Sending this letter and enclosed specimens via [James] Sowerby, contains 'Grimmia nigritia', 'G. inclanata', 'G. schisti', 'Bryum gulaium' and 'Bartramia alpina'. Also encloses mosses, a 'Lichen', and a grass found in the white mine near Forfar [Smith annotation: "'Aira caespitosa'"] in 1807. Intends to undertake botanical excursion to the Cairngorns and Clova Mountains soon, but is unsure whether to collect for Sowerby, having heard nothing from him about previous specimens. Requests seeds of 'Felia muscosa' and 'Limosella aquatica'. Requests Smith's opinion on these and previous specimens.

No summary available.

No summary available.

No summary available.

Sending letter and "clever" drawings from Dr [Charles] Campbell, who is travelling to Sumatra; understands that knowledge of Sumatran botany would be extremely interesting to European botanists. Campbell was unable to provide description of 'Marsdenia'. If the East India Company establishes a Botanic Garden on St Helena hopes seeds from Sumatra will be naturalised here.

No summary available.

No summary available.

No longer needs Smith to correct the last sheets of his work [on pines]. Received [Alexander von] Humboldt's "Travels in South America", several "Annals of the Museum" with interesting papers by Corrêa [de Serra] on carpology, and a number of Humboldt's "Plantes Equin[octiales]" with figure on the Brazil nut, 'Bertholletia excelsa'. In his "Travels" gives an account of the 'Cusparia febrifuga' which produces the "Angustura bark of the shops", also figured in ["Plantae Aequinoctiales"]. In postcript "I see your friend [Richard Salisbury] has not forgot you in his last number of Para[disus Londinensis]".

[Transcription of letter sent by William Hunter to Anstruther]: sending duplicates of his paper on 'Nauclea', and letter to Smith which accompanied the paper [see RelatedMaterial below].

Sends copy of letter and paper by [William] Hunter of Calcutta, Secretary of the Asiatic Society. Will provide copies of drawings and specimens if required. Also has small specimen of tree which Sir Joseph Banks was anxious for. Received letter from [Francis] Buchanan, who has safely reached the Cape.

No summary available.

Returns enclosed corrections; does not think the anatomical descriptions of animals ought to be "mutilated" in "Linnean Transactions"; "readers of zoology know what to expect". Objects to [Richard] Salisbury's paper "for bringing in forced illustrations that are needlessly indelicate, especially as all his writings shew that he does it with a malicious design to discredit the Sexual System of Linnaeus, as he always affects to call it". Asks Macleay to provide names for the species in the paper, as the Linnean Society should be committed to not omitting these, which "distinguish the works of true scientific naturalists". Gratified by Macleay's opinion of "Exotic botany".

Sometimes gains more from attempting to solve difficulties than the solution to the difficulty itself. Agrees with Smith regarding his "Syllabus" and that in Smith's plain illustration and management it would become a very popular "Philosphia Botanica". Believes the best mode of strenghtening the Linnaean system is to suggest criticisms and hints on improving it. Laments that Artistotle did not begin Linnaeus' work but believes Smith has "laid a foundation of solid & progressive improvement". Advises Smith with his new work to retain all the classes as they now stand, especially ['Monoecia'], 'Dioecia', and 'Polygamia' as they are necessary to a system based upon the structure and situation of fructification. Smith's term "diclinia" correct and compares with substantive terms such as 'Monogynia' and 'Polygamia' and discusses Linnaeus' use of Latin genders. Dissatisfied with the look of [Dawson] Turner's "Fucus". Informed that Turner using remarks of his, [Ameila Warren Griffiths' (1768-1858)] and [Elizabeth Hill's (c 1760-1850)] in stating [John] Stackhouse's 'Fucus abrotanifolius' and 'Fucus disours' are the same plant, hopes they are properly credited, Stackhouse was too jealous to do so.

Discusses sending and receipt of letters.

No summary available.

Unable to give Mr Patterson any information regarding the state of George III's flock of merino sheep. Had recommended to the King [George III (1738-1820)] for a ram to be sold for 25 guineas, a "fine wooled sheep". The King's flock of the negretti strain of Spain, "finer than the original flock". One ram castrated this year because of a few "king hairs" in his wool but has not had one other sheep that did not pass the judgement of the wool-stapler, who annually examines each sheep.

Honoured by Smith's dedication to his late wife [Jane Barrington] and himself in "Introduction to Botany".

Sends list of New Holland [Australian] plants he received from Labillardière [not extant], requests any specimens Smith can add. Sends a sample of velvet woven in colours, capable of replicating portraits and other subjects, from a technique devised by Gregoire in Paris, it is superior to Mr Town of New Bond Street's similar product. Overwhelmed by reading Smith's "Introduction to Botany", corrects Smith's pronounciation of "Holmskiöldiaf" in same.

Encloses duplicate of letter he sent Smith in March [1807] [extant], and packet of plants; wishes to know Smith's opinion of this and the packet he sent October 1806. Asks if his new genus 'Gwillimia' has been accepted.

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'.