No summary available.

Thanks for Australian plants; difficulties of communication in war time; death of Johann Hedwig; his collections to be sold; grasses; tabular chart of species collected.

Edmund Davall left his herbarium to Smith. Sending Smith's letters and other papers.

Sends specimens of a local species of 'Lotus' that is not the 'Lotus angustissimus' of Bauhin or Linnaeus, and has blossoms resembling 'Medicago polymorpha arabica'. Detailed description and habitat information. From long observation concludes that two distinct species are included under 'Lotus corniculatus', suggests 'Lotus gibbus' and 'Lotus patulus' and gives detailed description and habitat information of each. Detailed description and habitat of local 'Rubia' and 'Melittis melissophyllum'. 'Brassica monensis' of [Dillenius'] "Hortus Elthamensis" grows abundantly, Lightfoot's plant resembles 'Erica monensis' in "Herbal" of Bobart or Merison at Oxford and believes it to be a different plant, in a detailed description remarks that the leaves resemble 'Sisymbrium nasturtium'. Praises Smith and "English Botany". Remarks that he has found 'Euphorbia lathyris' twice in a "truly wild state". On the last page 'Lotus diffusus' is noted, possibly in Smith's hand.

Confesses to an error he made in his last letter to Smith regarding 'Sisymbrium monense', which he now supposes to be the variety of 'Erysimum barbarea' Smith refers to in "English Botany" and now has two seedlings of it growing, description of characteristics, differing "very considerably from the American Cress". Having compared prints of 'Melittis grandiflora' and 'Melittis melissopyllum' from "English Botany" concludes that he has never found the latter plant. The 'Lotus' he sent Smith has since been sent to the Oxford Botanic Garden by [James] Dickson. Notes a habitat for 'Convolvulus sepium'. Description and habitat for 'Verbascum blattaria'. Habitat for the 'Inula miginosa' of [John] Sibthorp, suggests [William] Withering's suggsted name of 'cylindrica' is improper, as is Sibthorp's. Glad to hear that Smith is undertaking publication of "Flora Graeca".

Assures Smith he shall assist [Dawson] Turner any way he can. Complains that a collection of British shells he sent to the Linnean Society in March 1797 have not been acknowledged. Proposes to compile a catalogue of Anglesea plants to present to the Society, believing that a system of botanists examining their own neighbourhoods "might be the likeliest method of perfecting a flora of the nation". However, plans have been put on hold by news of Smith's progress on "Flora Britannica", asks advice on whether to proceed. Condolences on the death of [Thomas] Pennant.

Thanks Smith for naming genus ['Daviesia'] after him. Refers to 'Festuca ovina' as a viviparous plant noticed by Linnaeus and presents several other viviparous plants he has found : 'Phleum pratense' in Anglesea and observed by [Albrecht von] Haller [(1708-1777) naturalist]; 'Aira caespitosa' on sides of Snowdon; 'Poa aquatica' in Yorkshire; 'Poa alpina' on Snowdon; 'Poa annua' on Snowdon, also sent to William Hudson; and 'Cynosurus cristatus' in Anglesea, offers to send specimens, each name has a tick against it made by Smith, except 'Poa alpina' which has a circle. Unsure what genus 'Agrostis minima' belongs to, having compared a late flowering one collected by [Benjamin] Stillingfleet [(1702-1771) botanist] on a tour of Wales and an early flowering one found by himself in Anglesea. Does not agree with [Jonathan] Stokes' [(c 1755-1831) botanist] assertion in [William] Withering's "Botanical Arrangement" that it is a 'Poa'. Surprised that the 'Avena stirgosa' has so long eluded the knowledge of botanists. Will send specimen of 'Sisymbrium monense'.

Subjoins a copy of the letter that accompanied the shells of about 120 species he sent to the Linnean Society, some are listed: those collected in order to ascertain species mentioned in [Thomas] Pennant's "British Zoology" but absent in [Johann Friedrich] Gmemlin's [(1748-1804) naturalist] "Systema Naturae"; and to prove other species to be British that were omitted by [Emanuel Mendez] da Costa [(1717-1791) botanist]. His findings were communicated to Hudson for "Fauna Anglica" but lost in the fire that destroyed Hudson's work.

Heard of Smith from their friend [Andrew] Caldwell, who has just returned from Norfolk. Encloses undetermined specimen of 'Polypodium'. Encloses a previously undescribed 'Tremella', for which he suggests 'T. vagans'; description and observations. Discusses errors with [William] Withering's 'Acrostichum ilvense'.

No summary available.

Thanks Smith for letters and offer of admitance to the Linnean Society, plans to visit London in 1800. Due to the slow progress of his botanical pursuits some of his discoveries have been anticipated by [James] Dickson and others. Researches have been confined to Aberdeenshire, Mearnshire and Angushire but this includes the greater part of the "Flora Scotica", rich in 'Gramina' and 'Carices' ['Carex']. Has an almost complete collection of Scottish grasses but had trouble with 'Carex'. Anticipates publication of [Samuel] Goodenough's "Monographia" [unidentified]. Anticipates publication of "Flora Britannica" and the positive effect it will have on the difficult parts of British botany. Praises "Linnean Transactions". Has sent specimens for comment of most of his 'Carices' including a 'Festuca duriuscula' or 'Festuca rubra'. Having compared inland and maritime specimens of 'Silene marita' argues that it belongs in its old genus 'Cucubalus'.

Has spent the last eight months in the 2nd Regiment militia which has prevented him from pursuing his botany interests. Glad Smith has seen 'Cycas revoluta', Smith will to determine whether the genus should with the palms or the ferns. Jokes that the "ardour in botanical pursuits is so great" he would not be surprised to hear Smith had found [Carl Peter] Thunberg's 'Disa longicornis', 'Serapias melaleuca' and 'Ixia maculata' in Britain.

Offers to pay [John] Harriman's lifetime FLS subscription, following Lambert's assistance in having him admitted. Her gardener preparing the seeds Lambert sent.

Requests to anonymously pay [John] Harriman's lifetime FLS subscription as FLS. Asks whether Smith thinks the "famous" 'Cycas revoluta' at Farnham Castle, [Surrey], is sage as commonly bought or not.

Recommends John Hailstone [(1759-1847), geologist] to the Linnean Society; his skills and knowledge. Distress of [Richard] Relhan, his wife and seven or eight children; had hoped to make up the sum of money being paid for his herbarium but informed of difficulties.

Encloses authority [extant, as copy] for Smith to take possession of [John Sibthorp's] collections; refers Smith to Lady Sewell and Professor Williams for the journals and other papers.

[Letter to Dr Marlow, President of St John's College, Oxford, and Vice-Chancellor of University of Oxford, from John Hawkins and Thomas Platt (d 1842), one of John Sibthorp's executors, supervised the publication of "Flora Graeca", copy in Smith's hand]: requests that Smith be given all materials required for completion and publication of Sibthorp's "Flora Graeca".

Discussion of [John] Sibthorp's collections and materials for "Flora Graeca". Hopes Smith has received it all, especially large collection of seeds made in his last tour and named by Sibthorp on the spot, names on specimens are otherwise absent due to Sibthorp's "perfect knowledge" of them. Explains Sibthorp's subdivision of "Flora Graeca" into provincial floras including: "Flora Lacynthia" prepared by Consul Foresti; small collection from Maina; sub-alpine plants collected by himself in Crete. Happy to assist in deciphering the vulgar Greek plant names. [John] Flaxman [(1755-1826)] is executing a monument to Sibthorp. Sending specimens of several rock plants, left about 200 with a large collection of seeds in Patras, Greece.

Discussed arrangements for the plates of "Flora Graeca" with [Ferdinand Lucas] Bauer [(1760-1826), botanical artist], who believes he will be cheaper than [Daniel] Mackenzie and wishes for it to be decided by a trial

Embarrassed, as though he agrees with Smith that [Ferdinand Lucas] Bauer [(1760-1826), botanical artist] is the best artist for "Flora Graeca", still thinks a fair trial ought to be given to [Daniel] Mackenzie. Bauer does not expect to procure assistants for the job; requests Smith to have a discussion with Bauer. [John] Sibthorp proposed obtaining cheap engravers from Germany. Unfortunate that all the Grecian seeds have been sown, which Sibthorp had collected to illustrate the carpology of the species; blames Sibthorp's successor. Saw at the Cambridge Botanic Garden some of the plants raised from the seed sent, including a new 'Crataegus'.

Objects to [Ferdinand Lucas] Bauer [(1760-1826), botanical artist] proposal to either be sole artist for "Flora Graeca" or to form a school of artists; proposes both Bauer and [Daniel] Mackenzie be employed. Refers ultimate decision to Sir Joseph Banks. Their dependence on Bauer's assistance.

Has always considered economy of time superior consideration to expense in engravings for "Flora Graeca"; believes the work cannot be solely given to [Ferdinand Lucas] Bauer [(1760-1826), botanical artist] and requires assistance of Mackenzie, as Sir Joseph Banks originally recommended. Recommends enlisting "other artists of merit" such as [James] Sowerby, but unsure how to resolve the issue and requests Smith's opinion as editor. Requests that a drawing be given to Mackenzie to engrave.