Sends his compliments to Smith's family, looking forward to seeing Smith when he is next in London. Positive about the [unstated] news from Portugal.
Comments on Smith's class name 'Kuamos' ["Cyamus" transliterated from Greek alphabet, appropriated in English as "legumen"], its use by ancient botanists and how they distinguished 'Cyamus agyptius', which is '[Cyamus] nelumbo', from 'Cyamus hellenicus', which is "the common bean". Conjectures that the Ancient Greeks used it in a similar way to the English word "bean" and compares this with other languages and cultures including the Ancient Egyptians. Discusses the etymology of the Greek words and approves of the name. Botanical publication news: [Carl Peter] Thunberg's "Monographia of the Hermannia" and [Thomas] Velley and [John] Stackhouse's works on 'Fucus', critiques them for their obscure and vague physiological sections, which has inspired him to write his own memoir on the fecundation of submersed plants. At [James] Lee's with [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert experimented with success on the phenomenon of the irritable flowers of 'Verbascum', asks Smith to do the same at Norwich, gives instructions. Observed the same behaviour in Portugal with 'Verbascum thapsi', 'Verbascum sinuatum' and 'Verbascum blattaria', intends to write a paper on it for the Linnean Society. Bower is about to publish the "Digitales". [Archibald] Menzies has written to Sir Joseph [Banks] from Valparaiso, Chile, and is returning to England in a few months. Wishes to become acquainted with [Casper von] Voght after reading his "benevolent" pamphlet.
Broussonet left Gibraltar a month ago, entrusting him with parcels of plants and seeds for Smith and Sir Joseph Banks, and letters of introduction to Smith. Introduces himself and requests Smith's advice for studying natural history; he was formerly a canon, but forced to flee France at the end of 1792; took refuge in Spain; has gathered good collections of plants, insects, and shells, without books or other resources. Intends to embark from London on receiving letters of recommendation from Smith and Banks.
Sending Siberian plants delayed by the war in Holland.
Returned to Oxford "with some affection of the lungs", bathed in tepid bath at Brighton and now nursing himself with asses' milk and gentle horseback exercise, considering a trip to Bristol. Details of journey from Greece: travelled from Zante, leaving [John] Hawkins there, to Otranto with excursion to Nicopolis, from Acona through the Tyrol. Visited [Johann Christian Daniel von] Schreber [(1739-1810)] in Erlang, Germany, who has monograph on 'Carex' ready, will adopt [Samuel] Goodenough's names if he receives a list, also ready with fasiculus of 'Gramina', intends to send Schreber 'Carex strigosa' and 'Carex indica' if Smith has duplicate of latter. Visited [Georg Franz] Hoffmann in Göttingen who has greatly improved the garden and is compiling a pocketbook synopsis on German Cryptogamia.
Told by [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert of "great treasures brought by [Francis] Masson [(1741-1805), Kew plant collector], [John] White and [Archibald] Menzies". Would like Smith to send "Icones picta" of Jacquin. Grief at death of François Borone, does not believe any of the other servants took any of his belongings. Last heard that Hawkins had gone to visit Ali Pashaw [Ali Pasha of Tepelena (1740-1822) Ottoman Albanian ruler of western part of Rumelia, Ottoman Empire's European territory] in Thessaly, Greece, in good health but "under alarm from robbers".
His son a victim of the Revolution; his work in Nat. Hist.; acquisition of books.
Received packet of Smith's publications and collection of New Holland [Australian] plants, particularly pleased with "Icones pictae plantarum" and "Tour on the Continent", would like to translate latter into German. Pleased with [John Blachford] who is staying with him after Smith's introducing him, teaching him botany whilst [Johann Friedrich] Blumenbach teaches him "chineralogy", hopes he will become "a Lightfoot for Ireland". Has heard from Dr Harrison that Smith is engaged in a new "Systema Vegetibilum". Shall send Smith his "Plant. Veg. Subterran." as soon as it appears. Thanks for election as FMLS.
Received Smith's letter of 16 December, unfortunate timing as [Pierre Marie Auguste] Broussonet might then have travelled on the "Boston". Abbé Correa's [José Corrêa de Serra] friendship with Broussonet has caused him to be superseded in the previously promised position of public librarian, amongst other "mortifications". The emigrant Dukes of Luxembourg and Coigny took umbrage with Broussonet and applied to "the Council" to have him sent away. Explains that Portugal is under a "weak, irresolute though arbitrary" Prince [John (1767-1826) regent of Maria I, later João VI] surrounded by a "corrupt, ignorant, bigoted, intriguing court", laments confinement of Duke de Lafoens [John de Braganza, uncle of Maria I] who may have imposed some order. Is sure Mr Walpole would undertake Sir Joseph Banks recommendation in protecting Broussonet and obtaining leave for him to stay as long as convenient. However, knowing the the inconvenience he has caused Correa, Broussonet has resolved to leave for Gibraltar immediately, carrying a letter to Mr Pinto, the secretary of state; another from Mr Walpole, with his letter to General Rainsford, and the admiralty order. Anxious to hear of him, observes that "once a man's affairs get into a wrong train, it is often so difficult to set them right again". Ordered Smith's "Tour" as soon as he heard of it.
Sending specimens: the 'Agaricus' he promised, agrees it is probably 'Agaricus quercinus' although does not agree well with description of [Jacob Christian ?] Schaeffer in Relham; 'Clavaria' which may be 'Clavaria pistillaris' or 'Clavaria ophioglossoides'; a posible 'Lichen globosus'; a 'Peziza'; and 'Epilobium ramosum' with an epiphyllous 'Lycoperdon' growing on it. Asks for advice on how to stuff birds, for two of his pupils interested in ornithology.
Had heard from [Thomas] Velley that Smith was ill but infers from the advertisements for his series of lectures that he has recovered. Offers to send specimens of the 'Avena sterilis' she has planted as thanks for Smith's observations on it, remarks on the "animated flowers". Asks if Smith knows of a "Guernsey lily", which [Carl Peter] Thunberg believes to be from Japan, flowering a second time from one root, in England, without the use of a hothouse, as hers has. Details of how she achieved it, quotes [Thomas] Fairchild [(1667-1729)] from one of [William] Curtis' "Botanical Magazines", believes the same may be true of 'Amaryllis sarniensis'. [John] Stackhouse to visit, he is about to publish work on seaweed.
Trying to identify sources for prints of horses for his "regenerated m.s. of the Introduction [to the Arctic zoology]": asks from which book the annotated print of a male onager he received from Pallas was from; two other prints taken from "Neue Nordische Beyträge" [presumably a journal], believes one of them also from Gmelin's "Voyages" in Sir Joseph Banks' library, asks for an artist to copy it. Asks if Lord Macartney brought anything relative to zoology [presumably George Macartney, Earl Macartney (1737-1806) diplomatist and colonial governor in India].
Sends drawings of fungi for a paper for "Linnean Transactions", delayed by publication of first part of "Mycological Observations" ["Icones et descriptiones fungorum minus cognitorum.."?]. New edition of [Johann] Hedwig's "Theoria generationis", asks Smith to advertise it in England. [Heinrich Adolph] Schrader received Smith's plants.
Sends paper to be published in "Linnean Transactions" [probably "Plantae Bedfordiensis", read 2 June 1795]; unable to attend Linnean Society anniversary meeting to present it in person.
[Note in Smith's hand] list of members of the Royal Family and remark "success to L. Soc, to study of N. Hist.".
Condolences on death of [François] Borone. Brief account of [Thomas] Rackett, [Charles] Hatchett [(1765-1847) chemist], and [William George] Maton's tour of Cornwall and Somerset. Thanks Smith for naming 'Pultenaea' for him, asks if figures of the species could be published in "Linnean Transactions". Sending copy of his catalogue of Leicestershire plants.
Oriani writes: Grief of Luigi Borone and family at death of his son François, received the news from Smith's letter of 10 February. Borone grateful to [John] Sibthorp, the Consul and other Englishmen who ensured his proper burial. Luigi Borone leaves François's herbarium to Smith and asks him to sell the rest of his London belongings, find out the whereabouts of his savings, and send on the money.
Borone writes: Intense grief at death of his son, asks for a copy of Smith's portrait of him.
Thanks for Smith's letter. Laments death of [James] Lee [(1715-1795), gardener] and loss of his friendly communications. Pleased that Smith's trip to Wales was a success, believes it will be "for the general benefit of science" for Smith to have similar opportunities. The negligence of his gardener has forced him to give up cultivating stove plants and convert his stove into a forcing house for grapes and peaches. The stove plants have been sent to a cousin in Yorkshire but has reserved for himself 'Strelitzia', 'Pulmeria rubra', 'Xylophila latifolia', and 'Portlandia', offers to send any to friends of Smith; half of the 'Strelitzia' is already in Lady de Clifford's stove [Sophia Southwell]. Lady Rockingham [Mary Watson-Wentworth] recovering only very slowly from her illness, believes it originated from repeated "injudicious" bleedings several months ago.
Happy that Smith has accepted his 'Strelitzia'. Reassures Smith he has not lost his partiality for plants in disposing of his stove but has only tired of being disappointed by "ungrateful and worthless" gardeners. Thinks his new gardener will be better. Hopes that Smith's move to Hammersmith will not deprive him of his company.
Asks Smith to look over the fasciculus of ["Nereis Britannica"] as far as it is finished and to show it to the Linnean Society. Notes on his intentions and other matters, including: apprehension that no sexual office has been attributed to the "air bladders" [of seaweed], and perplexed by the urn-shaped vessels in fronds of '[Fucus] serratus vesiculosus'.
Discussion of Linnaeus' definiton of reproductive organs of plants and [Thomas] Velley's criticism of his remarks on same in the preface of ["Nereis Britannica"]. Quotes from a letter by Velley to himself discussing this further and the absence of floresence in seaweed, gives his own botanical opinion of the matter.
Informed by [Thomas] Woodward that Smith approves of his work ["Nereis Britannica"]. Inspired by his disupte with [Thomas] Velley [over floresence of plants and seaweed] to investigate seaweed fructification with a microscope, details some of his observations, particularly the production of seeds and air bladders, from examination of: '[Fucus] vesiculosus', 'F. spiralis', 'F.nodosus', 'F. carnaliculatus', 'F. siliquosus', 'F. digitatus, 'F. polyschides', 'F. palmatus', and 'Ulva umbilicalis'. Shall send samples of two or three sea plants. Sending his paper on 'Herniaria glabra' which rectifies other authors' previous errors, including sketch and specimen [see RelatedMaterial below]. Believes the lack of reviews for his book is due to his not having advertised it very widely.