Thanks for Smith's reply to [James Henry] Monk [(1784-1856), Cambridge regius professor of Greek] and Smith's critical reviewer in the "Quarterly Review" although he is now certain it was written by an Oxford man, which would exculpate [George] D'Oyly [?]. Glad Smith's Cambridge pamphlet is written with "such good temper" but thinks Smith exposes himself to attack by minutely going into the particulars of his religion [campaign for botany professorship].

Thanks for Smith's "truly admirable pamphlet", pleased by the mention of her opal but most pleased by the moderate refutation of Smith's detractors, Professor South and the Quarterly Review. Especially pleased with the third chapter and 97th page of the last chapter.

[Letter incomplete: sections cropped, presumed destroyed]

Introduces Michaud.

Thanks for "little publication" sent by Smith, though a defect in his sight prevents him from reading it. Hopes to see Smith soon.

Had hoped to dine at the Royal Academy on 1 May but detained by a bowel complaint, will endeavour to be at the Linnean Society on 4 May, offers to do any necessary work before the meeting.

Invites Smith to lecture at the Philosophical Institution; he has long desired that Birmingham might share with Liverpool the opportunity of hearing Smith speak, but they can only offer a fee of 100 guineas as the Insitution is in financial difficulties, there is only one private botanic garden from which to obtain plants, and the lighting of the room may present difficulties. Offers to accomodate Smith for the duration.

Smith has annotated on recto of second folio: "yes".

Received Smith's letter of 26 [April 1819]. Recently unable to take a Linnean Society Council meeting for want of a vice-president. In case of Smith's absence at 4 May meeting will propose that the new Council is nominated from the Society's best attendants. Candidates for FMLS are [Augustin] de Candolle, Lamarck, [José Antonio] Pavon, and [Louis Claude] Richard [(1754-1821), botanist], of whom 3 are to be elected, mentioned [Franz Karl] Mertens but [Edward] Forster only one to know of him. Uncertain of the worth of including Pavon, considering the little credit the Linnean Society receives in Europe for its foreign list, and of the nominees he is only anxious about Lamarck.

Read Smith's pamphlet ["A defence of the Church and Universities of England"] with pleasure, thinking it a "well written, cool and gentlemanly reply to the scurrilous attacks of the Greek Professor [James Henry Monk (1784-1856)] and the Quarterly Reviewer" but regrets his having published it, for fear it might do Smith harm.

The "Catholic question" in Parliament postponed by Lord Donoughmore [Richard Hely Hely-Hutchinson, 1st Earl of Donoughmore (1756-1825)] so can now attend Linnean Society elections as Smith desired.

Fears he will be unable to come to London for Linnean Society meeting on 4 May; Bishop of Carlisle [Samuel Goodenough] will take Chair. Alarmed by Macleay's statement that his pamphlet "could do [him] no good", and hopes he alludes to his first pamphlet and the Cambridge election, as the latter is "very little in [his] mind". Respecting elections for FMLS, would vote for Lamarck and [Augustin] de Candolle, fears [Louis Claude] Richard [(1754-1821), botanist] being a "bigotted anti-Linn[aea]n", and is made sick of [José Antonio] Pavon.

Suffering from a "terrible weakness of bowels, no pulmonary disorder, very tender & feeble".

Relates history of his edition of Linnaeus' "Systema vegetabilium" produced with [Johann Jacob] Römer [(1763-1819), Swiss physician and botanist] and others, asks Smith to give his blessing to the project and join in the defence against the rival natural systems of [Antoine Laurent de] Jussieu and [Augustin Pyramus] Decandolle. Asks for Smith's advice on the sixth volume, which will include the 'Umbelliferae' and 'Pentandria'.

Received Smith's letter of 30 [April 1819]. [Augustin] de Candolle and [Louis Claude] Richard [(1754-1821), botanist] elected FMLS, Lamarck and [José Antonio] Pavon unsuccessful; lists results, vexed about Lamarck; changes to Council membership.

Reassures Smith over his remarks on Smith's pamphlets: approves of the last ["A defence of the Church and Universities of England"] and wishes he had not written the one before ["Considerations respecting Cambridge"].

Reports on last night's Linnean Society elections: [Augsutin Pyramus] de Candolle and [Louis Claude] Richard [(1754-1821)] elected FMLS, Lamarck and [José Antonio] Pavon were not. [Alexander] Macleay takes on great part of leading the Society. Goodenough thinks Royal and Antiquarian Societies are organised much more efficiently. There is a FMLS vacancy for Professor [Franz Karl] Mertens. Dr Douglas and Mr Brooke were ejected for not paying their dues and [Edward Berkely] Portman [(1771-1823), politican] admitted. Paper on the genus 'Antilope' [by Charles Hamilton Smith (1776-1859)] read, Goodenough wishes a better name for it had been found.

Praises Smith's Cambridge pamphlet, which he thinks "unanswerable in argument" and will do much good; highlights chapter three and difficulty of explaining one's religious opinions, and Smith's defence of botany. After long debate it was decided to appoint permanent professors [to the Liverpool Royal Institution] and Smith was nominated professor of Botany, however there is no salary and renumeration based on arrangements made with the committee; requests Smith's repsonse. Thanks for Smith's letter and favourable opinion of his pamphlet. Pleased to hear of Smith's recovery and planned excursion with [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert; asks Smith to recommend the [Liverpool] Botanic Garden to Lambert so they can acquire an off-shoot of his just-flowered Peruvian 'Canna [iridiflora]'. The Garden is setting up a hothouse entirely for 'Scitamineae', to be supplied by Dr [William] Carey [(1761-1834)] of Serampore, [India], and [Nathaniel] Wallich of Calcutta, [India].

[Note in Smith's hand] recording date of letter, "yes".

Has brought letters of [Peter] Collinson [(1694-1768)] and [Johann] Dillenius to Linnaeus for Nichols' inspection; approves of plan for making a separate publication of scientific letters. Hopes Nichols will be able to procure Miss Currer's [John] Ray letters. Uncertain how long he will remain in London, "the town air is always poison to me".

Received Smith's letter of 16 September 1818. Parcel of plants for Smith sent via Captain Craigie of the Hadlow. Plans to send specimens of 'Aeginetia indica' and his own 'Aeginetia pedunculata' ([William] Roxburgh's 'Orobanche'). Will send 'Orchideae', including those described by Smith in Rees' "Cyclopedia", such as 'Neottia tortillis' and 'Neottia procera'; some 'Stelides'; and from Smith's "Exotic Botany" 'Epidendrum praecox', 'Epidendrum humile', and 'Orchis gigantea'. Will also send ferns, a parcel of them already sent to [William Jackson] Hooker. Requests Smith to send duplicates of parcels to Sir Joseph Banks, [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert, and [Edward] Rudge.

Observations and queries on the specimens sent with Captain Craigie, some have been annotated by Smith in pencil, plants include: 'Rubia cordifolia' or 'Rubia mungista'; 'Rubia alata'; 'Galium elegans'; 'Galium asplenifolium'; 'Hedyotis gracilis'; 'Daphne gardneri'; 'Gaultheria fragrantissima'; 'Rhododendron arboreum'; 'Cornus oblongifolia'; 'Berbersi pinnata'; 'Primula denticulata'; 'Paris polyphylla'; 'Pinus longifolia'; 'Triumfetta oblonga'; 'Ajuga hyoscyami'; 'Epidendum praecox'; 'Acrostichum flagelliferum'; 'Stellaria triandra'; 'Tacca palmata'; 'Hoya viridiflora'; 'Fraxinus floribunda'; 'Ligustrum napalense' or 'Ligustrum japonicum'; 'Buddleia paniculata'; 'Teucrium macrostachyum'; 'Jasminum dispermum'; 'Juglans pterococca'; 'Ulmus virgata'; 'Clematis smilacifolia'; 'Andromeda ovalifolia'; 'Ormosia dasycarpa'; 'Combretum costatum'; and 'Quercus spicata' [this is a very long list of plants, only those plants present in the Smith herbarium are listed here, with some exceptions].

Smith has noted on the reverse of this letter that he sent Wallich "Compendium Florae Britannicae".

Extensive account of "the various combinations" that within the last year have "conspired to subdue the happiness" of [Francis] Boott, in large part due to the actions of a fraudulent family agent, entailing significant financial losses, and disappointment of his family in America.

Account of his time in London, including: trip to Eltham with Captain Sandham to try and find Sherard's tomb and remains of his garden; Sandham says James Munro died of failure in nervous constitution, saw his tomb at Greenwich; visited Deptford old church to see monuments of the Evelyns and Sir Richard Browne; called on Dr Baillie, who commended his looks, expects Smith to be on his prescription for a long time, Smith's bowel complaints and treatment; calls on or news of Mrs [Catherine] Lambert, Mrs Lochee, Mr Fuller Farr.

A meeting at Longman's, who declined purchasing copyright of his manuscript and suggested shares of the first edition; they promise to push his pamphlet [probably "A defence of the Church and Universities of England" (1819)]. Is to visit the Lamberts at Boyton, [Wiltshire], possibly followed by visits to Spring Grove, [Isleworth, Middlesex, home of Sir Joseph Banks], and Hall Place, [Berkshire, home of Sir William East]. Death of Mrs Fisher, née Clay, 4 years ago. Longman very keen for Smith to write a "Dictionary of Botany" and greatly approve of "English Flora", but he has to borrow £100-£200 whilst these are writing.

Sends coloured drawing [extant] of what he believes to be an undescribed 'Syngnathus' after having consulted [Johann Friedrich] Gmemlin's [(1748-1804) naturalist] "Systema Naturae". Proposes to name it 'Syngnathus pentagonus', detailed description follows. Has recently suffered from a severe recurrence of his hematuria.

Coloured drawing of two fish, labelled "'Gasterosteus spinnachia' Linn., 15-spined Stickle-back of Pennant" by Smith and 'Syngnathus pentagonus' by Davies.

Sends a grass for determination, which he thinks 'Aria caespitosa' [Smith has annotated "yes" in margin]; gathered it from Ben Lomond in 1812.

Received Smith's letter of 16 September, pleased he is "assisting the cause of Botany in Liverpool" [establishment of botanic garden] and hopes to see some of [Nathaniel] Wallich's Nepalese plants there. Wallich "works like a horse" dispatching plants from Calcutta Botanic Garden around the world. Hopes to return to England in 1821. His studies have focused on zoology rather than botany, receiving specimens from Nepal through Wallich's intercourse, the country is rich in 'Phasianus'. Has a "fine Alligator's head for the Society", 'Crocodilus' of [George] Shaw, and a 'Gangeticus' [gharial], figures in Shaw ["General Zoology"?] are "wretched". Pleased Smith has grown a 'Rhododendron' from the seeds he sent, would like the credit of introducing the first Indian species to England, "they do not thrive in the moist air of Bengal". Has requested latest volumes of "Linnean Transactions" and "Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society" from [William George] Maton.