Flattered by Smith's intention to visit Farnham, which he can undertake at anytime, though Mr Poulter is visiting next week should Smith wish to promote the botanical purpose of the visit.
Wishes to introduce botany to the area, whose walks provide so many plants, via a course of lectures explaining Linnaean system; requests Smith's advice. Marquis of Blandford [George Spencer-Churchill] and Murray only men of neighbourhood with any botanical knowledge, hopes latter will prove to be a valuable Linnean Society member.
No summary available.
Objects to [Ferdinand Lucas] Bauer [(1760-1826), botanical artist] proposal to either be sole artist for "Flora Graeca" or to form a school of artists; proposes both Bauer and [Daniel] Mackenzie be employed. Refers ultimate decision to Sir Joseph Banks. Their dependence on Bauer's assistance.
Sorry to hear from [Andrew] Caldwell that Smith has not received the £5 2s 6d, which he assures Smith he sent two years ago; wishes Smith had mentioned it directly to him before, and Caldwell has now taken care of the situation.
Recommends John Hailstone [(1759-1847), geologist] to the Linnean Society; his skills and knowledge. Distress of [Richard] Relhan, his wife and seven or eight children; had hoped to make up the sum of money being paid for his herbarium but informed of difficulties.
Heard of Smith from their friend [Andrew] Caldwell, who has just returned from Norfolk. Encloses undetermined specimen of 'Polypodium'. Encloses a previously undescribed 'Tremella', for which he suggests 'T. vagans'; description and observations. Discusses errors with [William] Withering's 'Acrostichum ilvense'.
Offers to pay [John] Harriman's lifetime FLS subscription, following Lambert's assistance in having him admitted. Her gardener preparing the seeds Lambert sent.
Requests to anonymously pay [John] Harriman's lifetime FLS subscription as FLS. Asks whether Smith thinks the "famous" 'Cycas revoluta' at Farnham Castle, [Surrey], is sage as commonly bought or not.
Received Smith's parcel as he was leaving for Bulstrode [home of Duke of Portland in Buckinghamshire]. Discussion of 'Carex': has not been able to run through Smith's synonyms; there are two synonyms referred to in [Pier Antonio] Micheli's [(1679-1737)] plate which Goodenough quoted for 'C. rigida'; believes Smith's 'C. binervis' grows near Hastings, Sussex, had always thought it different from 'C. distans'; Smith's 'C. micheliana' "a good species"; asks Smith to rename his 'C. vesicaria' as there are "cogent reasons" for the existing 'C. vesicaria' name; believes Linnaeus' 'C. vesicara' was 'C. sylvatica'. Astonished that [Robert John] Thornton's [(c 1768-1837), physician and writer on botany] work is now printing ["A new illustration of the sexual system of Linnaeus"]. Desperate for Smith's "Flora [Britannica]" to come out; believes under Smith's "correct auspices [botany will] stride on to perfection". Sending Smith's corrected manuscripts to [John] White [publisher] but asks who "Hull." often quoted by Smith is; suggests alternatives for the words "scrotiforme" and "genitalia" to spare Smith's "character for delicacy". Eager for Scottish specimens of Smith's new 'Carex' species, particularly 'Carex incurva'.
On verso of second folio Goodenough notes that "Enchiridion" would be a good name for Smith's "Epitome" but as there is already a work under that title suggests "Synopsis" instead.
In Exmouth on account of his daughter; she has been unwell for months and recently more so though believes her lungs are not affected and that the disorder is nervous. His sister has received great benefit from taking foxglove under Dr Moncrieffe though just received letter that a fresh tubercule is inflaming. Beddoes currently has five ladies under his care, each in a hammock in a close room with an Alderney cow.
Will send any marine plants he finds to [James] Sowerby though presently none are washed up and the rocks are barren except for 'Fucus vesiculorus' and 'Ulva compressa', 'Rubia' on cliffs, and '[Calystegia] soldanella', 'Crygium campestre', 'Cuphorbia' and he supposes [William] Hudson's 'Ononis repens' on sand banks between cliffs and beach. Complains that having expected to live on John Dory can get nothing but small whitings and herrings every two or three days.
Hopes Smith will be able to get the "Flora [Britannica]" out by next spring, as planned. Has been unable to look through the "Greek Botany". Could not find 'Arabis stricta' at St Vincent's Rock, Bristol, but did observe 'Gentiana amarella', 'Geranium sanguineum', and both 'Lichen dioica'. Hopes Smith is able to quash all feuds in the "subscription library". Ireland is currently "perfectly quiet". Confirmed in his suspicions that the "Dutch expedition" would not succeed, "the very idea of forcing a government on a nation is intolerable" [Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland, campaign of 27 August 1799 to 19 November 1799 during the War of the Second Coalition, to promote an uprising by followers of the former stadtholder, William V, against the Batavian government].
Writes to parents to say that JH is well, his head has healed, and he is looking forward to his holidays.
Sent [James] Sowerby 'Fucus tomentosus' and will send other marine plants. Observations on local plant 'Eryngium campestre'. His daughter's symptoms: regular chills followed by slight heats since last August but nothing prevalent till the last week; Dr Hunter of York and Dr Downman of Exmouth both conclude the lungs not affected but an abscess in her throat; Hunter prescribed bark and port wine but the bark disagreed with her bowels but now absorption of matter has given way to regular expectoration of pus, loss of flesh and appetite and hair, uncertainty whether the pus is from the lungs, trachea or oesophagus but supposes a large quantity can only come from the lungs. Delightful climate. Lady East reads Sertularice and [John] Ellis [(1710-1776), botanist] daily.
No summary available.