Discusses 'Dianthus caryophyllus' and proposes two additions to Smith's description of the genus, being 'caryophyllus' and 'hortensia', with three small sketches in pen illustrating his argument. Justifies his course of study.

Received Smith's letter of 20 October [1807] today; has not yet received [Johann Baptist von] Albertini's "Conspectus Fungorum" from Germany; hopes Albertini will send a copy as he assisted in collecting materials for it. Encloses specimens of some of the fungi he sent for the work, and hopes to also send the copper plates.

Lists fungi he has found since his last letter to Smith: 'Boletus fimbriatus', 'B. mucidus', 'B. cinnabarinus', 'Thelephora hirsuta', 'T. calcea', 'T. polygonia', 'Tremella encephala', 'Agaricus amesthystinus', 'A. procenus', 'A. violaceus', 'A. fratensis', 'A. luridus', 'A. coccineus', 'A. conicus', 'A. poittacinus', 'A. seracius', 'A. punus', 'A. copinusdomesticus', 'A. frauncilus', 'A. caudicinus', 'A. semiglobatus', 'A. fascicularis', 'A. subdulcis', 'A. anuginosa', 'A. campestris', 'A. collinitus', 'Capninus extinclonius', 'C. candicans', 'Gymnopus latus', 'G. alboviolaceus', 'G. lactillacris', 'Boletus subtomentosus', 'B. fuscus', 'B. deofunctor', 'B. vitneus', 'B. hepaticus', 'Helvella cinerea' (very rare), 'Lycoperdon pratense', 'L. umbrinum', 'L. bovista', 'Filago rusa', 'Spumaria mucilago', 'Stemonitis ovala', 'S. fascicularis', 'Accidium tussilaginus', 'Amanila spadicea', 'Hydnum ochnaceum', 'Clavaria protensis', 'C. cornea', 'C. elurnia', 'C. mirani', 'Peziza sancoides', 'P. anomala', 'Sphaeria hypoxylon', S. digitata', 'S. fusca', 'S. poronia', 'S. deusta', 'S. doliolum', and 'S. disciformis'. Found all of the above with [Henry] Steinhauer at Kirklees Hall, the seat of Sir George Armitage.

Has sent Smith specimen of 'Anemone vernalis'. Will send a fern with the copper plates, variety of 'Cyathea fragilis' from Castleton, which he has been unable to find in "Flora Britannica", which he hopes will be completed.

Discusses his essay, "De Pisolitho", which he sent for Smith's opinion, and quoting of Scopoli's 'Lycoperdon arrizon' as a synonym for 'Pisolithus arenarius'; proposes naming it 'P. scopolii' [coloured drawing extant]. Apologises for delay in sending promised plates of [Johann Baptist von] Albertini's "Conspectus Fungorum", which his friend Mr Steinhaur will now do. Lists recent fungi he has found: 'Xyloma acerinum', 'Agaricus lactifluus var. deliciosus', 'Clavaria ericelorum', 'C. gyrans', 'Sphaeria militaris', 'Hydnum repandum', 'Peziza papillata', and 'Tremella auriformis'; always uses [Christiaan Hendrik] Persoon's names, despite some of them not seemingly appropriate for the plants they are meant to denominate.

He has minutely examined the fern mentioned in his last letter and concludes it is either new or a new variety, possibly of 'Aspidium spinulosum'. Found a variety of 'Blechnum boreale'; observations. Bolton's discovery of 'Hyminophyllum pyxidifenum'.

Coloured drawing labelled "'Pisolithus arenarius'.

Thanks Smith for mention of him in his article on 'Salix russelliana'. Sends copy of his "Parochial Divinity" for Smith. Explains circumstances behind his sending specimen of 'Vicia bithynica' last summer: he had hoped to be proved its first discoverer, but found [James] Sowerby had received it a month before from a Sussex friend; gives its location anyway and urges Smith to mention receipt of it also; observations.

Sending specimens of the 'Vicia', a 'Gnaphalium', and an unknown plant like a 'Serapias' ['Epipactis purpurea']. Previously sent Sowerby fertile specimen of 'Bryum annotinum'.

Received Smith's letter of 12 April [1807]. Currently unable to add to his collection of botanical drawings and has instead been collecting insects. Sorry Smith's "Exotic botany" has not been successful. Laments the loss of his valuable books, papers, and drawings, including of insects, in sinking of the ship "Lady Burgess". Left his collection of bird drawings with a brother at Wisbech, [Cambridgeshire], but laments not showing them to [John] Latham and fears other collectors will discover and publish them in during his absence from England. No longer certain how long he will stay in India following the death of his sister.

Glad that [Francis] Buchanan left his dried plants and drawings with Smith rather than Mr L [Lambert?]; he departed for his statistical mission a month ago; his advantages in being supported by government. Concerned that Sir Joseph Banks will suffer more with gout every returning winter. Long suspected [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert's indisposition. Directions for sending "Linnean Transactions" and other works during his absence, including Smith's "Physiological & Systematical Botany". Asks that he be sent one of [James] Sowerby's "portable cabinets of minerals". [William] Roxburgh's work.

Has found that the plant which produces Columba root is a species of 'Menispermum', as he always predicted. Asks to be remembered to [Thomas] Marsham, [Edward] Rudge, Sir Thomas Cullum, and [Alexander] Macleay. Sent a packet of seeds for [Thomas] Johnes and Marquis of Blandford [George Spencer-Churchill]

Unoffended by rejection of his paper by Linnean Society and amused by their "squeamishness" over the passage playing on Mr [Lilly?] Wigg's [(1749-1829), clerk in Dawson Turner's bank] name, even though it was omitted and both Smith and Dawson Turner found it unexceptionable, though uncertain whether the attack he made on Mr S's paper [possibly Richard Salisbury] caused this rejection. Will send illustrative specimens to Smith and print the paper privately.

On 1 September broke his inner gastrocnemius muscle and it has recovered from bandaging alone, as advised by Mr Home.

Encloses list [extant] of specimens prepared for his rejected paper, with note against each whether sent or not: 'Ulva fusca', 'U. purpurascens', 'U. rubens', 'U. rubra', 'Fucus concatenatus', 'F. faniculaceus', 'F. abrotanifolius', 'F. fibrosus', 'F. tamariscifolia', 'F. linearis', 'F. crispatus', 'F. bifidus', 'F. mutlifidus', 'F. obtusus', 'F. [filiminus]', 'F. cartilagineus', 'F. confervoides', 'F. capillaris', 'Conferva furriculacea', 'C. nigra', 'C. setacea', 'C. elongata', 'C. rubra', 'C. pellucida', 'C. nigresscens', C. fuccides', and 'C. pararitica'.

Weather lore: received "infallible prelude" of an approaching storm yesterday by rooks collecting in a small compass on the ground before going to roost: "their appearance between 4 & 5 yesterday afternoon was almost terrible, at about 200 yards from the house", similarly their collecting on the highest trees before going to roost is a certain predicition of a fair day.

Sends a 'Potamogeton' for Smith's opinion, wary of [James] Sowerby's view that it is 'Potamogeton [heterophyllus]'. Describes in detail his "haemorrhage of the urinary tract" [hematuria]. Enquires after [Dawson] Turner and [Lewis Weston] Dillwyn [(1778-1855), naturalist]. Questions Smith how the three specimens of 'Daviesia' sent to him correspond with entries in "Annals of Botany" and asks for specimens of the two other species of 'Daviesia', [Smith has annotated each question "yes"]. Sends specimens of 'Juncus', asks which is '[Juncus] articulatus'.

Observations on the two kinds of 'Dianthus' termed by gardeners "pink & carnation"; argues that they are not both 'Caryophyllus', as Smith determines them in "Flora Britannica", and proposes 'Caryophyllus' and 'Hortensis'; provides characters with three small ink sketches of plant details.

Criticises tendency for botanists to determine a plant at first glance without investigating its characteristics or examining whether existing descriptions are correct, so that incorrect specific distinctions are copied from edition to edition, even though they are useless for identification purposes.

[Note at head verso of first folio: "Read Dec. 15 1807"]

Disappointed not to see Smith in Lancashire this year. Resolved to never stand as MP for Liverpool again. Will send Smith his notes on 'Canna'; pleased he is investigating 'Scitamineae', expects his own system to be overturned. Enjoyed and agrees with Smith's "grammatical paper about shall & will" [in October issue of the "Athenaeum"]. Pleased that publication of "Exotic botany" is proceeding; after seeing [James] Sowerby in London expected the quatro edition to be continued and the octavo given up.

John Shepherd [(c 1764-1836, curator Liverpool Botanic Garden] has made valuable acquisitions from stoves and conservatories of London, including: Norfolk Island pine, multiple species of 'Banksia', several 'Nymphaea', hopefully 'Cyamus nelumbo', and many new Monandrian plants. Compliments both Mrs Smiths, Mr and Mrs James Taylor, and Dr [Henry] and Mrs Reeve.

This letter is in two parts with Lambert's letter on both folios and Jackson's on recto of the second folio.

Lambert writes: Lord Valentia [George Annesley] giving the manuscript [of his "Voyages and travels"] to the printer. Smith's paper on 'Vitellus' read at Linnean Society. Gives an update on "our worthy friend Alias [Richard Salisbury]" who has sold Mill Hill and moved to town. A dispute between Salisbury and Evans entailing them both going to Bow Street for redress. Examined [Robert] Brown's New Holland [Australia] plants. Has read Smith's account of [Peter] Collinson [(1694-1768), presumably biographical memoir that appears in Smith's "Selection of the Correspondence of Linnaeus" (1821)]. 'Heritiera allughas' Retz. in flower, believes it the first to raised in England. In postcript says Salisbury has left his card but states he shall not return his own.

Jackson writes: Lambert has determined Smith's 'Blygonum' to be 'Setorum' of Jacquin, details of determination.

Account of his life at Caius College as an undergraduate, including details of his studies of Greek and the classics. A poem of his own composition, "Anglica fuse redditum" is appended on the final page.

Praises figures of willows and 'Conferva' in last received number of "English Botany" and answers questions on latter: ignorant of [William] Hudson's 'Conferva multifida; convinced 'C. equisetifolia' of "English Botany" is Hudson's 'C. imbricata' as Hudson sent him decayed specimen of it from Margate, [Kent]; figure of 'C. barbata' refers to Ellis' 'C. florisera' "Phil. Trans", if this means 'C. flosculosa' it belongs to 'C. setacea' as pointed out in his paper that Hudson misapplied it to 'C. rubra'.

Mr Rarhleigh sent him undoubted specimen of 'Rivularia [vermiculata]' and there is a similar at [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert's written upon by Hudson "'Ulva s.n.'".

Note at top of recto of first folio: "sea goldbeater's skin enclosed - alias young membranaceous Fucus".

Working with London College of Physicians revising their Pharmacopoeia, queries botanical names with Smith: discusses different specimens of 'Melaleuca leucadendra' sent by Christopher Smith [(d 1807) East India Company botanist], from one of which cajeput oil is obtained; whether officinal juice is obtained from 'Aconitum napellus' or 'Aconitum neomontanum' of [Carl Ludwig] Willdenow; whether Smith has given a trivial name to the 'Alpinia' which yields cardamom; unsure whether the fruit of 'Laurus nobilis' is a bacca or drupa; and terminology for describing hops. Smith has annotated brief responses to each query.

Thanks for Smith's "Introduction to Botany", Smith writes with "great spirit". Believes "all natural history should be turned ot the mental imporvement of mankind", asks if Smith has seen [Samuel] Vince's "4 Sermons against atheism" ["A Confutation of Atheism" (1807)] in which he makes "astronomy speak in this high strain".

Thanks Pleasance Smith for the "angels of pleasure" she sent, being what [Richard] Pulteney used to call letters "from those he esteemed". His experiences with poetry. Praises [James Edward] Smith's "Preface" [to "An Introduction to Physiological and Systematical Botany"].

Has not received the plants Smith mentioned in his last letter. Has sent the requested 'Lichen' specimens, did not want to send them before completing his "Lichenographia universalis", now printing; collection now contains almost 900 specimens, will send more as occasion arises. [Heinrich] Schrader thinks the new lichen work "definitive". Also enclosing letter and parcel for Dawson Turner.

Friendly criticism of Smith's book; wonders whether he relied too much on [Erasmus] Darwin who was "too poetical to be correct" and [William] Forsyth who was "too cunning" to be quite so pure as Smith supposes him. Pleased to hear that the second fasiculum of "Flora Graeca" is to be printed soon. Genus 'Silene' has always been obscure and remarks on this subject will be welcome.

Happy Smith has been pleased with La Broequine and thanks him for his notes, which he will make use of in the next edition. Has been extremely inconvenienced by [John Henry Petty, 2nd Marquess of] Lansdowne [(1765-1809)] abandoning his purchase of the Priory.

Mariamne [Johnes, his daughter] has become a "prodigious fine miniature paintress". His work on [Enguerrand de] Monstrelet [(1400-1453), French chronicler] translation: first volume printed and second will be finished by March, keeps three printers constantly employed. Fire at Hafod House: his Venetian library in "grand confusion", having escaped the fire, but lost first volume of "Flora Graeca" and all "Linnean Transactions". Intends to restore library "as handsome as before".

Thanks for Smith's "Introduction to Botany". Reminisces about Dr [John] Hope. His daughter married last summer to Mr Easkell of Thornes House, near Wakefield, his gardens are in the "first style" and arrangement of exotics "magnificent".