Offers Smith loan of correspondence of [Emanuel Mendez] da Costa [(1717-1791), naturalist].
Options for publication. Shall obtain Miss Currer's correspondence collection for Smith's consultation.
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".
Has prepared the entire correspondence of Linnaeus and [John] Ellis [(1710-1776)] for the press, as well as [Daniel] Solander's letters to Ellis, [Peter] Collinson's [(1694-1768)], [José Celestino Bruno] Mutis' [(1732-1808)] from South America, and almost finished with Dr [Alexander] Garden's [(1730-1792)]. Asks to borrow Nichols' "Literary Illustrations" vol 1. Will prepare a short biographical memoir for each persons' letters, and will send a fragment of each hand for engraving. Thoughts on arrangement of volume. Expects to be in Liverpool from April till 20 May.
Instructions for constructing index for second volume [of "A selection of the correspondence of Linnaeus" (1821)], should Smith prefer to write it.
Sorry to hear of Smith's literary disputes being "so afflictingly interrupted". Thanks for Smith's congratulations on reaching 75 years of age. Smith's manuscripts are received and printing has commenced [presumably "A selection of the correspondence of Linnaeus" (1821)].
Sending proofs. Details of type, agrees about not having woodcuts. Intends to call on Nichols during his time at Thomas Furly Forster's at Clapton in May. Declines receiving any further [Emanuel Mendez] da Costa's [(1717-1791), naturalist] as they are chiefly mineralogical.
Notes that although [Emanuel Mendez] da Costa's [(1717-1791), naturalist] manuscripts are chiefly concerned with mineralogy there are several on botany from [George] Edwards [(1694-1773)], [Georg Dionysius] Ehret [(1708-1770)], Knolles, [John] Martyn [(1699-1768)], [Philip] Miller, [Richard] Pulteney, and some others, and are available for Smith's use [for "A selection of the correspondence of Linnaeus" (1821)].
Returns some corrected proofs. Discusses additional volumes, writing of a preface, and whether to have a contents and an index.
Note in John Bowyer Nichols' hand attached.
Enclosing letters for second volume [of "A selection of the correspondence of Linnaeus" (1821)]. Discusses their arrangement and page layout.
Returns proofs; corrections and queries.
[This letter appears to be a later copy and is not in Smith's hand]
Sends manuscripts, hopes to send a large part of the remained of the second volume [of "A selection of the correspondence of Linnaeus" (1821)] after the holidays. Encloses samples for engraving of autographs.
Lists autographs already sent by Smith [for "A selection of the correspondence of Linnaeus" (1821)]; sets out costs of either engraving or lithograping the autographs; changes made to ordering.
List [in Smith's hand] of 15 "original autographs" sent to Nichols, dated 26 February 1821.
[Note in Nichols' hand] on proofs and copies.
Pleased to hear Nichols can so easily make an index for ["A selection of the correspondence of Linnaeus" (1821)], leaves it him as his the index for the former volume of letters he published was so "peculiarly excellent".
Returns remaining 10 volumes of Miss Currer's collection of correspondence, and volumes of [Emanuel Mendez] da Costa's [(1717-1791), naturalist] correspondence, and a few other letters.
Saw Mr Longman on his return through London yesterday, who expressed "great pleasure" in publishing the "Correspondence", and regretted that his house had formerly declined taking on the work. Offers his interest in this edition to Nichols for £100 and 150 copies, as it is the kind of book to make presents and exchanges with.
[Draft of Nichols' reply:] Declines Smith's offer.