Congratulates Smith on his knighthood, which his "state of long rustication" had left him ignorant of. Does not agree with rewarding men for personal achievements with hereditary baronetcies, which "should evidently exclude a Richmond Apothecary, & many others". Conveyed [Alexander] Macleay's letter on [William] Travis' [(1771-1851)] case [request to be readmitted to Linnean Society] directly to him to prevent further doubts, having already told him that from the circumstances he had no chance. Questioned his son on his marriage intentions following a letter from Smith.

Does not know 'Chrysanthemum indium'. [James] Lee did not sent the mulberries he requested for pots, he had two on a south wall which bore nothing. His Ribston and Newtown pippins keeping well, as well as his Carlisle codlings raised from cuttings there is no better baking apple.

Complains that a shooting pony he originally paid £10 for has so far cost about £100 in taxes, with an additional £40 should it live another four years.

Smith's letter from Dorset on his son's marriage intentions more accurate than his own information; he is to marry Miss Murray, daughter to [John Murray, 4th] Duke of Atholl's [(1755–1830)] late brother, Lord George, she is 24 and he 31. Nerves broken by alarming accounts of his brother in Cheltenham, [Gloucestershire], son's marriage, and Lady Frankland's declining health.

Received Smith's letter of 11 [June]. His enjoyment of this house; "it is really the nicest cradle for old age" and intends to spend winter here. Shortly returning to Hafod, [Cardiganshire]. Asks Smith to order "empyreumatic lignious acid" for him; anxious to try it on flesh and fish. Asks if Smith has seen Slater's "steam kitchen", "one of the cleverest and most useful inventions". Looking forward to Smth and [Thomas William] Coke's visit to Hafod; his high opinion of Coke. Smith's opinion that we may be near the end of the French Revolution is "very just", though not as near as the ministers think; French politics.

Confirms that it was his friend Merivale who wrote the verses for Miss [Mariamne] Johnes' epitaph [his daughter]; Merivale's character and other work. Dreads the effect of her memorial, to be erected shortly.

Sends copy of his "Extracts [from Bruce's travels in Abyssinia]", as an explanatory note to his edition of Theophrastus he sent Smith last summer ["Theophrasti Eresii de Historia plantarum"]

His shame at never accepting [Thomas William] Coke's invitations to Holkham, [Norfolk]; envious of his and [Andrew] Fountaine's "splendid collections"; will try to visit Smith soon but not this summer. He is recovering well thanks to Dr Darwin, and has not seen such a physician since [Thomas] Beddoes [(1760-1808), chemist and physician], "and he is more prudent".

Setting out for their new purchase in Langstone Cliffe Cottage, near Exmouth, Devon, some time next month. Frost and snow at Hafod but now thawing. Asks Smith to acquire a keg of cured herrings from Stiles of Norwich, [Norfolk], who cures them "superior to the Dutch"; he wants his countrymen to cure them the same way.

Discusses plans for proposed visit by Smith, [Thomas William] Coke, and Dr Parr to Allerton in September. Intends to write further on 'Scitamineae' plants; asks Smith to provide details of plant they examined in [Edward] Rudge's "Plants of Guiana" and [Etienne Ventenat's] "Jardin de Malmaison" and provides rough ink sketch and comments on appearance. Will not comment on the "astonishing events we have lived to see in the political world". Has not seen Smith's mother in Liverpool yet.

Less busy than he was when Smith was recently staying and going to London tomorrow to switch from bankers Sir J Erdaile and Co. to Jones Loyd and Co. He has been entertaining the Archdukes John [Johann (1782-1859)] and Lewis [Louis (1784-1864)] of Austria for last three days; comments on John's character; they are also going to Scotland and Holkham to see [Thomas William] Coke, showed them his unfinished portrait of Coke. Apologises for any anxiety he may have caused Smith recently. Asks Smith to send the 'Canna' drawings to London.

Postscript in left hand margin of verso of first folio: Mr Martin [Smith's brother-in-law] has separated from his partners.

Just received copy of [William] Roscoe's "Leo X"; thanks Smith for introducing them to each other and praises Roscoe's character. Intends to visit Roscoe at Allerton [Hall, Roscoe's home near Liverpool, Lancashire] this September or October, asks Smith to accompany him. Has given Roscoe four dozen manuscripts to be bound.

He and his daughters thank Smith for present of the "two fruit-pieces"; Smith can retain the 'Canna' drawings for the present; sending Smith tracings of [Charles] Plumier's [(1646-1704) botanist] drawings and volume of poems collected by Mrs Riddel, for Lady [Pleasance] Smith.

Shocked by reports of the burning of Holkham, [Norfolk, home of Thomas William Coke], until realising impossibility of finding a mob to injure the man "who is the pride of Norfolk", though sorry to hear of the "ignorance & brutality" at Norwich. Expects to see Smith and Coke at Lord [Thomas, 1st Viscount] Anson's [(1769-1818)] this year.

Imagines Smith enjoying delights of Allerton Hall, [Liverpool, home of William Roscoe]. In "raptures" with [Edward] Gibbon's [(1737-1794)] "Memoirs", discusses the work and Gibbon in detail. News of their Norfolk friends. Sending blond herrings to Lady Anson [Smith's host at Shugborough, Staffordshire].

[Letter incomplete: folio[s] missing, presumed destroyed]

Returned [from India] at the end of August. Confusion over Smith's current location. Going to Scotland in October, stopping by the way of Bawtrey, Nottinghamshire, to drop off a little girl that came home in his charge, but would like to see Smith. Intends to settle in Edinburgh but this depends on the inclinations of his sister who may prefer to live in the country.

Received Smith's letter of 25 September. Prevented from meeting Smith but will endeavour to do so the next time both are in London. "That vain, empty creature Lord Moira" [Francis Edward Rawdon-Hastings (1754-1826) 1st Marquess of Hastings, Governor-General of India, 1813-1823] has seized all his natural history drawings made during his survey of India and disrupted his publication plans. Proposes an alternative scheme and discusses the benefits and drawbacks of writing in English or Latin. At present Edinburgh is the most eligible location for settling. Wishes to join the Linnean Society.

Apologises for not having written sooner. Sending Sicilian plants, two maniples and copies of his published pamphlets via William Swainson. Asks whether in future he could send his manuscripts, with sketches and illustrations, to be inserted into ["Linnean Transactions"], so as to save printing costs.

Thanks Smith for letter of 12th January, in response to his of November 1813, grateful for solution to his "doubts". As requested has sent a small number of local 'Orchidaceae' and a few 'Rosa' with his own names but corrections would be welcome, believes the whole genus of American 'Rosa' needs revision, has enclosed some specimens he thinks are rare and seeks Smith's opinion. Has refrained from involving Smith in the "chaos" of 'Asters', 'Solidagines', 'Hedysara', and 'Vaccinia' caused by multiple names for single plants. Encloses his "Florula Bostoniensis". Hopes to produce a Flora of New England but it is "the custom in this country to promise more than we perform", but hopes for encouragement from his appointment as lecturer at Harvard College. Caused an American edition of Smith's "Introduction to Botany" to be published. Sorrow at death of Dr [Henry] Muhlenberg. [José Francisco] Corrêa [de Serra] is in Tennessee.

Seeks election to Royal Society; asks for support of Smith and Dawson Turner; Sir Benjamin Hobhouse [1st baronet (1757-1831), politician] and Mr Ellis of the British Museum have also pledged their support. Requests introduction to Sir Joseph Banks.

[Smith has noted his reply on recto of folio]: would recommend to Banks and will confer with Turner.

Thanks for recommendations; will not present his testimonial to Royal Society until Smith arrives in London. Sir Benjamin Hobhouse [1st baronet (1757-1831), politician] requests that Smith's signature stands first [on nomination certificate].

Encloses copies of biographical memoir of "our late excellent friend", for Lady Althorp [Esther Spencer (1788-1818), wife of John Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl Spencer (1782-1845)].

Introduces [George Wilson] Meadley [(1774-1818), biographer]. Believes he has found new species of 'Malva' and 'Lotus'.

Introduces [John] Britton [(1771-1857), antiquarian and topographer], who is preparing a work on Norwich Cathedral and would like to consult Norwich antiquarians.

He has been constantly unwell since last seeing Smith; wishes for Smith to superintend the printing his Indian Flora ["Flora Indica"], under Smith's "own man" Taylor. Has had some discussion with [Robert] Brown on subject; they thought it best to translate the generic and specific characters into Latin and leave the rest in English; he is unable to take any active part in it.