Hopes the turkey arrived safely, explains his reason for sending. Glad to hear of [Benjamin] Robertson's [(c 1732-1800)] bequest of £80,000 [to establish a public botanic garden]; excited by possibilities and intends to name a 'Robertsonia' at first opportunity.

Intends to have first volume of "Flora Graeca" put to the press by end of April, and intends to be in London in early May.

Dawson Turner has been with him. Keen to talk with Macleay in person about plans for [Benjamin] Robertson's [(c 1732-1800)] botanic garden. Neither he nor Turner have any knowledge of the three recent FMLS proposals, and asks that they be withdrawn, as he wishes the foreign list is increased as little as possible before the charter is received.

[Christiaan Hendrik] Persoon has requested the drawings for his paper on fungi be returned, as he has published the text in his "Synopsis Fungorum"

Asks after the Linnean Society's charter, understanding that had been at Weymouth to received the royal signature. Received letter from Dr Walter Wade of Dublin informing him of discovery of 'Eriocaulon septangulare' in Ireland, never before seen outside the Isle of Skye; details of Wade's habitat; encloses specimen for the Society.

Thanks Macleay for this care and attention to him. The plant Macleay sent from [John] Fairbairn is a new 'Cissus', not in Willdenow, if he gets the flowers will write a specific character to go at end of "Linnean Transactions".

Congratulates Macleay, [Thomas] Marsham, and Sir Joseph Banks on success of the Linnean Society charter; agrees that 15 Council names would be enough. Regrets Society discord, suggests course of action for allowing [John] Parkinson to produce testimonials in favour of electing [Johann Karl Adam] Murhard [(1781-1863)] a FMLS, and for Macleay to regulate [Jonas] Dryander until he comes to London, he is an "indifferent person, & fear[s] neither". Unable to decide on [Richard] Pulteney's legacy until they see what it consists of. Sending Macleay a turkey.

Pleased that [William] Roscoe's paper has been accepted for current volume of "Linnean Transactions" and answers Macleay's queries regarding the paper: could find no drawing of 'Phrynium', "petalatoides" should be "petaloides", approves of Macleay's mode of arranging specific names, and suggests name 'Globba' instead of 'Colebrookea', with explanatory text.

Unable to leave for London today on account of severe weather and illness. Received "Linnean Transactions" vol 8: the shell paper "very valuable" but wonders "how some of [Richard] Salisbury's trash got admittance" instead of his own papers, especially that on 'Conchium'; criticises Salisbury's paper on a salt storm. Macleay right to leave Salisbury's "lying pamphlet" out of the list of presentations to the Society; agrees with [Samuel] Goodenough that it ought to be expelled but will leave it to the Society to decide. Upset at the Society's response to the matter, but does not intend to defend himself in "Transactions" as he will not put himself "on a footing with a man whom [he now has] materials to drive out not only of our Society but of all society".

Returns [Thomas] Hardwicke's paper and his own on 'Conchium' for "Linnean Transactions"; defends his choice of name and his belief in right to give names, as discussed in his forthcoming "Introduction to Botany". Thanks for forwarding box and letter from Ventenat from France, which contained sequel of Ventenat's "Jardin de la Malmaison" and Redoute's "Liliaces", Ventenat has requested plants. Surprised to receive anything from France considering the "awful condition we are in", but he does not despair. Enquires after box of living plants including 'Ophrys corallorhiza' sent by Edward Maughan from Edinburgh.

[Letter incomplete: second folio cropped, presumed destroyed]

Returns enclosed corrections; does not think the anatomical descriptions of animals ought to be "mutilated" in "Linnean Transactions"; "readers of zoology know what to expect". Objects to [Richard] Salisbury's paper "for bringing in forced illustrations that are needlessly indelicate, especially as all his writings shew that he does it with a malicious design to discredit the Sexual System of Linnaeus, as he always affects to call it". Asks Macleay to provide names for the species in the paper, as the Linnean Society should be committed to not omitting these, which "distinguish the works of true scientific naturalists". Gratified by Macleay's opinion of "Exotic botany".

Pleased his paper on the "Vitellus of seeds" is to be printed [in "Linnean Transactions"], afraid Council may find it too controversial. His paper on ferns intended only to be read, as he intends a more complete one for the Linnean Society.

Sending a turkey. Received request from [William George] Maton for papers for the Linnean Society, happy to comply. Maton has asked whether the reference to Eden in his preface [to his "Introduction to Botany"] alludes to [Richard] Salisbury and "Paradisus Londinensis", to which he answered the passage was first written for his introductory lecture of April 1805, before their dispute, but would write the same now, as he "neither go a step one way or the other to avoid or to meet him".

Encloses part of his paper to be read at Linnean Society. He is not anxious about [Richard] Salisbury's "censures" regarding his preface [to "Introduction to Botany"] and does not expect him to renew his attacks; justifies his own response to Salisbury's conduct. Pleased by [Samuel] Goodenough's "advancement" [made Bishop of Carlisle], and hopes [Thomas] Marsham is well, "for he is one whom we could not spare".

Returns [William Jackson] Hooker's paper, which he and [Dawson] Turner have both looked over.

Never had much hope for the war before, but from the first of the Spanish resistance he has always hoped; cares not who manages the country as long as they do it well, but concedes the Ministry have conducted themselves with "singular wisdom & discretion", and the King's [George III (1738-1820)] speech "was in the same style". Returns his paper on 'Hookeria' and a paper on snakes not worth publishing.

Arrangements for printing of papers. Sorry "Linnean Transactions" vol 8 is so thin; his paper on 'Brodiaea' would have helped and is a fresh reason why he regrets not publishing it now. [James] Brodie's friends think not publishing it defeats the compliment, and all think it an "undue deference to a villain who is our disgrace" [Richard Salisbury had published 'Brodiaea' as 'Hookera' in "Paradisus Londinensis"]; several Council members lamented to see him forced to yield to "such opposition" and the brutality with which it was enforced. He knows Macleay acted for the best and feels the "bulk of the Society entirely guiltless", and will continue to send papers.

Has requested proofs of all [James] Sowerby's plates for his and [William Jackson] Hooker's papers on mosses, following the mistake he made with 'Hookeria lucens' in "English botany". Expecting a visit from [Robert] Brown.

His autumnal headaches "more troublesome than usual of late". Sending paper by [James Perchard] Tupper on "the possible sensation of plants", "amusing enough, if not sufficiently solid for printing". Defends his decisions regarding his naming genus 'Brodiaea' in spite of [Richard] Salisbury have named same genus 'Hookera', and insists his papers are not attacks; hopes the Linnean Society will always support him "on the side of true Linnaean principles". List of names to receive copy of "Linnean Transactions" vol 9.

Encloses letter from [Thomas] Marsham [extant], informing Smith that [Erik] Acharius' collection of lichens for the Linnean Society is at the Custom House, asks Macleay to obtain it.

[Letter from Thomas Marsham, West India Dock House, Billiter Square, 23 November 1808, to Smith]: Smith's box of dried plants and lichens from Sweden has been at Custom House since last September; instructions for its retrieval.

Encloses [James Perchard] Tupper's paper; will send a paper of his own in January or February. Macleay to expect monies from [James] Sowerby for Linnean Society membership dues. Thinks the new "Linnean Transactions" volume "very respectable" in size and content. Thinks 'Apion' a bad name and only 'Apium' spelt wrong, "when Greek words are made Latin they must take Latin terminations".

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.

Arrived back at Norwich 1 July [1809]. Informed by [Robert] Brown that the two species of 'Centrolepis' in [Edward] Rudge's paper ['Description of several Species of Plants from New Holland'], were stolen from Sir Joseph Banks' private herbarium, and do not grow in Port Jackson, [Sydney], as stated in the paper; Brown remarks that [Richard] Salisbury is "making a cat's paw of Rudge, to interfere with Brown's work"; certain that the specific characters are Salisbury's and "very uncouth, & a disgrace to our Transactions". Leaves it to Macleay and Brown to decide whether the paper should be suppressed or corrected.

Encloses continuation of his paper, Macleay to expect more and paper from [William Jackson] Hooker for 21 November [1809]. Wishes [Robert] Brown would change name of his genus 'Josephia', named after Sir Joseph Banks, "it is not only against all rule, but in itself so foolish it must expose us to ridicule as well as blame", proposes 'Brunonia'.

Discussed [Edward] Rudge's paper with [Robert] Brown and [Jonas] Dryander and attempted to call on Rudge to represent to him that he believed "he had been imposed upon by some one having stolen 2 of the plants from Sir Joseph Banks", but he was out. Asks Macleay to send letter on subject; takes it for granted Rudge knew nothing of the theft, which he charges on [Richard] Salisbury.