George Williams, Oxford, [Oxfordshire], to James Edward Smith, Norwich, [Norfolk]

Received Smith's "Compendium florae Britannicae", a work of this kind was greatly needed by botanists. Has an interest in producing a similar work for foreign botany for the use of travellers, some views on its probable contents. Sorry that Smith did not come to Oxford, fears the desiderata from [John] Sibthorp's collections are either already with Smith or lost: was always surprised by Sibthorp's lack of care with his original specimens. Asks if Smith has settled Sibthorp's 'Verbascum' and 'Campanula'. Wishes that Smith had observed that the Oxford 'Orobanche' was 'Orobanche elatior' and not 'Orobanche major'