Encloses specimens of 'Hieracium', which are "truly intricate like the willows and some other families", believes no one can judge of between species and varities unless they cultivate them; numbered observations: 1. 'Hieracium ramosum' said to be native of Hungary; 2. 'H. kalmii', contrary to Goodenough's claim distinct from 'H. prenanthoides'; 3. a 'Hieracium' he previoulsy thought described in "Flora Britannica". Asks Goodenough to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith.

Encloses specimen of true 'Hieracium prenanthoides'. Numbered observations on additional enclosed specimens: 1. an unknown 'Hieracium'; 2. possible 'H. kalmii' raised from seed by Mr Mackay; 3. a 'Hieracium' grown by late [William] Curtis in his Lambeth garden, never found wild, raised from seeds sent by [James] Donn [(1758-1813), curator of Cambridge Botanic Garden] under names of 'H. cornatum' and another.

A packet from [Jacques-Julien de] Labillardière for Smith. Received latest editions of "Annals du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle" which include the whole of [René Louiche] Desfontaines' "Choix de plantes du Corollaire de Tournefort". Received from Mr Coxe a copper plate of [Peter Simon] Pallas from St Petersburg, will give it to Linnean Society to accompany his paper. Obtained all of [Alexander von] Humboldt's works on plants. Has been busy on Salisbury Plain, is going to Longleat, [Somerset], to visit Lord Bath [Thomas Thynne, 2nd Marquess of Bath (1765-1837)], says of Lady Bath "my Lady fancys [sic] herself very fond of plants but I fancy she is not". Proposes Sir Edward [Hulse] and Mr Duke as Linnean Society members.

Constantly reminded of Smith by his "very assiduous & ever-to-be-encouraged correspondent Mr G[eorge] Don". Made to doubt his own knowledge after seeing Don's "acute observations", and wonder "where have all these things lain since the days of Adam, that no one should have noticed them before". Does not wish for Smith to be charged for any of [the Don letters and plant specimens]. Eagerly awaiting confirmation of Smith's visit.

Has previously written to Smith on an animal of the 'Physophora' genus. Staying at home of [Thomas] Jefferson [3rd President of USA] with Jefferson's son-in-law, [Thomas Mann] Randolph [Jr.], an "excellent naturalist". Has discovered at least two orchids not described in books following Smith's request to look into 'Orchidaceae', many species in America. Found two species of 'Helleborine' established but not described by [Christiaan Hendrik] Persoon, two new 'Cacalia' and a new 'Talinum'. Believes America will be rich in 'Cryptogramia'; 'Lichen Sepincola' is abundant on 'Pinus taeda'; also rich in 'Carex'. Leaving shortly to explore Louisiana as a "first Reaper" and will winter at Fort St Louis on the Mississippi with Captain Lewis, who was sent by President Jefferson to explore the Missouri and has discovered 20 new species of animal. Randolph cultivating 'Holcus sorghum', 'Sorghum vulgare' of Persoon, and 'Sesamum indicum' for oil.

Intends to subjoin some remarks in [David] White's paper on the Malabar Cardamom explaining the name for new genus of the plant, 'Elettaria', and correcting errors in Linnaeus' 'Amomum cardamomum', describes some of them and asks Smith to examine Linnaeus' specimen. Unsure on how to proceed with publication of the note.

Death of [Amelia] Hume after a "long and severe illness". Has received from [William] Roxburgh a large parcel of specimens for Smith and seeds for Liverpool Botanic Garden, and one for Royal Society at Edinburgh and seeds for the Edinburgh Botanical Garden.

Discusses etymology of 'Ethulia', 'Euclea', and Linnaeus' non-scholarly formation of names. Fears death of Lady Amelia Hume will remove Sir Abraham Hume from natural history. Continually asked when the fourth volume of "Flora Britannica" is out. Had told a group of country botanists in Carlisle region that Smith was coming to visit, they shall be disappointed. If Smith visits next year requests root of Smith's "pale primrose-coloured Carnation".

Discusses a "curious communication" containing as "much botanical as well as physical information" [presumably a paper or figure by Richard Salisbury]. States they "are only at war with the immoral not the scientific part of "that fellow of nuisance and scandal"", concludes that [Salisbury] is now received at Soho Square [home of Sir Joseph Banks] as Lady Hamilton [(1765-1815) mistress of Lord Nelson] would be [following discovery of Salisbury stealing Sir Joseph Banks' drawings and publishing them as his own]. Discusses history of a disputed related drawing. Death of Amelia Hume. Discusses distinctness of the two species of 'Aegiphyla'.

[Letter incomplete: sections cropped, presumed destroyed]

Numbered observations on enclosed specimens: 1. an 'Agrostis', discovered on beach in Angushire in 1807 with 'Equisetum variegatum' [Goodenough annotation: "can this be a variety of 'Agrostis setacea'? S.C."]; 2. a 'Saxifraga' same as no. 8 in letter he sent 3 April 1809; 3. a 'Scleranthus'; 4. a 'Scleranthus annuus'; 5. a new 'Anthemis' proposes name 'A. bicolor'; 6. another new 'Anthemis' proposes name 'A. tricolor'. Hopes to hear from Goodenough soon, asks him to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith [address label to Smith at Norwich, 3 September 1809].

Thanks Smith for his intention to send the second volume of "Florae Graecae Prodromus". Smith's "Piquote pink" carnation a curious plant, the yellow one sounds "very extraordinary" and requests a flower. In a letter to him [James] Brodie confused an enclosed specimen of 'Scirpus setaceus' for a 'Carex', reminds him of the time [William] Withering sent a drawing he was sure was a new 'Carex glareosa' and was in fact 'Eriophorum angustifolium'. The 'Sedum ochroleucum' Smith sent flourishing, asks if it will survive being kept in the open air. Everyone impatient for fourth volume of "Flora Britannica".

Thanks for Smith's "great curiousity", the primrose carnation. Finds it odd that is has no smell, Mrs Goodenough recalls seeing one at Windsor which was also scentless. Received a specimen of the plant Smith wrote to Mr Weatherhead about but can not recollect what it is called, it was possibly 'Stachys' but can find nothing in Gmelin's "Systema Naturae". [Hugh] Davies and [Edward] Donovan [(1768-1837), zoologist] are still in dispute over fish: Davies' letter appeared in the "Gentleman's Magazine" two months before Donovan's response, the former writes like a Welshman and the latter an artist "who thinks all the world must be as eager as himself to cull some lucky snap which has escaped the eyes of others", discusses the grievances and fears being dragged in on account of his paper on the Porbeagle shark in "Linnean Transactions" which used a drawing of Davies' [see RelatedMaterial]. Asks Smith to look for 'Confervae' in Lowestoft. Political horizon "clouding".

Describes lunar rainbow seen on 22 August. Congratulates JH on his mathematical attainments. Describes his enjoyment of mathematics. Hopes JH will continue to correspond.

Tried to call on Smith to discuss the 'Polypodium cristatum' he sent to [James] Sowerby and other dried specimens he now submits for inspection, inlcuding 'Aspidium cristatum'. Unfamiliar with [William] Withering's 'Polypodium spinulosum' but concludes that the "Holt-fern" is distinct and previously undiscovered in East Anglia, concern that its habitat may be destroyed within a few years by turf-cutters and the approaching banks of recent enclosures.

No summary available.

Just returned from trip to Brighton, [Sussex]. Proposes to publish a quarterly journal on natural history covering all three brances; details of plan for Smith's opinion. Asks Smith to undertake the botanical section and recommend the whole to Longman and Rees [publishers].

Responds to queries in Smith's letter of 8 September [1809]: will send 'Lamium' seeds; has found no evidence of 'Lychnis alpina' being planted, despite rarity, difficulty of ascertaining how many seeds it proudces, describes similar instances with 'Gentiana nivale', 'Gnaphalium sylvaticum', 'Sonchus caeruleus', and 'Hieracium molle'.

Numbered remarks and observations on plants, headed 18 May [probably date of Smith's reply to Don's letter of 3 April 1809]: 1. will try to identify the 'Ranunculus'; 2. 'Saxifraga' new species; 3. 'Potentilla' new species; 4. 'Grimmia' new species. Obervations on 'Ranunculus alpestres'; 'Crepis pulchra'; species of 'Silene'; 'Cochlearia groenlandica'. Observations on numbered specimens in his last letter: 8. argues case for naming new 'Saxifraga' 'S. peduncularis'; 9. "certainly not 'Stellaria cerastoides' but a 'Cerastium'.

Will send seeds of 'Spergula maxima'.

[Copy or draft] Thanks Bernardi for pamphlets and Cupani book. Would like specimens of the rare plants described in Bernardi's works, especially the 'Orchideae'. Happy to help with his botanical correspondence. Sending an [unnamed] English book, the introudction of which translated into Italian may encourage the study of botany in Italy. Hoping to finish the fourth volume of "Flora Britannica" by next winter. Believes Bernardi's 'Allium album' is 'Allium lacteum' of "Flora Graeca".

Sending specimens of 'Arundo neglecta', 'Rottboellia filiformis', very rare, 'Silene alpestre', and non-descript 'Poa'; observations. Observes what Goodenough says about 'Viola', there seem to be 3 species under name 'V. canina'. Does not think 'Arundo neglecta' can be what [John Leonard] Knapp has drawn for 'A. calamagrostis'; supposes he has received better 'Rubus' specimens from [Charles] Lyell.

Detailed observations on 'Avena', particularly 'A. pubescens' and a new glaucous one. Found new species of 'Aira' by the sea. Could not find 'Chaerophyllum'. Seeds for 'Galium witheringia' all gone for this year, but will collect seed next year as it is a common plant here. Sorry to disagree with Goodenough on the 'Gnaphalium'. Encloses seeds of two varities of 'Daucus mauritanicus'.

Desires Goodenough's opinion on remainder of the plants he sent via Lyell. Sent [James] Sowerby a 'Cochlearia', who thought it 'C. anglica', would like opinion on this and 'Potentilla tridentata', which grows amongst roots of 'Erica vulgaris'.

Delayed sending plant specimens for Smith from George Don and they now have mildew. Was unable to accompany Don to verify habitats of 'Lychnis alpina' and 'Ranunculus alpestris' at the Rocks of Clova in Scotland but believes he has no intention to deceive. Refers to Don's discoveries of 'Cheiranthus incanus', 'Oenothera biennis', and 'Potentilla tridentata' and his response to letters from Smith and Samuel Goodenough as evidence, along with description of his methods. Discusses Don's interactions with Smith's 'Festuca triflora', 'Arundo neglecta', 'Chaerophyllum aureum', 'Chaerophyllum sylvestre', 'Saxifraga geranioides' and other 'Saxifraga'. Smith still to pronounce on Don's 'Carduus polyanthemos', [James] Brodie thinks it 'Carduus leucographus'. Establishing plantations in the north, would like large quantities of 'Salix russelliana' if its use in tanning is proven, requests recommendation for nurseryman to supply 'Salix fragilis', and asks whether 'Populus tremula' is the poplar that grows in Swedish forests. Looking forward to seeing fourth volume of "Flora Britannica" and Linnaeus' "Lapland Tour".