[Short note only, written on scrap of paper]

Requests Sowerby to draw 'Alsine media' to figure with 'Cerastium aquaticum'. Wishes Sowerby to acquire wild specimens of 'Lychnis viscaria' from [John] Mackay [(1772-1802), employed at Dickson nursery, Edinburgh] of Edinburgh, for which he is postponing 'Lychnis flos cuculi'.

News for Dryander to relate to the Linnean Society: consulted Sir Joseph Banks on propriety of the Society applying for a charter from the King [George III (1738-1820)], Banks thinks it would be favourably received; Bishop of Winchester [Brownlow North] pleased by his nomination as an Honorary Member; Marquis of Blandford [George Spencer-Churchill] requests that M. de Tremear's nomination certificate be withdrawn as he has returned to France for time being.

Hopes the turkey arrived safely, explains his reason for sending. Glad to hear of [Benjamin] Robertson's [(c 1732-1800)] bequest of £80,000 [to establish a public botanic garden]; excited by possibilities and intends to name a 'Robertsonia' at first opportunity.

Intends to have first volume of "Flora Graeca" put to the press by end of April, and intends to be in London in early May.

Thanks for the very favourable review of "Flora Britannica" in the January issue of the "Monthly Review". Explains that there will be a longer delay in publishing the remaining volumes in order to compare Cryptogamia and fungus in [James] Dickson's "Cryptogamia", [Erik] Acharius' "Prodromus Lichenographiae Suecicae", and [Christiaan Hendrik] Persoon's "general work on fungi"; and have a further two seasons of spring to work on 'Salix'. Responds to remarks made in the review on nomenclature.

Dawson Turner has been with him. Keen to talk with Macleay in person about plans for [Benjamin] Robertson's [(c 1732-1800)] botanic garden. Neither he nor Turner have any knowledge of the three recent FMLS proposals, and asks that they be withdrawn, as he wishes the foreign list is increased as little as possible before the charter is received.

[Christiaan Hendrik] Persoon has requested the drawings for his paper on fungi be returned, as he has published the text in his "Synopsis Fungorum"

Thanks for £10 bank note and drawings. Suffering from headaches in the heat, expects relief at Lowestoft, [Suffolk]. Pleased Sowerby agrees with him about genus 'Phallus', "the old trivial names are unnecessarily indecent". His pupil, [William Fitt Drake], will look for anything curious at Lowestoft. Uncertain about Sowerby's 'Salix', which may be 'S. amygdalina'.

His sister Mrs Weston has had a girl, and his brother Francis' wife a boy. Expecting a visit from [Richard] Relhan. Wishes to know how to send a parcel to Sweden.

Asks after the Linnean Society's charter, understanding that had been at Weymouth to received the royal signature. Received letter from Dr Walter Wade of Dublin informing him of discovery of 'Eriocaulon septangulare' in Ireland, never before seen outside the Isle of Skye; details of Wade's habitat; encloses specimen for the Society.

Thanks Macleay for this care and attention to him. The plant Macleay sent from [John] Fairbairn is a new 'Cissus', not in Willdenow, if he gets the flowers will write a specific character to go at end of "Linnean Transactions".

Congratulates Macleay, [Thomas] Marsham, and Sir Joseph Banks on success of the Linnean Society charter; agrees that 15 Council names would be enough. Regrets Society discord, suggests course of action for allowing [John] Parkinson to produce testimonials in favour of electing [Johann Karl Adam] Murhard [(1781-1863)] a FMLS, and for Macleay to regulate [Jonas] Dryander until he comes to London, he is an "indifferent person, & fear[s] neither". Unable to decide on [Richard] Pulteney's legacy until they see what it consists of. Sending Macleay a turkey.

Asks Price to send volumes 3, 5, and 6 of "Linnean Transactions" and Linnean Society charter and laws for [David] Hosack of New York.

Sending pieces of amber and jet collected at Lowestoft, [Suffolk], comments on "serpentine impression" in larger piece of jet.

His health much better since coming here, though still cannot read or write for more than half an hour at a time. Sowerby made a mistake in ordering the indexes sheet of "English botany" to be printed now as he had enough for September. Intends to spend a week with [Dawson] Turner at Yarmouth, [Norfolk], shortly. Requests copies of "English botany" from no 81 onwards, for an American friend.

Would like to help Sowerby with his intended book on minerals but has "never attended much to that part of Natural History", and concerned it will delay Sowerby in his work with "Flora Graeca", which the executors want finished as quickly as possible; Smith will never consent to any other artist being employed, though [Thomas] Platt [(d 1842), one of John Sibthorp's executors, supervised the publication of "Flora Graeca"] thinks Sowerby is not progressing as fast as he might. Suggests new wording for Sowerby's advertisement for a mineralogist.

Asks Price to enquire about fifth volume of the American Philosophical Society's "Transactions" that should have been received by Linnean Society. Also requests that a delayed packet for him also from American Philosophical Society be located and forwarded.

Encloses letter proposing [Fielding Best] Fynney as FLS to be forwarded to [Alexander] Macleay and asks that Macleay meet with [Jonas] Dryander to discuss Fynney's literary merits.

Arriving in Liverpool by the end of the week. Thanks Roscoe for his patronage and is happy for him and Taylor to advertise the lectures though anxious for the first one to be held by end of June.

A letter from Sir James Edward Smith, Norwich, [Norfolk], to Étienne Pierre Ventenat

Approves of Pleasance's arrangements as to the cook, Betty Laws; a joke about her size confounding Bonaparte's invasion plans. Account of his journey from London to Liverpool, via Northampton, Lichfield, Stafford, and Chester. On arrival in Liverpool received by his old friend Thomas Taylor, where he is staying, with Taylor's nephew, Meadows. Refreshing air of Liverpool. Delighted with [William] Roscoe; opinion of his person and character. Promised 100 subscribers to his lectures, paying 2 guineas each; after journey expects to clear £180. Has spent £70 on books of [Edmund] Davall; his library sold "very cheap"; lists books purchased. Leaves it to Pleasance to decide on being godmother to "little Wilkinson", though he dislikes "such ties". [John] Koster, a friend of Correa's, thinks the war ill-judged, and that Correa was made insane by his persecutors in Lisbon. His lectures.

Account of his Liverpool "adventures". Visited the Octagon Chapel, named after their own in Norwich; dined with [William] Roscoe at Allerton [Roscoe's home, near Liverpool], description of house, grounds, and family; visit to Dr Brandreth; visit to Mr Blundell and his Italian collections; dined with Dr Currie.

His lectures: has given two so far, attended by "all the beauty & fashion of the place, as well as by the learned"; William, [Smith's brother], surprised by his oratory, as he never aims at more than "plainness"; finances. Visiting [John] Koster, who was Consul at Lisbon, and was a great friend to Correa and Broussonet in their distresses; convinced the current war is "nearly certain ruin". His mother and Sarah happy at Blackheath.

[Smith's letter to Sowerby]: William Roscoe "as amiable & pleasant as he is accomplished & sensible". His lectures "brilliantly attended", nearly 120 people. His plans for returning to Norwich, [Norfolk]. Sends drawing of 'Hypericum androsaemum' intended for t1225, the first of vol 18 [of "English botany"]; discussion of subjects of next plates.

[Drake's letter to Sowerby]: Has promise of some good specimens of of Canal or Wigan coal but as yet unable to find anywhere selling snuffboxes or other made from this coal. Mineralogy "little pursued" here, doubts finding any collection of ores.

Relates his and [William Fitt Drake's] journey from Liverpool to Norwich, with quotes from Petrarch and Rousseau, via Disley, [Cheshire], Buxton, [Derbyshire], Ashbourne, [Derbyshire], Matlock, [Derbyshire], Newark, Cambridge, and [Burghley] House, [Cambridgeshire]. Cambridge [botanic] garden "in a very flourishing state" and [James] Donn [(1758-1813), curator Cambridge Botanic Garden] is in correspondence with [John] Shepherd [(c 1764-1836, curator Liverpool Botanic Garden], and acquired roots of 'Aletris uvaria' which are now growing in his garden.

Upset to see the plants and books of his late "beloved friend", [Edmund] Davall, before him, and regrets never visiting him in Switzerland. Invites Roscoe to visit Norwich and meet his wife, [Pleasance Smith]. Expecting copy of Roscoe's "Lorenzo".

Studied mosses and lichens with Dawson Turner at Yarmouth, [Norfolk], earlier in month, Turner also relieved him from the burden of dealing with "those indefatigable writers and questioners the German naturalists". Turner to publish a book on the "Mosses of Ireland" ["Muscologiae Hibernicae spicilegium" (1804)]. Visited his wife's family in Lowestoft and Saxmundham, [both Suffolk]; discusses the country and weather; the summer has "burnt up this whole eastern country" with no rain from April till September.

Frustrations with printing of "Flora Britannica" and some "knotty points" on mosses; the difficulties with this group chiefly caused by the inaccuracies of preceeding writers; the jungermanniae and lichens will be even more variable and uncertain. The lichen from Roscoe's house is 'Lichen orostheus' of [Erik] Acharius and never observed in this country before. About to send parcel to Roscoe, including his "Tour on the Continent", [James] Sowerby's "Fungi", Paul Jovius de Piscibus, and "an imperfect copy" of Rivinus' botanical plates, which will be a useful addition to Roscoe's collection of "Icones Plantarum". Expecting visit by [John] Shepherd [(c 1764-1836, curator Liverpool Botanic Garden] and has promised him a "harvest" of 'Salix'.

Asks if Roscoe's ['Crinum latifolium'] is not 'Crinum erubescens' of Redoute's "Plantes liliacees" fasc 5, as the 'C. latifolium' figured in Rudbeck and copied from ["Hortus Indicus Malabaricus"] is broader in the leaves and petals. Discusses transformation in [William Fitt] Drake's reading material and political beliefs since meeting Roscoe. Details of Roscoe's election to Linnean Society. Discusses health of Roscoe's son and inflammatory disorders.