No summary available.

Sends copy of [Lewis David de] Schweinitz and [Johann Baptist von] Albertini's "Fungi Niskienses". Explains the genesis of the work; well received in Europe and by Persoon.

He was not mistaken in his ideas respecting the horn of the rhinoceros, having observed the living specimen at Exeter Change, which is larger than Mr B's specimen but has a much shorter horn; concludes that the horn on Mr B's is from another species. Sending specimen of 'Acontium napellus' found near Cheltenham, [Gloucestershire], has also found it near Carlisle, [Cumberland]. considers it a British species.

Will explain his reasons for opposing Mr Bullock when he next sees Smith.

["Spec 15" written in pencil top of verso of first folio]

About to set out for London, hopes to be there for Royal Society anniversary meeting. The King [George III (1738-1820)] is ill and everyone in suspense over the consequences of the illness, hopes they will wait in patience for his recovery, which seems promising. Was heavily involved in the first edition of "Hortus Kewensis" and thinks it highly useful. [Jonas] Dryander's death a "dreadful loss", praises his skills as a librarian, work on catalogue of [Sir Joseph] Banks' library, and his character.

[William] Bullock [(c 1773-1849), naturalist and antiquary] elected to Linnean Society by majority of 21 votes, in spite of [William Elford] Leach's efforts to blackball him, for which he was reprimanded by the Chair; Smith mistaken in involvement of [Edward] Donovan [(1768-1837), zoologist], who tried to persuade Leach against such a course.

Laments death of [Jonas] Dryander; [Robert] Brown has succeeded him at Soho Square [as Sir Joseph Banks' librarian]; asks for Smith's suggestions for filling the vice-president position. Asks if it is essential for [William Jackson] Hooker's 'Andraea' paper to appear in present volume of "Linnean Transactions".

Laments [William Elford] Leach's conduct [Leach initiated a campaign to blackball William Bullock (c 1773-1849), naturalist and antiquary, at the Linnean Society] but thinks the vote of censure and record of it right. Pleased [Edward] Donovan [(1768-1837), zoologist] is cleared of blame. Leach improper to show the confidential letter he wrote him, but he is "ever happy to admit [his] mistakes in judgement or in science", asks Macleay to apologise to Donovan for him.

Suggests [John] Symmons as new vice-president; his qualities; leaves all decisions to Macleay as his work and health prevent a winter visit to London. Necessary for [William Jackson] Hooker's 'Andraea' paper to be corrected and shortened before publication in "Linnean Transactions"; Hooker "entirely out of reach at that confounded place Halesworth, [Suffolk]". Agrees that an index is a good idea, but unable to help himself; he works from 9 to 3 everyday and 7 to 9 almost every evening.

[Robert] Brown is to succeed [Jonas] Dryander as Sir Joseph Banks' [librarian]. Royal Society librarianship still vacant. [William Elford] Leach censured at Linnean Society for sending a circular letter against election of [William] Bullock [(fl 1790s-1840s)]; expects further unpleasantness. Hopes to see Smith's edition of "Lachesis Lapponica" soon. He is currently Lady Banks' physician.

Has sent Smith's letters to "poor Thompson" and commiserates with his apparent frequent misfortunes [possibly Thomas Perronet Thompson (1783-1869), the first governor of Sierra Leone to be appointed by the Crown in 1808, he was recalled in 1810 for exposing the former poor management of the colony]. Glad that Smith does not want him to exert himself for "the other extraordinarily knowing fool", reports a comment made in House of Commons on matter. Sorry he was not of the party in "the so well described library" [probably Thomas William Coke's library at Holkham, Norfolk], jokes that he would have made a better companion for Lord Spencer [George John, 2nd Earl Spencer] than Smith on account of his indoor and outdoor skills.

Forwards a parcel of specimens from [George] Don, who is "as enthusiastic & indefatigable as ever".

Postscript to Davies' letter of 28 November 1810 [see RelatedMaterial below]. Sending [James] Sowerby duplicate specimen of 'Lichen scaber', which he had formerly given to [William] Hudson.

Five items enclosed, comprising:

1. [4.45] Letter from Davies to Smith. Sends a possible paper for "Linnean Transactions". Relates his good health although his peace of mind has been disturbed by [Edward] Donovan's [(1768-1837) zoologist] malignity. Believes Donovan's vanity and a "wish to be conspicuous" led to him to dispute sections of [Thomas] Pennant's "British Zoology" in order to support his own work, knowing Pennant to be dead and believing Davies and Pennant's illustrator [Moses] Griffith [(1749-c 1809)] to be also dead. Asks Smith to compare a handwritten extract from Donovan's "History of Fishes" [4.48], a sketch of the Beaumaris shark [4.47], printed letter from Moses Griffith [4.49], and the figure of the shark in "British Zoology".

2. [4.47] Traced copy of Davies' original drawing of the Beaumaris Shark, the same which he lent to Edward Donovan, asks Smith to compare it to the reduced copy which appears in "British Zoology" and the "audacious" account Donovan gives in the 'Squalus cornubicus' article in "History of British Fishes", note to also see [Samuel] Goodenough's article on the Porbeagle shark in "Linnean Transactions".

3. [4.48] Handwritten extract from article on 'Squalus cornubicus' from Donovan's "History of British Fishes", in which Donovan claims that Davies' drawing of the shark as it appears in "British Zoology" is altered from the original to such an extent that a very different fish is conveyed, implying that this led to Goodenough erroneously claiming in "Linnean Transactions" that the 'Squalus cornubicus' could not be the same as the Beaumaris shark.

4. [4.49] Printed extract from a letter written by Moses Griffith and published in "the Cambrian" 30 Dec 1809 refuting Donovan's claims that he was dead and defending himself against criticism of his draughtsman skills.

5. [4.50] Printed "Extracts from the North Wales Gazette" 1 March and 8 March 1810. Davies first defended against Donovan's accusations of Davies spreading falsehoods in the June 1809 "Gentleman's Magazine". Donovan replied in the August 1809 and September 1809 "Gentleman's Magazine". Davies was apparently prevented from replying again in the "Gentleman's Magazine" so recoursed to the North Wales Gazette in which he makes a lenghty defense. Davies has annotated sections with page references to Pennant's "Tours in Wales".

No summary available.