Marquess of Blandford's [George Spencer-Churchill] collections will be "more worth seeing that any private collection in this country", discusses Blandford's enthusiasm for botany. Blandford has sixteen men working in his botanic garden. Mentions Blandford having written the "History of the 'Nymphae lotus'" in last number of [Henry Charles] Andrews' "Botanists' Repository", figured from his aquarium where it flowered for first time in England. 'Dammera' arrived at Kew with "the China treasures". Received 500 species of dried plants from Cape [of Good Hope] including sixty-one 'Protea', and capsules of 'Ochroma lagopus' from island of Nevis, from which he has raised thirteen plants, [William Townsend] Aiton is anxious to have it at Kew. "Little John from Van Diemen Land [Tasmania]" has a cargo for him. Asks after "the British Garden" and "Flora Graeca".

On receipt of the last number of "Flora Britannica" was reminded of a lichen on Exmouth Warren resembling 'Lichen prunastri' but growing on the ground; encloses fragments of 'Lichen stictoceros' [Smith has annotated "right" in the margin]. His brother, Lieutenant Colonel of the North York Militia, will frank any botanical correspondence for Smith.

Flattered at having a plant named in his honour but prefers Blandford to be used over Spencer.

Informs Smith of additional locations of 'Carex incurva' in Scotland following Smith having only given the location as found in Lightfoot's "Flora Scotica" in the third volume of "Flora Britannica".

No summary available.

Thanks for specimens of 'Salix' and 'Targionia'; compared the 'Salix' with those in [James] Crowe's garden, observations on 'S. argenta'. Can supply Smith with as many Chimney-Sweeping Society papers as needed.

Encloses a list of desiderata. Smith has ticked those that he sent: 'Grimmia schisti', 'Grimmia crispula', 'Grimmia donniana', 'Dicranum suscescens', 'Dicranum polycarpum', 'Hypnum swartzii', and 'Hypnum stokesii'.

Sends two braces of partridge. Transcribes extract [in French] from L'Abbé Rozier's "Cours complet d'agriculture" (1789) in support of a conversation they had in London in which he stated that the Provins rose originated in Syria.

No summary available.

Received May 1805.

Thanks for presents. Compliments on Smith's works. His 'Jard. de Malmaison'. A new plant from Botany Bay.

No summary available.

[Samuel] Dickenson, "who prepared the botanical part of a new history of Staffordshire", has told [John Russell, 6th] Duke of Bedford he believes 'Salix russelliana' to be 'Salix fragilis'. Bedford has asked Abbot to compare the two from "Flora Britannica" and [William] Withering's book. Abbot's observations, which he asks Smith to confirm. Has sent 'Thlaspi campestre' to [James] Sowerby. Has good stations for 'Senecis viscosus', 'Dianthus armeria', 'Rumex sanguineus' and 'Allium carinatum'.

Received Smith's letter regarding [John Mackay's (1772-1802), employed at Dickson nursery, Edinburgh] alleged plagiarism of [George] Don, gives his own opinion of the matter including analysis of Don's character. In reference to 'Stellaria cerastoides' and 'Thlaspi hirtum' believes it is due to miscommunications and assumptions, [Smith has annotated in the margin stating similar], and condemns Mackay's "silence". Agrees with Smith's plan to mention the claims of Don and others when discussing the plants in question and saying nothing of Mackay. Some observations of the 205 plant specimens in 141 genera Neill gathered in Sheltand and Orkney, including: 'Lichen calicaris' covering the standing stones of Stennes; 'Byssus aeruginosa' coating interior of St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, Orkney; and the hardy oat 'Avena strigosa' which is cultivated instead of 'Avena sativa'. Also gathered shells of 'Trochus ziziphynus', 'Pecten pusio', 'Astrea maxima', 'Arca glycinieris', and 'Bulla ligniaria', Rothesholm Head (Rousom Head).

Replies to Roscoe's letter of 25 July. Spent a month at Lowestoft, [Suffolk], with family of his wife [Pleasance Smith]; she and [William Fitt] Drake have both regained their health following seabathing, and on return to Norwich they saw the Kindersleys. His sister [Fanny] now in Liverpool and is happy in the connections she has formed, hopes Roscoe has met her. Looking forward to his lectures in Liverpool next summer, for which he has prepared a new course of lectures. Plans to dedicate "Exotic Botany" to Roscoe, due to appear 1 December. Asks if Roscoe has seen Captain [Thomas] Hardwicke; Smith sent seeds of his to Roscoe. Hopes [John] Shepherd [(c 1764-1836, curator Liverpool Botanic Garden] sent Lady [Amelia] Hume and Mr Cooper of Norwich the plants he promised. Asks Shepherd to prepare a collection of uncommon Botany Bay, Cape, and West Indies seeds to be sent to the Empress in France [Joséphine de Beauharnais (1763-1814), wife of Napoléon Bonaparte] and requests confidentiality, though it it will be sent publicly through the Trade Office. Hopes his sister gave Shepherd the "parrot tulip" bulb._x000D_

Asks Roscoe's opinion of the criticism Smith's "Flora [Britannica]" received in November edition of the "Monthly Magazine". Asks after progrerss on Roscoe's "[Life and Pontificate of] Leo [the Tenth]", informs him of progress of [Thomas] Johnes' translation of Froissart [(c 1337-c 1405), French chronicler]. Working on "Prodromus Florae Graecae" this month. Recommends Sims' and Konig's "Annals of Botany", to which he intends to send a paper on the "Decandrous Papilionaceous plants of New Holland"; believes he has found a way to classify them. Encloses part of 'Humea elegans'.

Received Smith's letter of 29 August [1804]; will wait for payment for his translation [of Linnaeus' Lapland travel journal, for Smith's "Lachesis Lapponica"] until after Smith has heard from the booksellers. Sorry Smith has so much Latin left to translate. Defends his non-correction of the geographical words, having followed the same spelling as in the original, but offers to look over them before printing.

[Smith has briefly annotated his repsonse on second folio:] White [publisher] will pay Troilius his translation fees but requests a little indulgence with the money.

After consultation with [Erik] Acharius he has arranged the collection of Lichens sent by Harriman: extensive notes on collection including determination and synonymy, with annotations by Smith, including comment on quality of [James] Dickson's specimens.

Has sent a parcel of Swedish lichens to Harriman in return, under care of Sir Joseph Banks. Responds to lichen queries in Harriman's previous letter.

Desiderata, in Smith's hand, of lichens and cryptogams.

Returning from his tour of the north England and southern parts of Scotland, but no longer able to call on Smith in Norwich, was also unable to visit Wales and Liverpool. Thanks for Smith's introduction to Colonel Phillips of Manchester. Sending capsules of "Boorans".

Sending Smith numbers of "Annals of Botany" "merely a small mark of the great respect due to [Smith] from every votary of botany"; requests Smith's advice for its improvement; will make room for any paper by Smith, requirements of this. The specimen of the inflorescence of a gynandrous plant Smith sent is of the new genus mentioned in note to [Olof] Swartz paper, but unable to identify the species; [Ferdinand] Bauer [(1760-1826), botanical artist] has drawn two similar plants at Kew; proposes name 'Venenatia'; dismisses [Adam] Afzelius claim of that name for Sierra Leone genus. Believes Wendland and Schrader named plant after Baron Hake ['Hakea'], Hanoverian director of Herrenhausen garden, merely to flatter him. Comments on plan of [Martin] Vahl's [(1749-1804), botanist] "Enumeratio Plantarum". Asks Smith publicly acknowledge receipt of [Edmund] Davall's herbarium in "Annals of Botany".

At length has gathered a parcel of willows to send Smith; apologises that so many are similar but finds himself much in the dark about 'Salix cinera', 'S. aquatica', and 'S. oleifolia'; Smith and [William Fitt] Drake to keep any they want, but asks Smith to return those he has no duplicates of, marked with letters. Observes that the the varities of shrub willows are so distinct that it will be necessary to describe them even if not noticed by preceeding authors; difficulty of defining specimens without necessary books.

List of willows sent, numbered and lettered, with habitats and brief observations; Smith has annotated some of the entries.

Satisfaction at Smith's division between 'Salix russelliana' and 'Salix fragilis' of Linnaeus. Describes his interest in this willow and notes how his grandfather [John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford (1710-1771)] introduced it to Bedfordshire and had it distributed amongst the tenants.