Sends note of all the money paid for [Edmund] Davall's herbarium sale [extant]. Encloses what he presumes is a catalogue of Davall's library, expected to arrive at Calais shortly. Thanks for herrings.
Bill of expenses incurred in acquisition of Davall's herbarium.
Received Smith's and [John] Pitchford's parcels of plants. Intends to send a paper on mosses, lichens and ferns for next "Linnean Transactions". Asks after "Flora Britannica" and [James] Sowerby's "English Fungi". Sends some grasses for Smith's judgement and requests specimens of others, Smith has marked those he sent from a longer list: 'Scirpus multicaulis', 'Poa procumbens', 'Dactylis striola', 'Festuca vivipara', 'Festuca uniglumis', 'Arundo calamagrostis', 'Triticum loliaceum', 'Juncus maritimus', 'Juncus spicatus', 'Carex loliacea', 'Carex filiformis', and 'Carex tomenstosa'. Note from Smith that he sent: 'Poa subcaerulea', 'Carex pauciflora', 'Carex chordorrhiza', 'Avena distichophylla', 'Phalaris ariculata', and 'Scirpus caespitosus'. Requests Smith to send back the drawings of fungus he sent [in 1795].
Hopes Smith is recovered from illness which left him unable to read. Appointed Dean of Rochester and comfortably lodged, however, the town itself is "naval, military, & suited to the various business of a dockyard" and does not perceive much literature in the minor canons. Fears intellectual isolation but hopes to make an aquaintance with Mr Wrighte, foreign secretary of the Antiquary Society. Informed that the country about Rochester is well situated for botany but lacks the encouragement of a companion and discouraged by the "loose fellows from the navy and dockyard with their doxies". Thinks Smith's 'Carex [divisa]' is a good figure but wishes he consulted him first as he would have informed him of the variations caused by soil types, following observations on Isle of Sheppey. Thinks [William] Hudson in his first edition ["Flora Anglica"] took Smith's 'L. chrysophthalmus' for Linnaeus' 'juniperimus'. Asks Smith's opinion of [Thomas] Marsham's book ["Entomologia Britannica"]; thinks it "gives great consequence to English entomology". Greeting for the Bishop of Norwich [Charles Manners-Sutton (1755-1828)].
Sending specimens of mosses. Frustrated by Dawson Turner's tendency to not acknowledge him for plants he sent; examples. "Enchanted" by Smith's drawings of 'Asarum europaeum' and 'Geranium nodosum'. Sending specimen of 'Phleum paniculatum'. Previously sent all the plants he is sending to [James] Sowerby, including: 'Hypnum denticulatum', 'Sphagnum arboreum', 'Neckera heteromalla' Hedwig, 'Bryum flavescens', 'Bryum sericeum', 'Inrium annotinum' in both states being 'Trentepohlia erecta' Hoffmann and Teesdale, 'Bryum dicksoni', 'Barbula fallax', 'Scirpus acicularis', and 'Hypnum polycarpum' Hoffmann; habitats provided for all.
["Spec. 2" annotated in pencil at top of verso of folio]
He has been busy acting as an executor and repairing a house in Clapton, [Essex], they have just moved into. Forwards parcel from [Adam] Afzelius. Reminds Smith of his promise of sending willow specimens.
Thanks Smith for determining the plants he sent in his last letter, and sends further plants for Smith's opinion. The 'Lichen vinellus' he sent with his last letter is part of a collection of Spanish cryptogams owned by three pupils of [Antonio José] Cavanilles, Clemente being one of them, and described in "Anales de Ciencias Naturales" [Spanish natural history journal, 1799-1804]. Will revisit England on his return from Africa so as to consult Smith before publishing his findings. "English Botany" has cleared some doubts he had with lichens. Offers to collect any plants Smith may desire from Africa.
Sending Smith a book on marine plants recently published in France [title not given], to be returned. Reminds Smith of the 'Byssus' specimens he sent last year; observations on the genus, thinks them nearly allied to 'Conferva'. He brought some "curious" foreign 'Fucus' from Paris, which he sent to [Dawson] Turner, difficulties of another in delineating them.
Cut off by the war; working on a new book on fungi; has never received diploma from the Linnean Society and thinks he was not elected.
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Glad Smith has recovered his eye-sight. [James] Sowerby informs him that Smith wishes to discuss 'Agrostis minima'. Explains that having previously agreed that 'Agrostis minima' was monaecious after observation now believes it is a new genus and has placed it next to 'Triticum' under generical name of 'Solea', gives its character and names plant 'Solea monensis'. In Scotland was shown a new species of "Foxtail" by George Don, has described it under 'Alopecurus ovatus' and Don has sent a specimen to Sowerby. Believes it is opposite to the "corollis muticis" Linnaeus applies to 'Alopecurus geniculatus'. His "Gramina Britannica" is nearly finished after having delineated every species himself in almost all instances in its native habitat, "an undertaking of considerable fatigue, and personal danger". Needs only six plants to complete the task, inlcuding 'Phleum crinitum' and 'Agrostis littoralis'. Encloses specimen of 'Polypodium' [extant] gathered from Craig Hallech, Breadalbane mountains in Scotland. In postscript adds he has a specimen of 'Quercus robur' from the only oak in Birnam wood for Mrs Smith, "a classic name in a British ear"; found 'Festuca calamaria' in Derbyshire; saw 'Lysimachia thyrsiflora' in abundance; and found a new habitat for 'Cripipedium' "but must not divulge it, least avarice destroy the plant".
Specimen of 'Polypodium'.
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Arrived in London 3 weeks ago after an absence of 4 months in Scotland, pleased to hear Smith has recovered from his long indisposition. Linnean Society Council meering on Saturday to decide the motto for their Coat of Arms, asks Smith's opinion. Asks if Smith knows of any forthcoming papers for the Society.
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