Thanks for Smith's letter of 31 December. His wife and daughter [Mariamne Johnes] have severe colds, and he has been ill, too, but by following medical rules of cupping, blistering, and Calomel, they have gained relief. Hopes to see Smith in London in the spring.

Has long heard of the treasures of Holkham, [Norfolk, home of Thomas William Coke] but doubts likelihood of his ever visiting. Has amused himself with the exiled King of Sweden's father's work, and Madame des Duffand's letter to Lord Oxford. High winds and heavy rain but no snow.

Thanks for Smith's intended nomination of him as a Vice President of the Linnean Society, and though he would prefer to be nominated Treasurer he will not withold his assent. [Samuel Goodenough] recovering from severe fit of gout.

Notes that his his paper on classification [see RelatedMaterial below] has been read at Linnean Society; confident his principles are correct, and confirmed by Smith's assent, but could have given better examples. Critiques Count [Johann Centurius] Hoffmannsegg's [(1766-1849), naturalist] "Flore Portugaise" [(1809-1840)], which quotes Smith; plates coloured well but the system shows need to adhere to an established plan of arrangement so botanists can understand each other; discusses further.

Expecting his copy of Smith's "Tour of Hafod". He has been devising a method for putting an "effectual end to the African slave trade" and also looking into the state of the arts during the Middle Ages for a memoir. Looking forward to Smith's Lancashire visit.

Sends letter from [Georg Franz] Hoffmann and copy of "Hortus Mosquensis"]. Intends to publish a work on the rare plants of northern and southern parts of Russia, asks Smith to procure him some English subscribers. Requests plants from Botany Bay, [Australia]. Has sent Sir Joseph Banks a prospectus of his other work on the insects of Russia, asks Smith to procure subscribers for this also. Sends twenty packets of seeds of "the rarest plants of the Cokases", intends to send more.

Received Smith's letter of 25 April. Expecting to leave [India] in two years and will bring with him a large collection, although it will not be as interesting as the one from Nepal. His collection of fish is more curious and increasing rapidly, has been unable to trace more than a few in Lacépède. This year is working in the Bhagalpur district of India. A squabble the previous year between the British and Nepalese governments has prevented him from obtaining seeds and flowering specimens of the officinal plants of the Indian Alps. Has managed to procure specimens of one genus, similar to 'Caltha', two species used for medicinal purposes and resemble either the 'Ranunculus arvensis' or 'Ranunculus acris', and another species which is one of the most violent poisons known in India and is used by the natives on their arrows.

Introduces himself. Sends list of habitats of various indigenous plants [see RelatedMaterial below]. Sends a 'Lichen' and a 'Sphaeria' for determination. He has been conducting experiments on the 'Berberis communis' and obtained results similar to those in "Philosophical Transactions [of the Royal Society]". Also sends paper on botanical societies in Manchester [see RelatedMaterial below].

Received Smith's letter of 24 April [1810]. Suffering from severe headaches, for which he has just returned from a retreat in the upper provinces; was unable to pursue any natural history inclinations and has become a "much worse botanist" than when he left England; preparing to visit the Cape [of Good Hope] or St Helena for the headaches, and will also visit England if they persist. Whilst at Cawnpore found 'Rhododendrun boorans' for Calcutta Botanic Garden and Marquis of Blandford [George Spencer-Churchill]; [William] Roxburgh sending drawing taken from dried specimen. Also found: 'Berberris ilicifolia', 'Rubus' with yellow fruit, a 'Quercus', 'Pinus longifolia', and a 'Betula'. Transplanted a tree from Cawnpore to Calcutta Botanic Garden, Roxburgh thinks it a 'Humea'; observations.

Has a specimen of 'Breccia' or pudding stone, a mineral, for Sir Joseph Banks. Pleased to hear of Banks' desire to establish a Botanic Garden at Ceylon. Concerned to hear of [Robert] Brown's desertion of the Linnaean School.

Sends copy of his "Illustrationes Theophrasti". Would like to see a new edition of Theophrastus.

Received Smith's letter of 28 October 1810. Sends paper for Linnean Society on two new species of crustacean and lists the others he plans to send. Plans to send package of 100 rare, new, or doubtful Sicilian plants. Comments and corrections on his plants: his 'Primula bicolor' differs from 'Primula acaulis'; lists differences that ought to to be obsevred if his 'Xolantha' is only a variety of 'Cistus guttatus'; plans to send his 'Crocus longiflorus'; question on calix of 'Sedum atratum'; confirmation of his 'Malva peduncalata'. Recently received books: Smith's "Prodromus Florae Graecae" is of great use in Sicily; "Hortus Kewensis", 2nd ed., useful for advancing his knowledge of new genera; and [George] Shaw's "Ichthyology" [presumably from "General zoology"], thinks it inferior to Lacépède, on which it was modelled. Offers to describe Australian plants. Asks after plants sent by himself and [Antonio] Bivona [Bernardi] including 'Orobus siculus' and 'Astragalus siculus'; asks if 'Orabanche rubia', 'Orchis undulatifolia', and 'Orchis bipunctata' are new.

Signed [William Fitt] Drake's Linnean Society nomination certificate and sent on to [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert. Just received [William Jackson] Hooker's "interesting" work on Iceland ["Journal of a tour in Iceland" (1809)]. Sent oysters.

Confirms that a 'Hieracium' found last August by Travis in Scarborough not like any in "English Botany" appears to be 'Hieracium prenanthoides' in "English Botany", will bring specimen to London. His son returned from five weeks hunting in Leicestershire. Visited Sir Joseph Banks at Revesby Abbey, Lincolnshire, last October, where there was uncommonly good hunting but he hurt his leg. The 'Glaucium fulvum' grown from Smith's seeds "the most desireable plant" of its kind he knows and has distributed the seed as an acquisition to every garden. Banks "particularly well" though everyone alarmed about the gout medicine he has started taking; Duke of Gordon informed it is 'Gratida' which a medical friend of his gives with success, and having looked at Lewis' "Materia medica" the effects of 'Gratida' agree exactly with those of "Can medicinale".

Fears recent keen frost has injured apricot crop and hurt vines but successful with kale having had pots made with covers as proposed in note in "Hort. Trans", the convenience in examining plants very great. Frustrated that [Lewis Weston] Dillwyn [(1778-1855)] still has his 'Conferva' drawings two years after requesting their return.

Encouraged to write to Smith by "conviction of the liberality of [his] mind, and [his] readiness to assist the younger part of the community, displayed in [his] valuable works". Encloses specimen of an 'Endocarpon' of [Erik] Acharius, found on river Tyne, and identified by [Dawson] Turner as 'Endocarpon leptophyllum' Acharius and 'Lichen lectophyllus' of "English botany"; and "shields" of what Turner calls 'Parmelia turneri', accompanying 'Verrucaria amphibola' Acharius; observations.

Refrained from writing to Smith assuming he would hear his news through Liverpool Botanic Garden. Sending 25 specimens of plants to [William] Roscoe. Plans to travel another 1100 miles up the [Missouri], according to General Clark it is "peculiarly interesting". Recommends Smith examine a specimen of a pouched rat sent to Lord Hawley, possibly 'Mus bursorius', comments on the construction of the mouth, which resembles 'Arctomys'. Has found a 'Talpa' not dissimilar to 'Talpa europaea', and many undescribed 'Coluber' and a 'Crotatus'. His most interesting specimen is the 'Dioeica octandria' shrub which has a "much esteemed berry". Hopes to meet Smith on his return to England. In the most recent 200 miles of his journey has found more British 'Carices' than he has ever seen before in America and has now seen c 26 species of 'Carex'.

Delayed sending 'Lichen scaber' till Smith was in London; asks for any news of publication of his paper on subject.

[Spec 11 written in pencil at top of verso of first folio]

Left Bengal for restoration of his health and long abscence from that climate. Intends to tour the island and examine its natural productions. Sent a cabinet of insects of Bengal and surrounding sea coasts for the Linnean Society; details concerning its delivery. Intends to stay on Mauritius for 4 months before going on to Cape [of Good Hope], and may be in England next summer. Observations on climate. Accompanied by Captain Roughsedge of Liverpool.

Complains at being addressed as Mr in the Linnean Society's list of members and correspondence, instead of Esq.

Thanks for Smith's letter, just received; will be glad to have Smith's criticisms on the "Tab[ula] Syst[ematica]", as in addition to Smith's own practical botanical knowledge he has assistance of [John] Sibthorp herbarium. His hopes for future usefulness of his "Illustrationes Theophrasti". Sorry he is to miss Linnean Society anniversary meeting, hopes Smith may visit him near Liverpool in August.

Intended to be at the Linnean Society anniversary meeting and dinner but requested by the Duke of Portland [William Henry Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck, 4th Duke of Portland (1768-1854)] to attend the Marylebone Church Bill in the House of Lords and dine at Lord Lonsdale's [William Lowther, 1st Earl of Lonsdale (1757-1844)]. Asks what the protocol is for appointing the Bishop of Durham [Shute Barrington] an honorary member of the Linnean Society and offers to propose or second him; lists his talents.

"Nothing more flattering" to the Linnean Society than being permitted to enrol the Prince Regent [George IV (1762-1830)] as an Honorary Member. Accepted his own invitation to become an Honoary Member from respect he bears the Society and for feeling it did not imply the slightest degree of botanical knowledge; considers Fellowship in a different point of view.

Franked Smith's letter to Mrs [Pleasance] Smith. His daughter [Mariamne Johnes] exceedingly ill and yesterday called in Bayley and Pearson, who both agree on its being a "strong nervous affection" and requiring a long recovery.