Acknowledges on behalf of the Académie Royale des Sciences Smith's gift of the first two volumes of "The English Flora".
Sorry to hear Smith so unwell, offers to take the chair for Linnean Society anniversary meeting. Due to successively dine with [William George] Maton and [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert. Recently saw Sir [Thomas] Cullum, he is in "blooming" health and forwarded Smith's note and enclosure to him. Lambert in dispute with Rodwell and Martin regarding new edition of his work on 'Pinus' and contemplating taken the matter to the Court of King's Bench.
Asks for duplicate plants, especially Australian.
Apologises for delay in replying to Smith's letter of 27 April [1824]; sorry to hear of his severe indisposition, hopes to see Smith before Linnean Society's last meeting in June. Lists new members of Council. Balance in Treasurer's hands is £192, compared to last year's balance of £34 on the other side. Forty-two Fellows elected in the last year, greatest number in any one year. Informed by Solicitor General that he agrees with Attorney General that the Asiatic Society is entitled to a charter as applied for. Asks that Smith send a letter nominating his vice-presidents for the next year. He was in Scotland for 5 months last year.
Thanks for "Flora Anglica". Making strong progress with "Hortus Malabaricus". Has given commentary on the first volume of the "Herbarium Amboinense" to the Wernerian Society in Edinburgh but doubtful whether it will appear. [William Jackson] Hooker is to compile detailed observations that are suited for neither commentaries and publish them in the Edinburgh Philosophical Journal. Complains that Venlenat, [Augustin Pyramus] de Candolle, [Carl Sigismund] Kunth "and other Goths are overwhelming us with new orders", which he believes [Robert] Brown may be "aiding and abetting", and that they do not understand the difference between an order and a genus as established by Linnaeus.
Linnean Society anniversary meeting "went off most pleasantly" with at least ten more in attendance than last year. [William George] Maton, [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert, Sir Thomas Cullum, Provost of Eton [Joseph Goodall (1760-1840)], President of Horticultural Society [Thomas Andrew Knight], and [Walden Henry] Hanmer all attended but Lord [Edward Smith-]Stanley did not. [William] Anderson [(1766-1846), Chelsea Physic Garden curator] exhibited some plants and [Robert] Brown attended the morning but did not dine. A small species of albatross, a penguin, and another aquatic bird were laid on the table. [Edward] Forster can inform Smith of the finances.
Informed by [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert that after the retirement of the company at the Linnean Society anniversary meeting dinner [Alexander] Macleay, Joseph Sabine, and others stayed in the room to make further speeches in spite of the numerous toasts made by Goodenough; thinks it copies "the habit of low societies [...] and utterly unworthy of the dignity of such a society as ours". Sabine has already given great offence after being chosen a member of their new club, the Athenaeum; did not invite Smith to join as he is so rarely in London but happy to propose him.
They are correct to think that the reviewer of Smith's "English Flora" in the "Phil. Journal" is [James] Bicheno. Ongoing publication of his "Monandrian Plants"; his biography and new edition of [Alexander] Pope's works complete, prepared for "much controversy & some abuse"; his catalogue of Holkham manuscripts [home of Thomas William Coke] also progressing. Met [Thomas William Coke], Lady Anne [(1803-1844), Coke's wife], and boisterous "little Tom". Leaving London soon; dined with Mrs Martin, Fanny [Smith's sisters], and [Nathaniel] Kindersley [Smith's cousin].
Sending his book "Amoenitates Italicae" to the Linnean Society via a "kind English lady". Offers to send specimens of Italian plants if desired.
Left London early for Lady Cullum's health. Missed Prince Leopold dining with the Linnean Club but [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert, Bishop of Carlisle [Samuel Goodenough], Sir Claude Scott [(1742-1830)], Mr Colebrooke, [William George] Maton, and Sir Benjamin Hobhouse [(1757-1831), politician] attended. Lambert's state of mind too unsettled for him to write to anyone unless absolutely obliged. Hopes Lambert sent Smith the continuation of his "[A description of the genus] Pinus" work. This summer possibly going to Ramsgate and Margate, [Kent], or Paris by steam vessel, and plans to visit Smith in Saxmundham, [Suffolk].
Fears the specimen he sent last year of 'Stachys ambigua', gathered near Quorndon, Leicestershire, never reached Smith; offers to send it again. Pleased to see the "long promised" "English flora" is appearing, and that Smith "does not follow the example of this generation of expensive works by putting too high a price on the book".
The lumbago he suffered from on his journey to Rose Castle has brought on gout. Relates an anecote relating to "the late sweet warbler" Mrs Sheridan and an apothecary. Smith must have enjoyed Sir Thomas Cullum staying.
Rose Castle gardens have suffered much, including goosberries, currants, and plums; a great loss for them living in a lone house so far from a town. Forwarded Smith's letter to Mrs Martin.
Observations on 'Cheiranthus cheiri'; requests Smith's opinion. Sending specimen of 'Cheiranthus fruticulosus', and of doubtful 'C. erysimoides', for identification.
Disappointed to be in England but unable to visit Smith in Norwich, for second time. Sent by the Emperor Alexander [I of Russia (1777-1825)] to obtain living plants for the St Petersburg Imperial Botanic Garden; brief history of the garden; he only has three months before expected back at St Petersburg. Encloses paper for Smith from Jussieu. Hopeful he can start work on a "Flora Russica"
Explains difficulties of making Smith an advance payment for his work on "Flora Graeca", principally being fear of Smith's death and its consequences for completion of the work. He and [Thomas] Platt [(d 1842), one of John Sibthorp's executors, supervised the publication of "Flora Graeca"] hope the work can be finished in the next few years by borrowing money from University of Oxford and limiting the number of copies made. Asks Smith to supply list of all of Sibthorp's provincial floras, taken from Sibthorp's journals. Executor of will of Mr Jones of Chelsea gives Smith permission to inspect the collections he had expressed an interest in.
Hopes Smith's health is recovered, he and many others were disappointed he could not come to the last [Linnean Society][ anniversary meeting. He has been supervising [William] Baxter's [(1787-1871)], curator of the Botanic Garden, Oxford, "fasciculus of dried plants", about to be published.
He has procured many fungi specimens from Mr Gulliver of Banbury, of which he is sending a parcel. Compliments [Robert Kaye] Greville's work ["Scottish cryptogamic flora" (1823-1828)], and thinks the new genera 'Erineum', 'Acidium', 'Jaccinia', and 'Uredo' are well defined, but others including 'Xyloma' and 'Sclerotium' are "deficient in character".
Understands Smith is still sceptical regarding the Barberry bush being the cause of injury to wheat growing near it; has suggested to Greville it may be caused by "some peculiar modification of electricity" as the grain is always found shrivelled, as if scorched. Offers to send Smith further fungi specimens, including the "rarest", 'Batarrea phalloides'.
Recalls pleasure at gaining Smith's acquaintance at Cowes, [Isle of Wight], and sorrow at distance which prevents their meeting. Praises Smith's "English Flora" and his use of language, the 'Umbellate' plants "are surely now perfect". Passes on compliment from Mr P Duncan of New College, Oxford, on Smith's "Flora Britannica".
Apologises for long delay since receiving Smith's letter from Professor [Josef August] Schultes. Has been unable to find the 'Tilia' requested by Smith as he is too ill to go to the Stokenchurch area and it is not present in the Oxford Botanic Garden and there are no full specimens in Oxford herbaria. Describes another failed attempt to acquire it. The Botanic Garden has a plant of Mr Whitehead's 'Aconitum' but it is now too mature for Smith to obtain any information from a specimen.
Congratulates Smith on his return to health and goes on to praise Smith's "most valuable and learned works on botany", the women in his family are especially delighted with the "The English Flora" and Smith's "precision" compares favourably to the "vapid conversations and trite introductions to botany that have lately appeared". For the sake of women readers suggests that in his "Introduction to Botany" Smith accentuates the "peculiar" words so as to aid pronunciation.
Apologises again for apparent attacks on Smith in "Flora Scotia", which he will correct in the next edition; thanks for mention of botanical errors, but still differs on matters of opinion, including: does not agree about 'Salix', maintains criticism of "English botany" figure of 'Aquilegia vulgaris', cannot credit Smith for his work on 'Mentha' due to space, took his ideas on sexes of 'Tussilago' from multiple authors. Most hurt that Smith believes rumours that John Lindley [(1799-1865)] was the principal author, explains his involvement.
From Smith's paper on 'Hypnum recognitum' in "Linnean Transactions" vol 13 presumes he has not seen his own account of 'Hypnum recognitum' in "Flora Londinensis". Concedes he made an error respecting 'Rubus chamaemorus'.