Sent [John] Davies at Cambridge a bank post bill for £45 of the money collected for [Richard] Relhan's herbarium. Printer of "Linnean Transctions" has no copy to proceed with unless Smith sends his paper on 'Mentha' or Persoon's; current volume about 160 pages; desireable but not necessary for future volumes to be of a similar size.

Asks whether Smith would not prefer to have his note on 'Mentha' printed in "Linnean Transactions" as a separate paper, or with the extracts from the minutes; asks Smith's opinion of his proposed list of books donated to the Library. Subscription for [Richard] Relhan's herbarium is now at £91 10s, including the 3 guineas mentioned in enclosed letter by [John] Symmons [extant]; asks Smith's opinion of the letter; he himself is against applying again to those who have already subscribed.

[Copy of letter from John Symmons to Alexander Macleay, dated Paddington-house, Lonndon, 5 December 1799] After being informed by Revd [John] Davies that the subscription for Relhan's herbarium was lacking £14 of the required £100 he applied to Lord Valentia [George] Annesley and Mr Alderman Hibbert, who have both added an extra guniea each, as he has himself.

Pleased Smith is satisfied with new volume of "Linnean Transactions", though he thinks some of the papers might have been omitted without reducing its value; convinced that they must give up the idea of publishing every year; explains his and [Jonas] Dryander's decisions in listing books donated to the Library.

Asks when Smith will be in London and when "Flora Britannica" will appear. There were no new papers at last general meeting of the Linnean Society, so they were forced to read an entomological paper by [Samuel] Goodenough previously read before; they now have enough for the next two or three meetings. Persoon's fungi paper has been found.

Sends list of subscriptions [extant] to cost of a charter for Linnean Society; little doubt of their raising the required £300, though some Fellows, including [Erasmus] Darwin, Dr Thomas Young, Lord William Seymour, [Thomas] Rackett, and [George] Shaw have refused to contribute in various manners. Concerns that [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert has changed his opinion on the matter, though [Thomas] Marsham has listed him for £20 according to earlier understanding. Asks Smith to encourage his friends to contribute. Main reason for acquiring the charter is for it to act as a Deed of Trust for every Fellow, and thus authenticate the bonds for membership dues.

List of subscribers and amount pledged.

Sorry to hear of Smith's late illness. Still awaiting further funds for Linnean Society's charter application, which now stands at £276 11s; list of further subscribers. Forwarded parcel for Persoon.

Smith's paper read at Linnean Society meeting on 7 [October], where he also got additional subscribers to Linnean Society charter, bringing the total to £284 19s, and there is no doubt of the full sum being made. He and [Jonas] Dryander think it necessary for Smith to be in London about 15 November in order to consult about the Rules of the Society. Asks if Smith has any part of Persoon's "long lost paper on fungi". Time for another volume of "Linnean Transactions" to be published.

List of additional subscribers.

Requests two specimens of 'Papilio machaon', as he hears it is common about Norwich.

A draft of the Linnean Society charter is with Sir Joseph Banks for his opinion. Obliged to Smith for offer to send a Norfolk turkey and provides his address. The late [Benjamin] Robertson [(c 1732-1800)] of Stockwell, [London], has left property worth £80,000-£100,000 to establish a public botanic garden; he is one of the 7 Trustees it is left to, lists the others; regrets not making Robertson a FLS.

Thanks for turkey and letter. Has not yet met the other Trustees of [Benjamin] Robertson [(c 1732-1800)] [bequest of £80,000 to establish a botanic garden], but already has plans for a Professor; does not intend allowing any of the Trustees having superintendence of the garden.

[Johann Karl Adam] Murhard [(1781-1863)] of Gottingen; Berg-Rath Wille of Fredrickshalle, Hesse; and John Schaub, Professor of Chemistry, Hesse Capel, have all been proposed as FMLS by [George] Shaw and [John] Parkinson. Received draft of Linnean Society charter from Sir Joseph Banks, intends to send it on to Smith shortly.

Received Smith's alterations to his paper on 'Salix' too late for printing. His paper on 'Myrti' was read and will appear in next volume of "Linnean Transactions". The Lord Chancellor has declared [Benjamin] Robertson's [(c 1732-1800)] bequest towards establishing a botanic garden to be null and void.

Printer lacks copy for current volume of "Linnean Transactions", and papers on humblebees and Correa's on 'Doryanthus' are missing. Will arrange for [Erik] Acharius and Dr Westring to be proposed as FMLS. [Thomas] Marsham just set off on tour through Wales, he desires Smith to solicit [James] Crowe for his subscription to the Linnean Society charter. The charter with currently with the Attorney and Solicitor General.

Received [James] Crowe's and Smith's subscriptions for Linnean Society charter.

Received balance of Smith and [James] Crowe's subscriptions to Linnean Society charter. He has been at Dover, [Kent], and all along the coast to Margate. [George] Shaw returned Huber's paper "without altering it in the least degree".

Dispatched Professor [Eugen Johann Christoph] Esper's [(1742-1810)] FMLS diploma several months ago. Congratulates Smith on the return of peace [between Britain and France] with the ratification of the preliminaries [of the Treaty of Amiens, signed 25 March 1802]; "the mob" took the horses from the Consuls carriage and drew them home.

Contents of Linnean Society charter satisfactory, with the only remaining difficulty being the number of names in it; the Attorney and Soliciter General suggested the first Council, which was rejected by himself, [Thomas] Marsham, and Sir Joseph Banks on account of cost, so they are now examining precedents to include as few names as possible, or to otherwise limit Council names to 15.

Encloses letter, to be returned, which has recently caused much discord at the Society; account of the business, apparently related to nomination of [Johann Karl Adam] Murhard [(1781-1863)] as a FMLS.

[Richard] Pulteney has left his museum to the Society provided they keep it as a separate collection, or that it be sold at auction, the price being made up to £200 if necessary, and given to the Society for purchase of an annual medal of 5 guineas for best botanical paper. Banks has behaved "handsomely" to the Society.

Thanks Smith for the "excellent Alderman" he sent [a Norfolk turkey]. Present [Walter] Wade's specimen of 'Eriocaulon septangulare' and extract from his letter to the Linnean Society. [John] Fairbairn unable to to acquire flowering specimen of the 'Cissus' until May.

Pleased to state that the recent discord at the Linnean Society between [John] Parkinson and [Jonas] Dryander over the election of [Johann Karl Adam] Murhard [(1781-1863)] as a FMLS has been satisfactorily settled; has always been of opinion that it was a personal quarrel originating in words spoken after the Chair had been left. The Society has decided to accept [Richard] Pulteney's museum on condition of its being kept a separate collection.

The Linnean Society charter has passed "the ordeal" of the Attorney and Solicitor General and is now waiting to pass the Great Seal; "the trouble which has attended it is inconceivable". Warns Smith to be prepared for a summons to London, for whenever the charter passes the Great Seal the Society will consist of no more than the 15 people named on it, and it will be necessary to elect the others as soon as possible after, and the bye-laws need framing.

Concerned to hear Smith so ill since leaving London. Distressed by death of a "beloved and affectionate brother". The Linnean Society now has its charter; [Thomas] Marsham, [Jonas] Dryander, and himself are to meet on the subject but fear they will be able to do little without Smith's presence, asks when he is arriving in London.

Formal notice requesting Smith's attendance at Linnean Society meeting on 11 May [1802] to consider the directives in the Society's recently granted charter.

[Additional letter on second folio, also by Macleay]: After meeting with [Thomas] Marsham and [Jonas] Dryander they found that no summonses could be issued for the Dinner until the members of the Society be reelected, and as Smith's presence for such is not essential they made it the earliest day possible; his summonses was only to comply with a direction in the charter. Hopes Smith will be well enough to attend on 17 May [1802] for settling the bye-laws, and asks that he prepare an address to the Society upon its meeting as a chartered body.

Account of Linnean Society meeting [following granting of charter]: 12 met, only absentees being Smith, Lord Dartmouth [George Legge], and [John] Symmons; all Fellows, Honorary Members, and Associates reelected except those in arrears, and the business of the Foreign Members deferred until meeting next Monday, which he hopes Smith will be able to attend.