Letter received by Banks from James Edward Smith, 16 December1802 (Series 72.172) - No. 0001

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Norwich Dec.r 16. 1801.

My dear Sir

     We are very happy the turkey proved as acceptable as we wished it.  The first of your winter flock will be the bearer of this letter on Saturday if the farmer keeps his promise.

     The packet you were so good as to send me contained only proposals for a work on Agriculture by Rev. D. Walker of Edinburgh. 

     When we compared our herbariums I wrote on the Specimen of the umbelliferous plant w.ch now proves to be Ligusticum Balearium, "confer Laserpitium Chironium in Herb. Banks."  This is all I know of the matter.  I have the same plant from Broussonet (gathered at Gibraltar) as an Athamanta, which it really is. 

     I shall without disguise tell you all I know, or rather suspect, about the matter to which I alluded in my last, knowing I may trust to your honour as the secrecy, & also that you will give me credit for a good intention if I prove mistaken.  But I must promise that I have never seen the letter, nor any thing else of Peter Porcupino's.  I know that only by report, for I hate to contaminate my mind or temper with such sort of political writings on