Has been busy with Sessions week, a visit from his brother-in-law, James Reeve, and wife, and a feverish cold. On his way to Liverpool stayed at Dunston Hall, Derbyshire, Reeve's new home. Gave twelve lectures in Liverpool supported with abundant specimens from the "fine" botanic garden, they were enthusiastically received with about three hundred in attendance, mainly women, including Lady Crewe. Pleased to see [William] Roscoe so well respected. Some Cambridge men in the audience were "abundantly flattering" and indignant "at the behaviour of the Johnians" to him [College of St John had been obstructive in Smith's campaign for Cambridge botany professorship].

Believes Dean [of Norwich, Joseph Turner (1747-1828)] correct to say that the Cambridge establishment only objects to Smith on grounds that they do not want to see the £200 a year for the botany professorship go to one who is not a member of the university. Bishop of Winchester [Brownlow North] recently blind but enthusiasm for botany still active and he was pleased with Smith's pamphlet ["Considerations respecting Cambridge..."]. Collected rare ferns from high rocks of Cromford Moor, near Matlock, [Derbyshire], will raise them from seed by following instructions of the Liverpool gardener who has raised 'Acrostichum calomelanos' from a fifty year old specimen of Forster's. Has deferred a visit to Holkham, [Norfolk, home of Thomas William Coke] but glad Cullum enjoyed his time there.

Happy about Smith's intention to publish a Mantissa, believes it should take precedence over translating "Flora Britannica" into English and would be the work on which "any lasting reputation must depend". Pleased to send Smith a copy of his "Hindu Genealogies". Preparing memoirs for different maps drawn by natives of Ava, Burma, to be published in the Edinburgh Philosophical Journal. His manuscript of the Gangetic fishes with the publisher. Took the name Hamilton in order to succeed to the estate of Bardowie. Wishes to procure everything that is likely to be naturalised in a narrow wooded glen and which does not already grow in Scotland.

Sends two copies of his book ["Primitiae florae Essequeboensis" (1818)], which he has dedicated to the Linnean Society, "renowned in England as well in the whole Continent". Intends to dedicate himself to botany; would appreciate an "alliance" with the Linnean Society. He is working on a "Flora Gottingenssis", which will include a new system of lichens and fungi and a "geognostix" description of the country. He is also writing a monograph on 'Alnus' and 'Betula'; Sir Joseph Banks has provided specimens. Asks Smith to reply via the Duke of Cambridge [Prince Adolphus (1774-1850)].

In acknowledgment of the pleasure he has derived from Smith's "Introduction to botany" sends his essay on the history and cultivation of the olive tree. His paper due to be published in America, asks Smith to advise on any necessary corrections.

Box of 66 roots [listed at end of letter] and chest of 10 live plants from Nepal and north-west frontiers of Bengal [listed at end of letter] dispatched via Captain James Jackson, commanding the Charles Mills. A similar box of roots sent to Revd H H Norris, Hackney, London, by Bishop of Calcutta [Thomas Middleton (1769-1822)]. The Nepalese plants were collected by [Edward] Gardner [(b 1784), resident at Court of Rajah of Nepal at Katmandu]. Observations on each of the live plants, some in Latin.

Growing plants sent: 'Primula prolifera' Wallich; 'Cypripidium venustum' Wall.; 'Cypripidium insigne' Wall.; 'Lilium napalense' Wall.; 'Chrysobaphys roxburghii' Wall. ('Folium petolatum' Rumph. Amb. VI.93 t.41.f.3); 'Saxifraga ligulata' Wall.; 'Epidendrum procax' (Exot.Bot.II.p.73 t.97. Broughtonia?); 'Convallaria oppositifolia' Wall.; 'Acrostichum flagelliferum' Wall. ('Panna-Mara-Masauasa' Rheed. Mal.XII. 39.t.19); 'Paris polyphylla' Buch. (Sir J E Smith in Rees' "New Cyclopedia" in loco).

Thanks for Smith's reply; recalls being given specimen of 'Oenothera purpurea' soon after its first introduction, and not having the new edition of "Hortus Kewensis" was unable to make out 'Chrysanthemum carinatum' but now uncertain whether it and 'Anthemis mixta' are not the same.

Sir Joseph Banks ill with gout but being treated with Sir [Everard] Home's [(1756-1832)] improved medicine, which anyone may now safely take [presumably Colchicum autumnale]. Lady Banks invited Goodenough to look over [Sarah Sophia] Banks' [(1744-1818)] antiquarian collections for disposal. Goodenough believes the King [George III (1738-1820)] is unaware of the Queen's death [Charlotte (1744-1818)].

[John] Barrow [(1764-1848), promoter of exploration] indignant that the captains of the ships of the polar expedition [to find the North West Passage] turned back just as they were about to make the discoveries for which they were sent out. [Edward] Rudge's candidate at Evesham, Worcestershire, came off "with flying colours", comments on hostility now existing between Rudge and Lord Northwick [John Rushout, 2nd Baron Northwick (1770-1859)]. Goodenough thinks he has a specimen of 'Dianthus arenarius' at Rose Castle. [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert completely absorbed by botany and does not mention anything of the failure of his brother-in-law, Mr Benett, in the election.

Observations on 'Lignum cyprinum', following an article in "Linnean Transactions"; has compared it with specimen of the same in [Richard] Pococke's herbarium, in the possession of Baker, and compares it to the 'Liquidamberi arbor' of [Leonard] Plukenet's "Phytographia", identified by [Paul Dietrich] Giseke as the 'Liquidambar styraciflua' of Linnaeus, and 'Acer campestre' from [Caspar] Bauhin's "Prodromus". Offers Smith any information from Pocoke's herbarium if required.

Outline sketch of leaf on verso of second folio.

Negotiations for fixing [William] Roscoe's pictures at the Liverpool Institution have failed and Roscoe is now pressing to auction the collection in London; suggests Smith approaching [Thomas William] Coke about purchasing it to prevent its dispersal. Collection valued at 1,500 guineas, but Roscoe offered it to the Institution for 1,200; lists some of the contents, contains 42-43 pictures.

Encloses "small volume" [unnamed but probably Augustus Hillhouse's "Description of the European Olive tree"], handed to him by Hillhouse in Paris; apologises for delay in sending it.