Describes the difficulty of [P. Laplace's] Mécanique céleste. Has a new pupil. Discusses proper boundary of a front view mirror.

Requests Smith's support in his candidature for the [Trinity College, Dublin] botany professorship. Method of election and the other candidates, considers himself in a strong position.

Reminds Smith he previously sent flowering specimens 'Pterogonium sciuroides', after Smith remarked in figure of same in "English botany" the rarity of finding it so. Asks after publication of "Compendium florae britannicae".

a "dreadful" six day journey from Carlisle to London brought on gout. Discusses 'Nymphaea' as mentioned in Theophrastus, Dioscorides, and Stephen's "Thesaurus". Not surprised at [James] Donn's [(1758-1813), curator of Cambridge Botanic Garden] attacks on [George] Don if he "learned any of the tricks of Thomas Agnew, to whom he was second at Kew" [Donn had accused Don of using seeds from Cambridge to grow into plants to claim as indigenous to Scotland, see RelatedMaterial]. Thanks Smith for offer of a turkey. Has not had a chance to see the "Anti-Jacobin".

Encloses drawing of next engraving [for "Lachesis Lapponica"]; asks whether it is to be copied exactly from the manuscript and for any other changes.

Sends roots and runners of a grass called 'Fiorin' which [William] Richardson has written on with intention of making it a valuable animal foodstock, suspects it may be 'Agrostis stolonifera'. Has been bound to his bedroom since beginning of January. A vast fish, 55 feet [16.7m] long and 12 feet [3.7m] in circumference, that was washed up on the Orkney Islands is a cartilaginous fish and not a whale, as was supposed.

A new paper on the Cardamom [White's 'Botanical Description and Natural History of the Malabar Cardamom'] which authorises it as a new genus. Had named it 'Garcia cardamomum' in the new edition of the London Pharmacopoeia, but [Martin] Vahl [(1749-1804)] and [Carl Ludwig] Willdenow had made prior claims on the name, asks Smith's assistance in determining a new name.

Thanks for the turkey. [James] Brodie sent a letter to Miss [Elizabeth] Hill [(c 1760-1850), algologist] via himself, in addition sent him specimens of '[Fucus] lycopodioides' and 'Brodiaea'. Received report from the Bishop of Chester [Henry Majendie (1764-1830)] that the King [George III (1738-1820)] is "perfectly well & in high spirits"; the "Jacobinical rumours" of abdication and regency border on treason. Sir Joseph Banks recovering from a slight attack of gout.

Thanks Smith for attention to his paper [probably on 'Juncus', see RelatedMaterial]. Thanks Smith for offer to interpose with [Edward] Donovan [(1768-1837), zoologist] who has accused Davies of falsity in a dispute over [Thomas] Pennant's "British Zoology", as well as criticising Samuel Goodenough's paper for "Linnean Transactions" on the "Porbeagle Shark". Sending a package containing: ten species of 'Salix' for identification; 'Schoenus rufus' and 'Festuca uniglumis' for Smith's friends; a 'Oenanthe' that differs from 'Oenanthe pimpinelloides'; some specimens of 'Potamogeton' previously mentioned; and two foreign ferns.

Sending 'Lichens', sent duplicates to [James] Sowerby except 'Parmelia perforata', also sent Sowerby those which he and [William Jackson] Hooker collected in Scotland last year.

Lists lichens sent to Sowerby, with habitats and other remarks: 'Pulveraria chlorina', 'Endocarpon leptophyllum', 'Endocarpon tephroides', 'Parmelia erythrella', 'Parmelia squamulosa', 'Parmelia sarmentosa', 'Picta crocata', and 'Cetraria nivalis'.

Delivered all proofs [for "Lachesis Lapponica"] to Mr White except number 26; queries over several other engravings.

Thanks for 'Salix' specimens. Still working on 'Fucus' but thinks he has almost exhausted the coast here; has recently "converted" to [Erik] Acharius' system, and though there is much confusion, the arrangement is good. Encloses [cryptogamic] specimen from James Hoy's, of Gordon Castle, collection; it is not, as Hoy states, 'Lichen hebraicus', nor 'Verrucaria purpurescens'. His opinion of Hoy's character and appearance.

Criticises Smith for doing "so much good" with "Flora Britannica", and then ceasing when "the whole scientific world" is in expectation of more.

Received Smith's letter of 31 January [1809]. Postponing their visit to Norwich on account of the miserable weather. Expects to see second fasciculus of "Flora Graeca". Uncertain whether [James] Sowerby's supplement to his "Fungi" is published. Never received 'Fucus' specimens from Sowerby, would be sorry to lose the 'F. abrotanifolius'; it needs to be carefully examined by Smith before it appears in "English botany" as the Linnaean specimen is old and broken, and [Dawson] Turner has not examined it and others with enough care; observations on the young leaves.

Sending Macleay one of this season's rare good turkies. Sends small piece of information for Linnean Society, assuming they are well supplied for papers. Intends to be in London for 21 March [1809], a month earlier than usual. Anxious to know whether [Erik] Acharius' lichens are now at the Linnean Society.

Thanks for "fine specimen of ornithology". Has been with Dr [Edward Daniel] Clarke. [George] Jackson has returned from Cambridge with remainder of collection of [Peter Simon] Pallas' plants, a gift from Clarke, including 'Molinia jubata', an "extraordinary plant". Botany "again revived in Soho Square" [home of Sir Joseph Banks]. [Jonas] Dryander working on "the New Holl." and new edition of "Hortus Kewensis". Has a parcel of Indian plants for Smith from [William] Roxburgh. Sir Abraham Hume reports that Amelia Hume is very ill.

No summary available.

Discusses his paper on 'Proteaceae' and reasons for keeping the name 'Hakea' instead of Smith's apparent suggestion of 'Conchium'. This was in deference to [Baron Christian Ludwig von] Hake, and previous use by [Heinrich] Schrader, [Antonio José] Cavanilles, [Jacques] La Billardiere and [Etienne Pierre] Ventenat, and being pushed by [Jonas] Dryander having used it in his catalogue of New Holland [Australian] plants and the strong likelihood of it being used in "Hortus Kewensis".

Thanks for 'Jungermanniae' specimens from "that wonderfully promising young naturalist" [William Jackson] Hooker. Recommends Smith avoid anything that will "keep up or awaken the gall [...] of that worthless wasp" [Richard] Salisbury.

Clarifies that his comment about [James] Hoy's 'Ossigrapha' being more like figures of Hoffmann's 'Verrucaria purpurascens' than any other he could find; different from [Dawson] Turner's 'calcarea'. Turner has requested specimens of 'Fucus brodieii'; encloses some for Smith. Sent [Samuel] Goodenough specimens of 'Fucus brodieii' and 'F. lycopodioides'; Goodenough anxious to establish his varities of 'F. tetragonus' and 'F. escutentus'. Received new specimens from [George] Don, expects he will send to Smith as well, listed, with observations: 'Orbus', 'Lychris alpina', 'Myosotis nana' or 'M. lappula', 'Silene alpestre', 'Epilobium montanum', 'Hypericum barbatum', 'Erigerum uniflorum', 'Veronica allionii', 'Viola lutea', 'Hieracium alpinum' or 'H. villosum', and variety of 'Lamium amplixicaule'.

His son broke his collar bone in a hunting accident but had good fortune to meet his surgeon on way home, hopeful of good recovery considering Duke of Portland's recovery from his many accidents.

Timber prices: informed by Dr Barham of Kent that Lord Despenser has lately sold English fir for 2500 at 3/9 per foot, and by Duke of Gordon that [James] Brodie has just also sold some advantageously; advising his friends to not pay more than 10d per cubic foot for Riga timber, it is now 5/8 at York, and there is none in Stockton-on-Tees, [County Durham] where it is usually sold.

Pleased with [Dawson] Turner's work [probably "Fucus sive plantarum fucorum..." (1808-1819)], Turner's 'T. pusillus' was amongst the drawings he sent Turner, found at Exmouth, [Devon], in 1799. Sent Turner receipt for an effective rheumatism medicine received from Hoppover two years ago.

Has sent a package including specimens of 'Salix', a possible variation of 'Oenanthe pimpinelloides', and a 'Adiantum capillus-veneris' sent for the curiosity of where it grew. Encloses a fern [extant] omitted from the package. Thanks Smith for the prescription of ginger which has helped his health, however is now suffering from a severe bout of rheumatism. Asks whether he should be sea bathing for relief at the age of 70. Requests specimens of 'Daviesia umbellulata' and 'Daviesia corymbosa'.

Specimen of fern.

Has letter for Smith from [James] Brodie. Invites Smith to dinner before going on to the Linnean Society with [Thomas] Marsham, "the sight of the three fathers of the Society marching in together must be, as the French say, grand and magnificent". Has a copy of his sermon before the House of Lords on fast-day for Smith [see RelatedMaterial].