Has been in Fife but did not find any plants of interest. Dr Rutherford ill this season; hopes it is not serious on account of the great contributions he has made. Dr Waltner continues very ill. Joy of the country; "peace and the prospect of plenty shines in every face".

Dispatched Professor [Eugen Johann Christoph] Esper's [(1742-1810)] FMLS diploma several months ago. Congratulates Smith on the return of peace [between Britain and France] with the ratification of the preliminaries [of the Treaty of Amiens, signed 25 March 1802]; "the mob" took the horses from the Consuls carriage and drew them home.

Disagreements over 'Carex' between him and [John] Pitchford, who believes Goodenough's 'Carex fulva' is the 'C. distans' of all other authors and sent specimen to him of which Goodenough thinks it a slight variety of 'C. flava'. Pitchford believes everyone has been deceived by [William] Hudson's 'C. inflata' which is in fact Smith's 'C. laevigata'; Goodenough convinced it is his 'C. depauperata'. Continually asked when Smith's "Flora Britannica" will be completed. Wishes that he had been on hand when Smith was selecting specimens and writing for "English Botany". Believes that the arrival of peace [Treaty of London, signed 30 September 1801, a preliminary peace between Britian and France] will be particularly beneficial for natural history, hopes that Britain will "keep the lead in science, as we have undoubtedly in naval glory" but dreads introduction of revolutionary principles.

Felicitations on the Peace; appointed Professor at Madrid Jard. des Plantes.

Has so far failed to find the '[Lichen] floridus' for Smith. Will preserve Smith specimens of 'Conchium salicinum', though its pods are so hard she will struggle to dry them. Offers to send seed of 'Spartium monospermum' which has sparingly ripened this year. Thanks for seeds of 'Chelone barbata', she has given half to Todd, the gardener, and she will sow other half in spring. Anticipates her garden will be in "high beauty" next summer as her father gave her much manure and a man to take care of them, and she now has her mother's 'Auricula' collections. 'Strelitzia reginae' soon in "high beauty", it has many pods. Asks what the enclosed specimen is, it was found on the hills by Todd two years ago.

Rejoices with Smith on "happy event of peace" and hopes it be permanent; supposes Norwich was "very gay" with illuminations, she only had her dressing room illuminated. Congratulates Smith on his "vocal parties". Requests seeds or root of 'Gentiana verna', being delighted with the account of it in [William] Curtis' "[Botanical] Magazine".

Transcribes extract on 'Schoena' from volume 4 of [Friedrich] Ehrhart's "Beiträge". Two new English lichens, 'Lichen abietinus' and 'Lichen citrinellus', have been sent to him by [John] Harriman. Disagrees with Smith over definition of [Friedrich] Ehrhart's 'paradoxa'.

Relief that the tension between Britain and Sweden has abated. Two parcels sent, the first contains: lichens from [Erik] Acharius; a second paper on 'Orchidea' inserted in a volume of transactions of [Swedish] Academy [of Sciences], in between the leaves of which he has inserted specimens of mostly new 'Carex' provided by [Georg] Wahlenberg [(1780-1851)]; specimens of 'Musci frondosi'; and copy of "Dispositio systematica muscorum frondosorum Sveciae". The second parcel contains: first two volumes of "Flora Indiae occidentalis"; [Carl Peter] Thunberg's "Icones pl. Japonicarum"; first 13 plates from "Icones plant. ind. occid."; and packs of West Indies grasses.

Asks if Smith knows 'Festuca arundinacea', it is almost a fascimile of 'Poa aquatica', and 'Arundo stricta'. Wahlenberg has gathered many plants from northern Lapland and also discovered a new 'Arenaria (sulcata)' and a 'Myosotis (related to virginica)', will send them next time. Wahlenberg is working on a "synopsis 'Caricum'" and planning another trip as far north as Nordcap. Asks Smith's opinion of his work on 'Orchidea', explains some of his observations, the papers are published in transactions of [Swedish] Academy [of Sciences]. He has also "laboured through" the ferns, the paper is published in [Heinrich Adolph] Schrader's "Journal [of Botany]". Asks Smith's opinion of [Christaan Hendrik] Persoon's "Synopsis fungorum", and if [Johann] Hedwig's posthumous "Species muscorum" and "Icones filicum" have appeared in England.

Death of [Richard] Pulteney, "seiz'd with a pleurisy which terminated his life in a few days". [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert's grief. Sorry to hear of Smith's ill health. Pulteney's museum left to Linnean Society but his library to be sold. Grosvenor Street house still not finished.

Account of his botanical tour of the the Connemara area of the county of Galway, Ireland, undertaken in August and September 1801, and his discovery of 'Eriocaulon decangulare'. This area had never before been explored by botanists except for Llhwyd in 1699 [Edward Lhuyd ? (1660-1709), Keeper of Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, 1690-1709]. Brief account of geography of Connemara.

Lists numerous authorities and previous descriptions of the 'Eriocaulon decangulare' he discovered, including: Linnaeus "Sp. Pl." 129 "Mantissa alt." 167 327, "Philosphical Transactions of the Royal Society" v.59.241, [John] Lightfoot "Scot" 569, being the 'Nasmythia articulata' of [William] Hudson "Ang" ed. alt. 414-415, the 'Eriocaulon septangulare' of [William] Withering ed. 3.184, the 'Eriocaulon decangulare' in "Flora Carolin[ian]" 83, Lamarck "Encyclop" tom.3.276. Jancinelle d'ecangulare, "English Botany" vol.II. 733, the 'Eriocaulon septangulare' of [Carl Ludwig] Willdenow "Sp. pl." v.1.486. It inhabits the edges of bodies of water across Connemara and Galway. Analyses its character as described in "English Botany", and by Lightfoot and Hudson. Believes Hudson should have used the trivial name 'reticulata' and not 'articulata', and that the generic name was changed to 'Nasmythia' to honour [John] Nasmyth [(1557-1613)], botanist and surgeon to James I. His own observations on its character. A specimen of his 'Eriocaulon' is enclosed [extant].

Intends in his "Flora Hibernica" to only publish plant locations personally verified by himself in or with a living specimen.

Specimen, 'Eriocaulon'.

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.

Apologises for letter they sent Smith being given to Mr Smith Nurseryman in Covent Garden by mistake. Corrects mistake with 'Jungermannia connivens' in his ["Fasciculus plantarum cryptogamicarum Britanniae" (1785-1801)].

Received Smith's letter yesterday; responds to point about his housekeeper and gratuities paid to his staff by guests by reiterating that he "cannot help it" and that the majority of those touring this area treat it as a "conquered country" and "their dirty conduct is scarce credible". His orders have been for the housekeeper to take 2/6 from single persons, and 5/ from groups, and though she is an excellent servant she is "certainly fond of gaining money" and feels hurt that at those who "pompously come in curricle" offer only a shilling. Quotes part of a poem in French. Everything he hears against the peace confirms him more in it.

Informs Smith that Symmons has bought a place near Llanelly and hears "he has married his whore". Mrs Johnes thanks Smith for seeds of 'Veratium'.

Encloses a letter apparently received from [John Leonard] Knapp [not extant]. Asks if the handwriting is Knapp's and whether he should take any notice of it. Has found an 'Agaricus' (Withering vol 4 p.206) and named it 'Agaricus dillenii'. Enquires as to the whereabouts of [William] Bingley.

Contents of Linnean Society charter satisfactory, with the only remaining difficulty being the number of names in it; the Attorney and Soliciter General suggested the first Council, which was rejected by himself, [Thomas] Marsham, and Sir Joseph Banks on account of cost, so they are now examining precedents to include as few names as possible, or to otherwise limit Council names to 15.

Encloses letter, to be returned, which has recently caused much discord at the Society; account of the business, apparently related to nomination of [Johann Karl Adam] Murhard [(1781-1863)] as a FMLS.

[Richard] Pulteney has left his museum to the Society provided they keep it as a separate collection, or that it be sold at auction, the price being made up to £200 if necessary, and given to the Society for purchase of an annual medal of 5 guineas for best botanical paper. Banks has behaved "handsomely" to 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.

Thanks Smith for introducing him to [Hugh] Davies, although he seemed "a little irritated at what originated from a mistake". Believes 'Agrostis minima' is a new genus after receiving specimens from Davies to draw for "Gramina Britannica", recommends naming it after [Benjamin] Stillingfleet [(1702-1771)]. Drawing in pen and wash of a new 'Poa' found on Devon coast, proposes name 'Poa tuberosa'. Sends a 'Festuca' from Pembrokeshire [extant] that also appears in [William] Sherard's [(1659-1728)] herbarium. Asks the difference between 'Phleum crinitum' and 'Agrostis littoralis', small drawing in pen and wash of the former. Has almost finished plates of British grasses and plans to visit Scotland next summer. Believes 'Avena strigosa' is indiginous. Found '[Gnaphalium] margaritaceum' in the same place [John] Ray gathered it and "felt a a momentary inspiration".

Specimen of 'Festuca'.

Thanks for information in Smith's last letter; discusses confusion regarding his and [John] Mackay's [(1772-1802), employed at Dickson nursery, Edinburgh] specimens of 'Thlaspi hirtum' and discovery of the plant; discusses "certain people" taking the credit for plant discoveries when not due, and Dr [John] Walker's [(1731-1803)], professor of natural history at Edinburgh, subsequent guardedness over his herbarium; his dissatisfaction with Mackay and [Robert] Brown over claiming credit.

Numbered observations on enclosed plants: 1. a 'Potomogeton'; 2. a 'Juncus'; 3. an 'Arenaria'; 4. 'Epilobium cordifolium', believes it distinct from the normal 'E. cordifolium'; 5. a 'Carex'; 6. a 'Calatouche'; 7. a 'Cochelaria'; 8. 'Saxifraga nivalis'; 9. a 'Peziza' found on leaves of 'Carex pulla'; 10. a 'Lycoperdon'; 11. 'Bryum ricursotum'; 12. a new 'Bryum'; 13. nondescript 'Hypnum', proposes name 'H. alpinum'; 14. nondescript 'Hypnum'; 15. 'Bryum nudum'; 16. 'Splachnum purpureum'; 17. 'Splachnum ovatum'; 18. 'Hypnum asplenioides'; 'Stellaria scopigera'; 19. a 'Phascum' which he calls 'P. maritium' [Smith annotation: "'Gymnost[omum]'"] ; 20. a 'Polytrichum'; 21. a 'Lichen' gathered with no.11 [Smith annotation: "'crenulata'"]; 22. nondescript 'Helvela'; 23. a 'Hypnum' resembling 'H. fontinalis'; 24. a 'Bryum' [Smith annotation: "'rufescens"]; 25. a 'Peziza' found growing on 'Urtica dioica'; 26. a 'Boletus'; 27. a 'Sergula'.

Included as many cryptogams as possible, knowing Smith is working on that part of "Flora Britannica".

Sends specimen pages of the manuscript for his new 4 volume work on Natural History, for Smith's opinion; the "tribunal of the public is a somewhat awful one to young writers". The arrangements principally adopted from Gmelin's ["Systema naturae"], [George] Shaw's "General Zoology", and [John] Latham's "Synopsis [of birds]"

Has sent letterpress of his third fasciculus [probably "Nereis Britannica"] to [Dawson] Turner for Smith's opinion. Hopes Smith received specimen of 'Lichen vulpinus'; observations. Encloses specimens of 'Byssus fulva', observations; drawings of 'B velutina v aurea', observations. Sent specimen of 'Auricularia papyrina' to Turner; observations.

[Spec 25 written in pencil at head of verso of first folio]

Thanks Smith for the "excellent Alderman" he sent [a Norfolk turkey]. Present [Walter] Wade's specimen of 'Eriocaulon septangulare' and extract from his letter to the Linnean Society. [John] Fairbairn unable to to acquire flowering specimen of the 'Cissus' until May.

Pleased to state that the recent discord at the Linnean Society between [John] Parkinson and [Jonas] Dryander over the election of [Johann Karl Adam] Murhard [(1781-1863)] as a FMLS has been satisfactorily settled; has always been of opinion that it was a personal quarrel originating in words spoken after the Chair had been left. The Society has decided to accept [Richard] Pulteney's museum on condition of its being kept a separate collection.