy during his visit to Cambridge to get away. Met [Edward Daniel] Clarke who travelled with [John Marten] Cripps [(1780-1853), traveller and antiquary] to the Crimea, met [Peter Simon] Pallas and purchased his herbarium and brought back a vast natural history collection, describes it in some detail including bust of Ceres. Has heard that the drawing of Mars and Venus omitted in the prints of the "Elogium Stultitiae" is now engraved in Veaux's French translation of "Elogium" printed at Basel in 1780 [French translation of Erasmus' "The Praise of Folly"]. The [Dublin] Botanic Garden now has 6000 plants.

Received Smith's letter but regrets there is still a misunderstanding regarding appointment of [James] Sowerby as publisher [of "Flora Graeca"]; [Thomas] Platt [(d 1842), one of John Sibthorp's executors, supervised the publication of "Flora Graeca"] still disapproves of this on grounds that a booksellers shop is the most direct channel of communication between editor and public. Platt will engage with White to sell it; apologises to Sowerby and blames vice-chancellor [of Oxford University] for not bestowing management of the fund to them.

The grass Smith sent is in his herbarium as 'Festuca glauca', Curtis also had it under same name, but cannot find any description of it; it is like 'F. pumila'.

Just received "Flora Britannica" and "a valuable collection of specimens" from Smith, which are useful to him when preparing to set out on botanical excursions, one of which he hopes to make in 4 week's time.

Observations on enclosed 'Hypnum crista-castrensis', which he has known since 1787. Has found 'Hemerocallis flava' but it seldom flowers. Intends to send several possible new mosses along with collection of lichens and jungermannia. Will send the first number of his fasciculus ["Herbarium Britannicum" (1804-1812)] for Smith to [James] Sowerby, details of the printing. [James] Donn [(1758-1813), curator of Cambridge Botanic Garden] of Cambridge is an old acquaintance of his but of no relation, first met at Kew in 1785. Lists plants to appear in next fascicule, for Smith's opinion. Also sends Smith specimen of 'Dicranum flavescens'. List of his desiderata, largely cryptogams, some have marks against them.

Two specimens. Small piece of note paper, annotated "for G Don 'Dicranum subulatum' Hedw.".

Encloses his moss desiderata [not extant]. Encloses specimens, including: 'Myostis', 'Fontinalis capillacea' called Moss of Copens, mosses, and 'Hypnum triforium'; observations [Smith has annotated in margin].

Rejoices with Smith at "the happy event which has just taken place". Thanks Smith and his wife for the "kind & continued attention" they have shown James, his son, [studying under Samuel Taylor, farmer, in Norfolk]. Looking forward to seeing Smith in Liverpool and eulogises their friendship. Sends regards to Mrs [Susannah] Taylor and [William Fitt] Drake.

Thanks for invitation to Norwich. Thanks for name of bookseller stocking the book [Etienne Pierre] Ventenat wishes to acquire.

Sends specimen of 'Humea' and an elm-leaved 'Grewia' for determination. Has a 'Nymphea' very similar to 'Carnia' but the flower is milk-white and nocturnal. Fears of invasion by the French, living in "anxious dread of the great little man's visit". Comments that the "great victory" achieved by the English merchant "China ships" fighting off [Charles-Alexandre Léon Durand] Linois' [French admiral] attack, without a convoy, was a "glory".

Sends copy of his "Plantae Rariores in Hibernia" for the Linnean Society, the preface will explain why it has not been printed in "Transactions of the Dublin Society" as originally intended.

As mentioned in [Dawson] Turner's preface to "Muscologiae Hibernica spicilegium" a "Flora Hibernica" by John Templeton [(1766-1825), Irish botanist] is to appear shortly, vouches for Templeton's qualifications but remains committed to his own "Flora Hibernica" [neither Wade or Templeton published their "Flora Hibernicas"].

Asks why Smith only referred to three or four plants from his "Catalogus Dublinensi" in "Flora Britannica". Defends it as the first attempt of its kind to record Ireland's flora on systematic principles in case others have tried to dissuade Smith of its merits. Praises Smith's work on 'Salix' in "Flora Britannica". Also praises the "beauty and correctness of the plates" and the "extreme precision and elegance of the letter press" of "English Botany". Asks if publication of "Icones pictae" and "Spicilegium botanicum" have ceased.

No summary available.

Would have recommended Don [James Donn] to be gardener of Kensington Gardens but George III appointed William [Townsend] Aiton, gardener of Kew, instead. An immense acquisition of living plants from China collected by a gardener from Kew, which along with the Cayenne plants of "last winter" must make Kew "far superior" to any other botanic garden. Kew has also received a vast collection of seeds from the unknown parts of New Holland [Western Australia], and are growing plants from seed from the same place sent last winter. Peter, Brown and Bauer are left behind in Sydney, New South Wales.

Pleased his translations [of Linnaeus' Lapland travel journal, for Smith's "Lachesis Lapponica"] meet with Smith's approval; now that he is finished can say he never had such a difficult task; left as much of the Latin as possible for Smith to translate. Recommends Tuneld's "Geography of Sweden", if it has been translated into English, to assist in identifying Linnaeus' locations, and De la Motrage's "Voyage"; Linnaeus' bad spelling has made the location names "quite intelligible".

Account of folios submitted and forthcoming, and bill owing to him; justifies his charges, currently standing at £82 3s 4d.

Glad to look over Smith's work for "Flora Graeca". Substanial description and explanation of alterations of Smith's Latin. Wishes joy to Smith's family on marriage of his sister, Fanny.

Also two double folios of Latin plant observations in Goodenough's hand. The date of these is uncertain but they appear to relate to "Flora Graeca".

Pleased Troilius has finished translation [of Linnaeus' Lapland travel journal, for Smith's "Lachesis Lapponica"], hopes to prepare it for publication over the winter; finding the translation of the Latin troublesome. Doubts receiving even £80 from a bookseller for it but does not mean to deprive Troilius of his due. Relied on Troilius to correct the geographical locations in the work, but will insert a disclaimer in the preface.