Thanks Smith for his letter and valuable advice to his gardener [George] Sinclair in his efforts to improve agricultural science. Gratified by Smith's visit to Woburn Abbey and encourages him to visit again.
Putting [Thomas William] Coke's set of "English Botany" into the same order as Cullum's. Anticipating his visit to the Bury Fair so long as it does not coincide with the Norwich sessions. Master of Caius [College, Cambridge, Martin Davy] expected at Holkham [home of Coke].
Received Smith's letter of 17 September. Invites and suggests itinerary for Smith to visit the Bury Fair in October. [John] Hemsted [(c 1747-1824)], a contributor to "English Botany", staying with him. His admiration of the Master of Caius [College, Matin Davy].
Accepts Cullum's invitation to visit during the Bury Fair. An American family staying at Holkham, [Robert and Marianne] Paterson and her two sisters [Elizabeth and Louisa], the ladies are "very agreeable" and "very clever" and intend to be at Bury Fair.
Received Smith's letter of 3 [September 1816]. Pleased Smith has received second edition of his "Nereis Britannica", a present he considers a "token of respect, considering the eminent place [Smith] fill[s] in the Department of Botany". Explains the work: added more plates to the first edition in order to include all British known species, and to offer arrangement on Linnean principles. Only 100 copies printed, with an additional 50 copies of the arrangement with extract from preface to be sent to foreign seats of learning. He received extra stimulus for his work on receipt of Gmelin's catalogue of lichens; thinks Smith is the right person to reform this genus. Thanks for Smith's remarks on his generic names, which will be amended.
Acknowledges recipt of Smith's 14 guineas and encloses catalogue of remaining book stock of the particular concern.
Replying to Smith's letter of 29 August. Forwarded Smith's letter to [Elizabeth] Hill [(c 1760-1850), algologist]. A bad summer in Cumberland: very few flowers on their numerous carnations and for the first time he has ever known 'Lathyrus latifolius' also failed to flower, 'Orobus sylvaticus' and 'Cistus helianthemum' did flower. Vouches for Sir Thomas Frankland's reliability in condemning 'Carabus vulgaris'. Accepts Smith's offer to send new volume of "[Florae Graecae] Prodroumus" and new edition of "Compendium [florae Britannicae]". Knows nothing of Cambridge university politics and equates Smith's campaign [for botany professorship] to a game of chess; warns against moving the [Thomas] Martyn pawn at the wrong time [Martyn was the incumbent professor]. Pleased that Lord Exmouth Sir Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth, (1757-1833)] ended the Algerian war "at a stroke" [ Bombardment of Algiers, 1816]. Very poor harvest in Goodenough's parish, only fifty acres of eleven square miles have been brought in. Has been employing the poor when he can, and not just buying their idleness with money as fears is mistakenly done in London.