Observations on enclosed specimens: the true 'Cardamine parviflora' of Linnaeus; a specimen of the first moss he ever saw and which much puzzled him, a 'Gymostomum' like 'Davalli' but different. Has been arranging his Jungermannia and hopes to send specimens soon, along with 'Trichostomum rigidulum'. The specimen he sent as 'Dicranum ovale' identified. Observations on "difficult" moss 'G. browniana'.

Encloses specimen of 'Gymnostomum donnianum' [extant], named by Dr [James Edward] Smith and to be included in "English botany" for next April, also encloses a magnified drawing of it and letter from the artist [both extant]. Asks Brodie to transmit the whole to Smith. [Dawson] Turner thought it the 'Grimmea pusilla' of "Flora Britannica" but after examining five hundred specimens he is sure it is not.

Letter from James Neill, Lauriston Road, to George Don, Edinburgh, 12 February 1806: describes how he drew the magnified drawing of 'G. donnianum' with a solar microscope, a method he believes is new. Pencil drawing of 'G. donnianum' and specimen of same, wrapped in paper.

Note by Brodie to Smith on cover, forwarding the whole.

Classes about to begin tomorrow so sending a few moss and plant specimens now, not expecting much time to do so in the summer. Observations on enclosed specimens: new 'Potentilla', proposes name 'P. alpina'; nondescript 'Saxifraga'; possible new 'Gymnostomum', proposes name 'G. martima'; new 'Dicranum' like 'D. pulvinatum'.

Observations on previoulsy sent 'Gymnostomum apocarpum', differences from 'G. ciliatum'. Also sends a 'Somemum'.

Has sent a collection of lichens on board the ship "Hazard" to be landed at Downes Wharf, regrets it is not as extensive as he would have wished. Observations on enclosed specimens: 'Rumex patientia', and three 'Lichen' from various mountains [extant].

Three 'Lichen' specimens, labelled.

Sending this letter and enclosed specimens via [James] Sowerby, contains 'Grimmia nigritia', 'G. inclanata', 'G. schisti', 'Bryum gulaium' and 'Bartramia alpina'. Also encloses mosses, a 'Lichen', and a grass found in the white mine near Forfar [Smith annotation: "'Aira caespitosa'"] in 1807. Intends to undertake botanical excursion to the Cairngorns and Clova Mountains soon, but is unsure whether to collect for Sowerby, having heard nothing from him about previous specimens. Requests seeds of 'Felia muscosa' and 'Limosella aquatica'. Requests Smith's opinion on these and previous specimens.

Thanks for letter and seeds of 'Limosella aquatica'. Recently received letter from [James] Sowerby containing a statement of his fasciculus [presumably Don's "Herbarium Britannicum" (1804-1812)], the first he has received since publishing the first 5 years ago; in "consequence of his negligence" he has brought "very considerable expense" and will be forced to give it up after printing seventh and eighth numbers. If Sowerby was the sole publisher of "English botany" he would not send any further plants, but encloses 4 of his recent discoveries for Smith's account.

Numbered observations on enclosed specimens: 1. 'Hypericum barbatum' or 'H. elegans'; 2. unknown species of 'Lamium', like 'L. amplexicaule', suggests 'L. intermedium'; 3. possible 'Juncus fasciculata'; new species of 'Equisetum'. Had intended to send them to be published in "Linnean Transactions". Identified one of the grasses he sent Smith last year as 'Agrostis arumdinacea', and has possibly found 'Bromus triflorus'.

Hopes Goodenough received package sent via [Charles] Lyell and [James] Sowerby, which included: 'Agrostis arundinacea', 'Carduus polyanthus', new 'Choraphyllum', 'Centaurea intybacea', and 'Urceolaria deamonta'.

Numbered observations on enclosed specimens: 1. 'Carex' like 'C. michellia'; 2. 'Carex' like 'C. flacca'; 3. new 'Carex'; 4. 'Saxifraga' distinct from 'S. hynoides'; 5. new 'Silene' proposed 'S. intermedia'; 6. new 'Silene' proposed 'S. hybrida'; 7. unknown 'Epilobium'; 8. 'Mesea longiseta'; 9. 'Orabus angustifolius'; 10. 'Hieracium' near 'H. alpinum'.

Observations on 'Hieracium ramosum' and 'Epilobium caudifolium'. If he had known what Goodenough said of Sowerby in sufficient time would not have troubled him. Will send 'G. uliginosum' and 'Galium verrocosum' seeds in summer, observation on 'Equisetum'. Asks Goodenough to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith.

Four plant specimens, including 1, 3 and 8.

Still waiting to hear Smith's opinion on those plants he sent himself and via [Charles] Lyell. Numbered observations on enclosed mosses he previously sent to [Dawson] Turner, also without response: 2. [sic] a 'Grimmia', would like to name it after W Symonds, who died in Barbados; 3. a 'Grimmia', proposes name 'G. alpina' or 'G. nivalis'; 4. a 'Hypnum'; 5. another 'Hypnum'.

Numbered observations on enclosed plants: 1. 'Potentilla tridentata' [Smith annotation: "right"]; 2. 'Lychnis alpina' [Smith annotation: "right"]; 3. 'Ranunculus alpestris' [Smith annotation: "right"]; 4. a 'Silene' resembling 'S. alpestris' [Smith annotation: "the 'Silene' will be sent in my next"] ; 5. a 'Crepis' [Smith annotation: "'pulcra' HL"]; 6. 'Cochlearia groenlandica' [Smith annotation: "right HL"]; 7. the true 'Erigeron uniflorum' [Smith annotation: "right!"]; 8. a 'Saxifraga' cultivated for 2 years in strong, rich, wet soil [Smith annotation: "new, the 2 darkest specimens green specimens is cultivated in the wet soil!"]; 9. a 'Cerastium' [Smith annotation: "'Stellaria cerastoides'"]; 10. 'Fontinalis pennata' of Linnaeus [Smith annotation: "'Neckera pumila'"].

Enquires after specimens he sent some years ago as 'Spergula maxima' and 'S. arvensis' [Smith annotation: "both 'arvensis'"].

Two small specimens, labelled "2".

He has been collecting the palmated 'Saxifraga' for some years, and has cultivated them in every soil and situation to determine to settle which are species and which are varities, will send specimens of all those he thinks species.

Encloses specimens of 1. 'Saxifraga' from Angushire that may be two species or two varities [Smith annotation: "'pedatifida' Ehrhart"], observations; 2. 'Lamium' he sent last year [Smith annotation: "pray send seeds"]; 3. '[Lychnis] alpina' [Smith annotation: "HL"]; 4. a 'Juncus' distinct from common species [Smith annotation: "no"]. Observations on the 'Lamium'. Asks Goodenough to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith.

Encloses plant specimens, thinks most are new. Numbered observations on enclosed specimens: 1. new 'Ranunculus' proposed name 'R. macrophizus' [Smith annotation: "same as D Turner's from Snowdon, acris?"]; 2. new 'Saxifraga' [Smith annotation: "same brought by [Turner] from Snowdon -new -petals round"]; 3. new 'Potentilla' [Smith annotation: "surely a variety of 'aurea'"]; 4. new 'Grimmia'. Has also enclosed specimen of 'Potentilla aurea' of "English botany" [Smith annotation: "new probably"]. Asks Goodenough to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith.

Encloses further plant specimens, some of which he believes are new to Britain. Numbered observations on enclosed plants: 1. 'Glechoma', possibly 'G. hirsuta' [Smith annotation: "var[iet]y of 'hederacea' with abortive anthers?"]; 2. 'Saxifraga' he thought a hybrid between 'S. hypnoides' and 'S. geranoides' [Smith annotation: "'pedatifida'?"]; 3. 'Saxifraga' previously sent on 3 April 1807; 4. possible 'Viola uniflora' [Smith annotation: "'lactea' var."]; 5. possible 'Viola pumila' [Smith annotation: "Mr Crowe's little shrubby violet?"]; 6. 'Viola' from Ben Lawers distinct from 'V. trivalis'; 7. possible 'Sirapus alba' [Smith annotation: "I think so"]. Asks Goodenough to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith.

Encloses further specimens, numbered observations: 1. an 'Aira' [Smith annotation: "In HL from Lapl[an]d. I think it new 'A. vivipara' JES"]; 2. 'Erigeron uniflorum' [Smith annotation: "right"]; 3. new 'Saxifraga'; 4. a 'Saxifraga' the same as his no.4 in letter of 17 December 1808; 5. 'Geum' close to 'G. rivale' [Smith annotation: 'rivale?'].

Necessity for someone with books and botanical knowledge to publish a monograph on palmated 'Saxifraga'; difficulty of recognising the species in "Flora Britannica". Asks Goodenough to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith.

Numbered observations on enclosed plants: 1. 'Orabus angustifolius', which he has also previously [Smith annotation: "no" "'tuberosus' ß Will[deno]w"]; 2. 'Thlaspi hirtum' [Smith annotation: "exactly mine"]; 3. new 'Avena' proposes 'A. alpina' [Smith annotation: "pubescens?"]. Observation on 'Thlaspi' specimens. Asks Goodenough to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith.

Numbered observations on enclosed specimens: 1. a rose discovered by H Templeton; 2. variety of 'Rosa spinosissima' [Smith annotation: "right 'cyphiana'"; 3. a rose differing from 'Rosa spinosissima'; 4. true 'Erigernon alpinum' [Smith annotation: "right"]; 5. 'Erigernon uniflora' [Smith annotation: "right"].

Asks Goodenough to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith. After weighing the letter was forced to take out the two 'Erigernon' specimens.

Encloses a specimen of 'Chaerophyllum' which he formerly sent via [Charles] Lyell, which he previously intended to call 'C. pubescens' [Smith annotation: "'C. aureum'"]. Encloses 'Erigernon' specimens left out of his last letter. Asks Goodenough to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith.

Numbered observations on enclosed specimens: 1. native 'Agrostis arundinacea' [Smith annotation: "'Arundo neglecta' Ehrhart. Can it be Knapp's 'calamagrostis'?"]; 2. 'Rubus' like 'R. fruticosus' [Smith annotation: "I cannot make it out"]; 3. full grown seed vessels of 'Thlaspi hirtum' and what he calls 'T. incana'; 4. 'Galium uliginosum' [Smith annotation: "right (burnt the spec[ime]n)"]. Asks Goodenough to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith.

Encloses further specimens he hopes will be new to British flora. Numbered observations: 1. 'Galium witheringia' [Smith annotation: "right!"]; 2. 'Gnaphalium' like close to 'germanica', supposes 'Filago arvenses' of Withering [Smith annotation: "'germanicum'?"]; 3. variety of 'Achillea millefolium' [Smith annotation: "a var[iet]y of 'millefolium'"]; 4. a 'Daucus' like 'D. carota' [Smith annotation: "'Carota'?"]. Asks Goodenough to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith.

Numbered observations on enclosed plants: 1. two varities of true 'Hieracium paniculatum' of Linnaeus; 2. a 'Thalictrum' distinct from 'T. minus'; 3. a 'Hypericum' possible hybrid of 'H. hirsutum' and 'H. quadrangulum' [Smith annotation: "wrote March 20 1810, surely only 'hirsutum' in a wet soil"]. Asks Goodenough to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith, apologises for inconvenience to Goodenough.

Numbered observations on enclosed plants: 1. a 'Lemna' like 'L. trifolia'; 2. an 'Equisetum' with habit of 'E. variegatum'; 3. a 'Potamogeton' possibly 'P. graminosum'; 4. a 'Poa' probably not variety of 'P. nemoralis' [Goodenough annotation: "'Poa angustifolia'? S.C."]; 5. possible 'Festuca triflora'. Will be among the 'Hieraciums' next, when he will be able to "puzzel [sic] all the Botanists of England". Asks Goodenough to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith.

Encloses specimens of 'Hieracium', which are "truly intricate like the willows and some other families", believes no one can judge of between species and varities unless they cultivate them; numbered observations: 1. 'Hieracium ramosum' said to be native of Hungary; 2. 'H. kalmii', contrary to Goodenough's claim distinct from 'H. prenanthoides'; 3. a 'Hieracium' he previoulsy thought described in "Flora Britannica". Asks Goodenough to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith.