Encloses newspaper clipping [extant] blaming unusually high number of dead grouse on moors near Thirsk, [Yorkshire], on tapeworm. Was at Buxton at beginning of moor shooting and heard no similar complaint so it must be localised. [Edward Lascelles, 1st Earl of] Harewood [(1740-1820)], who has his moor, gave up shooting early on second day after finding many dead, and Dr Wollaston opened up a bird and found it full of tapeworms. In the past has seen the worm hanging down several inches from grouse on a bird rising. Thirsk surgeon thinks the cause is last summer's heat and drought killing some plant which is usually an antidote.

Newspaper clipping, see above.

Deserves explusion from Linnean Society from his neglect of it; unsure whether it noticed his memorandum on red viper or if [Thomas] Rackett received his letter on it. Seriously ill for last three years with low nervous disorder which leaves him uninterested in anything, thinks the complaint unusual and lists symptoms: barely able to stand though appetite and digestion good, pulse strong, gaining weight, looks as well as 10 years ago and memory nor judgment failing yet. Has beautiful plants of 'Chrysanthemum indium' like the figures in "Hort Trans" and very successful with "Arach pear".

Laments that his "life has long been a heavy burthen". Encloses his "first step" towards a herbarium. Never heard whether [Thomas] Rackett received his letter on red viper or whether it was read at Linnean Society.

Sends Smith two flowers of 'Portlandia', one of which is for [Jonas] Dryander; not as fine or long as those which flowered at the end of August for a month. Hopes Smith will visit again to see plants in a more favourable season than his last visit.

Thanks Smith for the duplicate book from Linnaean Library which now completes her works of Linnaeus, and for taking the trouble to imitate her book binding. Thanks for "ingenious little Tract" and melon seeds; will accept the plant when it can be sent. If Smith has a stove or greenhouse offers any of her plants. Will view Smith's collections when next in London. Compliments to [Edmund] Davall, sorry to hear of death of his father and hopes to see him before he leaves England.

Sends specimen of 'Phormium hyacinthoides', a new genus. Smith to thank [Edmund] Davall for the coloured plate he sent of his intended work.

Gave Smith's remembrances to Sir William and Lady East, she is a "most charming woman" who received great benefit from being in Exmouth. Sir William has recommended steaming, milk and figs or some softening effluvia for his daughter to promote suppuration and healing of the abscess which now certainly lies in the throat. His sister Mrs Nicholas has returned to London and Dr Moncrieffe prescribes continued use of foxglove though her stomach is destroyed. Bad weather destroyed 'Euphorbia paralias' he found though slowly sending 'Fucus' to [James] Sowerby. Has 'Fucus pulmatus' Lightfoot and is satisfied from his observations at Scarborough, [Yorkshire], that the species is distinct; observations on other varities including 'F. coriaceus', 'F. tureicus', and 'F. hepaticus'. Will save 'Lichen caliendrinus' to "ornament" Smith's head next anniversary. Encloses full sized specimen of Porteus 'Fucus ceranoides' of [William] Hudson and will collect all varieties for Sowerby; thinks he has seen the "Dyers Lichen" figured in "English Botany" but unable to get it off the rock.

Sir William asks what 'Laver' is, being convinced that it is "sea liverwort" and not 'Ulva lactua' of modern botanists.

Sends specimen of 'Catesbaea [spinosa]' specimen with three flowers dropping together, to be drawn by [James] Sowerby for Smith's book ["Icones pictae plantarum rariorum"]; requests copy of the same size as the two other plants Sowerby copied at Hillingdon. Will find out which year William Wallens of Jamaica sent the 'Euphorbia wallinia' to Wimbledon, [Surrey].

Thanks for drawing of ['Smithia sensitivia']. Requests copies of [James] Sowerby's drawings of 'Portlandia' and 'Catesbaea', on vellum if possible. Argues for inclusion of her specimen of 'Catesbaea' in Smith's ["Icones pictae plantarum rariorum.."] as although it is only for plants never figured in colour before, the one in [Mark] Catesby's [(1683-1749)] work is badly done. Smith has not mentioned 'Euphorbia wallinea'; she is most interested in it as her husband was its first possessor. 'Aralia capitata' coming into flower for what she believes is the first time in England; hopes Smith will consider it for inclusion. Complimented by Smith's intention to dedicate book to her, which she hopes refers to her collection of plants "once amongst the earliest & choicest, of this country, & would have been carried on to perfection" but for her want of skill and opportunity.

Encloses unknown species of lily from [William] Curtis [Smith annotation: "'Lilium philadelphium'"]

Sorry that Smith could not view the gardens, conservatory, and greenhouses at Wentworth [Woodhouse, Yorkshire] on account of royal visit expected there, especially as she would have liked Smith's account of the plants there, which were all duplicates of the collection at Wimbledon, [Surrey]; the finest were always sent to Wentworth.

[James] Sowerby visited to draw 'Aralia [capitata]', he also drew life sized 'Pancratium amboinense', sends one of its eight flowers formed like an umbrella, fragrance like 'Cactus grandiflora'. Sends small part of 'Aralia' in full flower; invites Smith and [Richard] Salisbury to see it in person, presumes Salisbury's collection large enough for the plants Smith took for her not to be noticed. Her 'Portlandia' and 'Catesbaea' flowering a second time. [Jonas] Dryander took as yet only flower on the 'Martinia', expects it to be renamed.

Circumference of the umbrella of flowers of the 'Pancratium' is a yard and three-quarters and the bulb is 12 1/2 inches [Salisbury has annotated "probably a variety of 'P. caribaeum'].

Sends flower of 'Martinia' . Asks Smith to visit to view the 'Aralia [capitata]' to decide on its status. Several of the plants received from [Richard] Salisbury's garden are dying; fears it was the wrong time of year for transplanting such tender plants.

Asks that Smith check the botanical books she gave him for any memoranda between the pages, for she is "very choice of anything in that handwriting". Has many copies of ["Hortus Kewensis"] for friends; disappointed to find [Edmund] Davall already has one.

Requests Smith's medical advice for her gardener's bad cough, for which Smith initially prescribed a blister on the chest; he has been taking mutton suet boiled in milk every morning and night which has cured the cough but his voice is hoarse and he has lost much weight.

Sorry to hear of Smith's bad cold though but glad she unwittingly provided a remedy in her last letter [mutton suet boiled in milk taken morning and night]. Her gardener recovered in last three days, he does not think he has had night sweats, shocked to see "a strong healthy person so shrunk in the space of a week" and feared terminal decline. Smith correct that the powders "certainly tend to cure those sorts of fatal sweats".

Glad the recipe she sent [mutton suet boiled in milk] has almost cured his cough. Her gardener, Grieg, is almost better; his lungs had a narrow escape. She has had a stomach complaint but did not seek medical attention, it being rare to meet with physicians with Smith's "sentiments of the imperfection of human knowledge".

Invites Smith and [Joseph von] Jacquin to visit next week; warns Jacquin not to expect her present collection of plants to be the "celebrated" one he heard of as there have been so many new plants since then that she does not think he will see anything new to him.

Looking forward to Smith and [Richard] Salisbury's visit tomorrow morning and hope they will stay for dinner or even the night.

Sent sprig of 'Myrtus tomentosa' via [William] Weddell to be drawn by [James] Sowerby, she and Grieg, her gardener, are unclear on it having previously only seen the specimen [Harvey] Spragg gave Smith last year.

Greig is in London to buy corn and would like to hear Smith's lecture; will stand behind a door if necessary. Grieg has had cough again for three weeks and though appetite strong his voice has altered and his face drawn, she believes these are constant indicators of consumption and asks Smith to examine him. Unless the 'Strelitzia' stays out in flower doubts whether she can come to see it.

Smith and his friend should visit on any day acceptable to them but warns neither her plants nor her buffaloes are looking their best; she lost two young bulls so diseased that they were not safe for dissection. Wishes Smith could have seen how Grieg, her gardener, divided 'Helicornia'. 'Ixora coccinca' coming into flower. [James] Lee says the 'Pancratium' [James] Sowerby sketched is the 'P. littorale' in [Nikolaus von] Jacquin and [Georg Dionysius] Ehret [(1708-1770)]. Pleased her 'Justicia' "comes to so much honour in its old age", never saw it flower before and did not know it was unusual.

Expecting [Harvey] Spragg tomorrow, he wanted Smith to come too but Smith prefers a Saturday. Grieg has not got rid of his cough. She has been ill; blistered her stomach and is now better. Would like to see Linnaeus' manuscript.

His sister Mrs Nicholas has died, "a sad instance of the inefficacy of Foxglove taken early & steadily". Reviews "English Botany" for November and December: wishes 'Saxifraga umbrosa' leaves were figured larger; observed 'Veronica hybrida' and believes it is the same as the 'Veronica spicata' growing near Giant's Hole on St Vincent's Rocks [near Bristol], [William] Curtis also doubted it was 'spicata'.

Has perfect specimens from [William] Hudson of 'Corrigiola'. Hudson did not introduce 'Saxifraga umbrosa' in his "Flora [Anglica]" as it was on a list of plants which Dr [Richard] Richardson [(1663-1741), physician and botanist] of Birely, [Yorkshire], had commissioned to be planted in retired places so that he could afterwards discover them.

Encloses drawings; has no female florets on his 'Eriocaulon sexangulare' , requests Smith's assistance. Sir Joseph Banks and [James] Dickson think the 'Ribes petraeum' in "English botany" is only a variety of 'R. rubrum'; argues against this, small ink sketch. Smith should expect Dickson's "Fasciculus [plantarum cryptogamicarum Britanniae]" soon as he is working on the plates. Encloses a new 'Lichen'. Asks after the 'Ulva' he previously sent

Invites Smith to come to Hillingdon, [Middlesex], tomorrow to meet a Polish Princess who would like to see her plants. Has a Jamaican plant grown from seed in flower that Grieg, her gardener, knows nothing of.