"Sarum Knight" and "Knight Sarum" [Richard Salisbury and Joseph Knight (c 1777-1855), gardener for George Hibbert (1757-1837, merchant] "do not quite agree in their tales" [regarding Salisbury's publication of Robert Brown's names for 'Proteacea' under Knight's name, see RelatedMaterial]. Will send specimens of 'Aegiphyla' and lemongrass. Has or will see [Samuel Goodenough], Sir Abraham Hume, Sir Richard Hoare, and [Robert] Brown. Smith to send specimens of 'Typha minor' and 'Phlomis lunarifolia'. Offers to send specimens of 'Phlomis samia' and the "Cliffortium" plant. [Edward Daniel] Clarke's "Travels" about to be published, he has given the 500 species of plants to Lambert.

Specimens and seeds for Lambert, Smith, [Robert] Brown, and Liverpool Botanic Garden from [William] Roxburgh. Received letter from Francis Buchanan just returned from two year absence to Calcutta, India. Received specimens from Nevis from [James Webbe] Tobin [(d 1814)] including 'Sophora [...]sperma' in flower. Met Lord Grenville [William Wyndham Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville (1759-1834)] at Whiteknights [home of George Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford] who is creating large collection of plants and arboretum of pines. Lord and Lady Essex, Countess Brühl, and Sir Walter Scott were also in attendance. Blandford has spent £7000 on his garden in last three years including £3000 on hardy shrubs. Describes a 'Convolvulus' at Englefield, Berkshire, bearing thousands of flowers, sent specimen to Soho Square [home of Sir Joseph Banks], "they know nothing of plants". Describes an 'Anneslea' of Roxburgh's in White Knights aquarium. Has found amongst [Edward Daniel] Clarke's Egyptian specimens 'Mimosa lebbeck', believes it is 'Mimosa speciosa'. Mr Baker intends to buy Sudley [Sudeley] Castle Estate, Gloucestershire.

Note this letter was originally sent to Aylmer Bourke Lambert. Lord Bath [Thomas Thynne, 2nd Marquess of Bath (1765-1837)] to be a "Linnean". A 'Geranium' on sale in Bath for £500.

Has been staying at Sir Richard Hoare's, along with Bishop of Salisbury [John Fisher (1748-1825)], his wife, and [John] Constable [(1776-1837) painter], who is patronised by the Bishop and is making views of the area; he is "well acquainted" with Smith having dined at his house in Norwich. Persuaded Bishop to become a FLS. Enquires whether Smith has given up his genus of 'Duchesnea'.

Obtained a 'Melaleuca caurina' from the Fonthill Sale [home of William Beckford (1760-1844)]. Has enjoyed the "Lapland Tour" ["Lachesis Lapponica"]. Lists publications recently acquired from Paris including: "Annals du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle"; [Kurt] Sprengel's "Philiosophia Botanica"and "Historia Rei Herbaria"; [Aubert Aubert Du] Petit-Thouars' "Essais Sur La Vegetation"; [Christiaan Hendrik] Persoon's "Synopsis plantarum"; [Andre] Michaux's [(1746-1802)] "Histoiredes arbres forestiers de l'Amerique Septentrionale"; [Tussac's] "Flore des Antilles" containing 'Alstroemeria edulis'; three new numbers of [Alexander von] Humboldt's [from his voyage to South America] containing 'Bonplandia trifoliata' and 'Mikania guaco'.

Glad genus 'Lamium' he sent was better than he expected, looks forward to seeing it in [Abraham] Rees' "Cyclopedia". Visited Cassiobury Park, Hertfordshire, home of Lord Essex [George Capel-Coningsby, 5th Earl of Essex (1757-1839)], guests included the Duchess of Leeds, Lady de Clifford the younger, Lady Monson, Lords of Ross and Jersey, and Lord Erskine. Nominated as auditor of Royal Society accounts alongside Sir Joseph Banks, Lord Valentia [George Annesley], and Sam Davis, India director. Praises work of Sello [presumably Lambert's assistant], intimate friend and pupil of [Carl Ludwig] Willdenow, he went through herbarium of [Alexander von] Humboldt and [Aimé] Bonpland. Given Lady Staunton's [Jane Staunton (1753-1823) wife of Sir George Leonard Staunton, 1st baronet (1737-1801)] China collection, "the greatest collection except Pallas" he ever received, will send Smith duplicates. Requests specimen of 'Lathyrus amphicarpos'. [Richard] Salisbury working on 'Erica'. Will send Smith all of [Peter] Collinson's [(1694-1768)] papers when Banks has finished with them, [Robert] Brown thinks them curious.

Thanks for seeds, delayed by [Friedrich Traugott] Pursh's printing of "Flora Americana". [Robert] Brown to visit before going onto Oxford, also visited by Sir George Staunton and [Thomas] Hardwicke. Comments on Smith's 'Magnolia' article in Rees' "Cyclopedia", has two drawings of Plumier's 'Magnolia'. Sends specimens of 'Silene' from Dover, [Kent], for Smith's opinion.

Lady Essex has taken up botany. He has never had so many new plants from foreign seeds, including Mexico. Much amused by second volume of Clark, though laments meddling of the booksellers.

["Spec 14" written in pencil at top of verso of first folio]

Has sent [James] Sowerby 'Carduus tuberosus'. Relates how a grandson of Dr [Nehemia] Grew [(1641-1712) pioneering of plant anatomy] introduced himself. Hopes to soon send to Sowerby an 'Oenothera' in flower from Mexico. Recommended Smith's "Introduction to Botany" as the best introductory work for a friend's sons.

Has manuscript copy of [Peter Simon] Pallas' autobiography by way of [William] Coxe [(1748-1828)] and a German life of Pallas possibly by [Kurt] Sprengel is at Sir Joseph Banks'. Received a letter from Dr [Eriedrich Ernst Ludwig von] Fisher of the Gorenki Gardens, [Russia], stating that Pallas left all his natural history collection to the Academy of Berlin where he died. Has sent 'Leptospermum', 'Plumeria pudica', 'Justicia americana', and 'Russelia' to [James] Sowerby for "Exotic Botany". Has grown a new species of 'Brucea' from seed, and plants from Mexico. Pleased at Smith's good prospects for Cambridge professorship. Death of [George] Shaw from a bowel complaint. Sent Sir Jospeh Banks plants of the true chili, believes Smith is wrong about them.

Thanks for basket of game. [Thomas] Nuttall [(1786-1859)] admitted a member of Linnean Society and Lord Louvain proposed.

Responds to Smith's enquiries about 'Pinus', referring him to [Andre] Michaux's [(1746-1802)] comments in Pursh's "Flora Americae". A 'Pinus maritima' at Kew now 'Pinus caricio' "Lamarck Encyclo. vol 5". Growing new species of pine at Boyton, [Wiltshire], compares it against 'Pinus cembra' and 'Pinus pinaster', it was sent from the Crimea by [Peter Simon] Pallas and named 'Pinus maritima' in his last "Travels". [Pierre] Sonnerat [(1748-1814)] returned to France. Linnean Society short of papers for next volume of "Linnean Transactions".

Eager to hear about [Alexander von] Humboldt as soon as he appears at Soho Square. Has nearly the whole of [Thomas] Nuttall's [(1786-1859)] collection of [living] plants.

Congratulates Smith on knighthood. Has some of [Thomas] Nuttall's [(1786-1859)] living plants from the banks of the Missouri, including 'Jussieua angulata' and 'Mentzelia oligosma', hopes to be able to confirm Smith's conjecture that it is the same genus as 'Loasa'. Received [Matthew] Flinders' "Voyage [to Terra Australis]", would like Smith's opinion of [Robert] Brown's observations on natural order. Has 'Lathyrus amplicarpos' in flower answering to the "old Morrison" description, asks if Smith described it from a dyed specimen in the "Encyclopedia" [Abraham Rees' "Cyclopedia"].

Severe weather and deep snow. Discussed Smith's Cambridge candidature with Lord John Fitzroy. Lea is in England on way to Bogotá to collect drawings and materials of [José Celestino] Mutis [(1732-1808) Spanish botanist]. Lord Valentia [George Annesley] between visits to Ireland. Has been ill after rushing to meet [Aimé] Bonpland [(1773-1858)] in London and being attended by "an apothecary who proved to be more ignorant than the horse he rode on". [Sarah Sophia] Banks [(1744-1818), collector of antiquarian items, sister of Sir Joseph] not enthused by plants.

Thanks for turkey. Sir Richard Hoare in town and about to print first part of his work on North Wiltshire. Pleased with Smith's life of [John] Ray in new volume of the "Ency[clopedia]" [Abraham Rees' "Cyclopedia"], paragraphs of which "for men of science [ought] to be written in letters of gold". Problems in obtaining collections of [José Antonio] Pavon, [Alexander] Macleay is acting as his agent. Bequeaths this collection to Smith if he should die first [Lambert outlived Smith and his collections were sold and dispersed].

Received a letter from [José Antonio] Pavon, the collections Lambert is purchasing from him, including herbarium and insects, have been sent. A new plant received from Longleat [home of Thomas Thynne, 2nd Marquess of Bath (1765-1837)]. Has five species of 'Oxybaphus' growing. Has 'Fragaria chiloensis' from Guernsey in flower different from the one Smith describes in "Encycl[opedia]" [Abraham Rees' "Cyclopedia"].

No summary available.

Thanks for turkey. [Augustin Pyramus] de Candolle is in England and intends to visit Smith. Asks if Smith has seen [Edward Daniel] Clarke's new volume and Beeston's "account of St Helena". Professor [Christen] Smith [(1785-1816)] of Christiana returned from an eight month expedition to Canary Islands, has given Lambert duplicates of his whole collection, includes a 'Pinus' similar to 'Pinus pinaster', describes differences, mentioned in [Alexander von] Humboldt's first volume of "Travels". Recently stayed at Lord Blandford's [George Spencer-Churchill], his home Whiteknights, [Reading, Berkshire], the "1st of the kind in Europe".

Believes Smith is determined not to see Boyton House. Has successfully raised many new plants to flower this year but lost 'Bartonia', [Thomas] Nuttall's [(1786-1859)] "white and yellow 'Oenothera'" which have failed elsewhere are hardy in his garden. Has stayed with Marquess of Blandford [George Spencer-Churchill] at Whiteknights, [Reading, Berkshire], "never saw the vegetable kingdom brought to such perfection". Returned with a Mexican 'Verbena'. Blandford acquired [Christian Gottfried] Nestler's "Monographia de Potentilla ". Enquires after Smith's publications.

Thanks for turkey. Received letter from [Michel Felix] Dunal [(1789-1856) French botanist] on seeds and specimens for his work on 'Solanum'. Received letters and specimens from unknown doctors in New York. Received letter from [Thomas] Nuttall [(1786-1859)] in Charlestown, USA. [Sir Stamford] Raffles [(1781-1826)], late governor of Java, in London, "quite the lion of naturalists" has brought back vast collections, Raffles' house in Bernes Street "is quite a museum", his collector Dr [Thomas] Horsfield [(1773-1859)] is still in Java. The Duchess of Somerset requested an introduction to Raffles from Lambert for the Duke [Edward Adolphus Seymour] and herself to see the collections. Raffles hosted a party of Fellows of the Royal Society, "a magnificent set-out, top was a soup of swallows' nests", Raffles has brought back several boxes of them. [George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough's (1739-1817)] will: the Duchess will receive £10,000 per annum; the present Marquess and Lady Caroline £3000 per annum each; everything belonging to Blenheim [Palace] left to trustees; the family to live there with £30,000 per annum. Thanks Smith for "Compendium".