Replies to Smith's letter of 20 November: yet to see the letters [copies of acrimonious correspondence sent between Richard Salisbury and Smith] but is glad to hear that Smith has acted with the "most decisive conduct" and believes the estrangement must be "absolute & total". [Robert] Brown and [Ferdinand] Bauer [(1760-1826), botanical artist] do not feel threatened by Smith's "Exotic botany", though they were surprised on being shown the first numbers by [John] Shepherd [(c 1764-1836, curator Liverpool Botanic Garden]. Prevented from sending Smith his dissertation on the "Monandrian plants".

Concerned to hear of Smith's distress, hopes the fever and pain are reduced. Writing to Lord Seaforth may be beneficial to Linnean Society; he has a natural history assistant called Symmonds. Regrets Smith's differences with [Richard] Salisbury; does not think Smith would "discriminate between resentment & revenge"; anxious that as the Society is in its infancy and the Royal Society jealous of its success and "party work" that arises may be fatal to its prospects.

Has progressed with marine plants this season; correspondence with [Dawson] Turner; encloses specimen of 'Fucus lycopodiodes' found yesterday at Lossiemouth.

[Spec 5 written in pencil on verso of folio]

No summary available.

Requests Smith's corrections and additions for third edition of "Language of Botany". Has finished work on "The gardener's and botanist's dictionary".

Hopes Smith soon recovers from his illness. Concerned about the whereabouts of a packet sent to Smith. Indecision caused by [John] Sibthorp's stipulation for a "Flora Graeca" with descriptions and coloured plates as well as a "Florae Graecae Prodromus" without images and the consequent attendance to "proper Latin, & at the same time to perspicacity in dressing up such a thorough English circumstance" made him waver in his corrections. Discusses accentuation of ancient and modern Greek; believes all Greek should be accentuated but concedes it will be "very troublesome". Congratulates Smith on "the check which the great scoundrel of all the earth has at length received" [presumably the Battle of Trafalgar, 21 October 1805, a victory for the Royal Navy against the French and Spanish navies]. Requests Smith to ask D[awson] Turner whether he received a packet containing wild specimens of 'Scirpus holoschoenus'.