Dr. [Charles] Burney offered him a position at his academy. He will, however, remain at the shipping company.
Engraving of medal showing profile of William Roscoe
Recovered from several violent catarrhous complaints and coughs. Also heard a good account of [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert and the Linnean Society, "both are in good preservation". He and others doubt the eligibility of Cullum's proposal for an annual Linnean Society medal for best paper, "pure fame is a better object than gold". Currently working on the syngenesious class of Greek plants, which will finish third part of "Florae Graecae Prodromus". Recently wrote lives of Philip Miller and [Robert] Morison [(1620-1683), botanist] for [Abraham] Rees' "Cyclopedia", and [Francis] Masson's [(1741-1805), Kew plant collector] has just appeared [in a footnote to this paragraph Cullum has noted that Smith was paid £3000 for his contributions to the "Cyclopedia"]. Praises Hooker's work "Jungermanniae".
Merits of small turkeys "over more pompous large ones". His roost robbed but only old birds taken.
Congratulates JH on becoming Senior Wrangler.
Sends seeds; asks for list of desiderata to avoid duplication; sends his list.
Regarding the equations in his memoir on the series of tangents. Queries about the Analytical Society.
Answers to JH's questions on equations. Regarding the printing of his memoirs. Recent meeting of the Analytical Society.
Philosophizes about society, college, time passing, and the 'fog' of present life. Wants to know all that is going on at Cambridge. Sends fond greetings to friends. [Letter completed 2-22].
Thanks for Smith's sympathies on death of his clever and resourceful daughter, [Maria]. She was attended to by Dr [Matthew] Baillie, gives an account of her final illness and death: following her recovery from an indisposition which lasted over a year a bilious attack came on which gave way to a low fever and rapid accumulation of water on the chest and in the lungs, leading to instantaneous suffocation. During the fever her pulse was only from 78 to 84. Calomel, draughts, blisters behind the ears and on the scalp, and seed water were all tried. Sir Joseph Banks very ill but thinks his strong constitution will carry him through; the moderate quantities of L'Eau medicinale he has taken have not had their usual relieving effect.
Further equations discussed. Has purchased more books. Regarding the printing of the memoir. [Letter continued on 1813-3-2.]
Encloses lichen resembling 'Lichen leucomelas' found at Babbicombe, [Devon], for Smith's opinion. Tempestuous weather but his brother's health improving.
[Smith has annotated 'Lichen leucomelos' on recto of folio]
Notes and observations accompanying his specimens of 'Myosotis', numbered, including: 'M. patula', 'M. versicolor', 'M. umbrata', 'M. umbrata' variety, 'M. rupicola', 'M. palustris', and 'M. repens'.
Hopes JH settles in Cambridge. News of their fellows. Charles Babbage's lecture popular. Includes parody on [Sir Walter] Scott.
Still confined with his rheumatism; abandons his intended visit to Holkham [home of Thomas William Coke] and Norfolk. Prepared an account of improvements at his Chat-Moss farm for the Board of Agriculture. Compiling a catalogue of his pictures, drawings, and prints; discusses del Sarto copy of a portrait of Leo X and his cardinals by Raffaelli.
Hopes Smith received his review of [George] Canning's [(1770-1827), politician] speeches, which he wrote to be "obnoxious to so powerful a party both in politics & literature". Sends verses of his own composition for [Pleasance] Smith as thanks for the medicine recommendation; no relief from external stimulants of hot salt-water baths and frequent blisterings. Recently acquired Lord Bute's copy of Rumphius' [(1627-1702), botanist] ["Herbarii Amboinensis"].
Thanks Macleay for forwarding a packet from [William Jackson] Hooker. Anxious about Sir Joseph Banks' health.
Hopes Smith receives the treatise he is sending [probably "Plantarum Umbelliferarum denuo disponendarum Prodromus" (1813)], asks that the second copy be sent to [Samuel] Goodenough and that he be sent specimens of any plants he is lacking from that family.
Plans for coming to London.
Disputes Smith's attribution of 'Fragaria indica' as a new genus in "Linnean Transactions" and [Abraham] Rees' "Cyclopedia", countering Smith's observations with his own, taken from his own plant given him by Lord Valentia [George Annesley]. Would like to show Smith his collection around 1000 hardy herbacious perennials, would be grateful if Smith could suggest anyone with whom he could exchange. Toured Scotland in 1811 but did not make any botanical discoveries. Has [John] Mackay's [(1772-1802), employed at Dickson nursery, Edinburgh] Irish 'Saxifragas' from Edinburgh. List of plants and their habitats.
Disappointed Roscoe is not visiting Holkham, [Norfolk, home of Thomas William Coke] this spring on account of his rheumatism, but as it is "unusually prevalent" lately confident that he will find the relief others have and is determined for Roscoe to visit him this year. No recollection of the picture Roscoe spoke of in his previous letter [of 27 February] but offers identification advice. Has not received Roscoe's review of [George] Canning's [(1770-1827), politician] speeches. He has written three hymns for a new collection being made at Norwich. Preparing for his London visit in April. Comments on his wife's handwriting.
Sends Roscoe a "song" of nonsense, "The New Doctors", he wrote to amuse his wife and epigram on pleasures of Holkham [both on verso of second folio].