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".

Pleased his paper on the "Vitellus of seeds" is to be printed [in "Linnean Transactions"], afraid Council may find it too controversial. His paper on ferns intended only to be read, as he intends a more complete one for the Linnean Society.

Assures Smith that he does not think ill of him if they differ in opinion. Relates a series of experiments with peach, cherry and pear trees for investigating [William] Forsyth's claim for regenerating old trees with his "plaster", at the request of George III. Asks whether in the Norfolk dialect a turkey's nest is called her "rip".

Thanks for Smith's "Introdutcion to Botany"; praises the preface, Mr and Mrs Ratham have complimented it with "terms of the warmest approbation", and has already lent his copy to Mr Price, MP for Radnor, an amatuer botanist. Requests to be informed as soon as the herbarium Smith is preparing for Liverpool Botanic Garden is prepared; their finances are much improved and are nearly out of debt with an income of 900 guineas, aided by creation of 100 additional shares. Certain a second edition of Smith's new book will soon be demanded.

Agrees with Banks that a turkey's nest is known as a "rip". Comments on dispute between [William] Forsyth and [Thomas Andrew] Knight over Knight's insinuating pamphlets against Forsyth's paste for regenerating fruit trees. Smith says he can produce sections of Forsyth's trees "which tell their own story", will further enquire into the matter. Disgusted by the "backbiting" of authors and artists and London, and scornful of the effect of London society on minds. Thinks [Samuel] Goodenough will be a dignified and useful bishop. 'Buxbaumia aphylla' has been found at Roslin, [Midlothian], by Mr Maughan.

Has named 'Malaleuca cajuputi'. Lack of papers at Linnean Society for reading at meetings. Smith's paper on the vitellus of seeds well regarded. Reading Smith's latest publication ["Introduction to Botany"], asks when an English "Lachesis Lapponica" is to be published.

Fears letter sent to Smith on immediately of learning of his "advancement" [appointment as Bishop of Carlisle] is lost. Reassures Smith that he will not change or forget old friends, nevertheless flattered to find the King [George III (1738-1820)] taking the lead in bearing testimony to him.

Sending a turkey. Received request from [William George] Maton for papers for the Linnean Society, happy to comply. Maton has asked whether the reference to Eden in his preface [to his "Introduction to Botany"] alludes to [Richard] Salisbury and "Paradisus Londinensis", to which he answered the passage was first written for his introductory lecture of April 1805, before their dispute, but would write the same now, as he "neither go a step one way or the other to avoid or to meet him".

Numbered notes on [Henry] Muhlenberg's North American plant specimens, covering 703-780.

[Note in Smith's hand] "thus far written in letter Dec. 22 1807. Sent by Liverpool to Dr Muhlenberg".

Encloses two rare fungi he recently found [extant]: 'Xyloma pini' and 'Trichia reticulata', observations on his finding them. Thanks Smith for offer to send ferns; directions for sending. Will be glad to hear when the fourth part of "Flora Britannica" is published.

Two specimens, labelled, "'Trichia reticulata'" and "'Xyloma pini' Messrs de Albertini & de Schweiniz" [attached to JES/COR/26/26].