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.

Has had letters from [Thomas William] Coke and [Andrew] Fountaine on their pleasure at meeting Roscoe. Describes recent extreme weather. Thanks Roscoe for his efforts advocating him at Cambridge [in his candidature for botany professorship]; aware of prejudice of St John's College but has support of [Charles Howard, 11th] Duke of Norfolk [(1746-1815)] who has great influence there. Expecting [William] Smith next week as steward of their ball, and they are to have a common hall "to give a kick to the income tax".

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.

Thanks for Roscoe's letter of 8 April, parcel of [Charles] Plumier [(1646-1704) botanist] drawings and book for Lady [Pleasance] Smith. Staying at his cousins the Kindersleys house; his wife at Lowestoft caring for her invalid parents._x000D_

With [Thomas William] Coke saw a picture of Napoleon being crowned king of Italy, painted at Milan, being sold for £1500. Details his and Coke's plans for their Lancashire visit and possibly Hafod, [Cardiganshire, home of Thomas Johnes]; invites Roscoe to join them. No comment on public affairs as it is all in the papers, excepting that there "still seems a backwardness for war". He is halfway through his lectures, which are well attended by a "very elegant & fashionable audience". Deaths of Dr [Joseph] Brandreth [(1746-1815), physician], and one of Mrs Reeve's sons. His mother thinking of travelling to Liverpool. Pleased that Roscoe is binding some of Coke's manuscripts. Received great encouragement from Bishop of Bristol [William Mansel] regarding Cambridge [his candidature for botany professorship].

Received kind letters from Norwich [on death of his brother, Francis], and [Thomas William] Coke has arranged for him to spend a week in Liverpool with Fanny [Smith's sister], to then meet Coke at Lord Derby's, Allerton [Hall, home of William Roscoe], and returning to Shugborough [home of Thomas Anson, 1st Viscount Anson (1767-1818)] to meet the Duke of Gloucester [Prince William (1776-1834), chancellor of Cambridge University]. Arrangements for his return to Norwich and their visit to [Dawson] Turner. Account of his brother's funeral.

Account of his time here: visited Mr Tollit, whose wife is a great botanist; the Duke of Bedford [John Russell, 6th Duke] requested to become a FLS; the guests. [Francis] Buchanan[-Hamilton] returned from the East Indies and is to live in Scotland; they hope to meet occasionally in London.

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]

Describes party in the drawing room. Account of his time in Liverpool, including: visits to Fanny [Smith's sister]; heard Mr Houghton's and Dr Parr's sermons; took up his abode at [William] Roscoe's; saw Mrs Bickersteth; opinion of Fanny's children; improvements at Allerton [Hall, Roscoe's home]; meetings with Lord Derby [Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby (1752-1834)] and Lord Stanley [Edward Smith-Stanley, 13th Earl of Derby (1775-1851)], has engaged the latter to become vice-president of Linnean Society after [Thomas] Marsham's death; [Thomas William] Coke's increased attachment to Roscoe; several great dinner parties at Allerton; met Dick Roberts, the "learned Welch fisherman, [...] more wonderful & horrible" than he had imagined; dinner at Ince with Mr Blundell.

After leaving Liverpool he and Coke went to Lord [John] Crewe's [1st Baron Crewe (1742-1829) in Cheshire; opinion of Crewe Hall and Lady Crewe, before returning to Shugborough to meet Duke of Gloucester [Prince William (1776-1834), chancellor of Cambridge University]. His plans for returning to Norwich. Continuing grief for Francis [Smith's brother].

[Letter incomplete: folio[s] presumed destroyed]

Given a frank by the Duke of Gloucester [Prince William (1776-1834), chancellor of Cambridge University]. Ambivalent about his return to Norwich, [Norfolk]. Thanks for note about the Master family. Met [William] and Mrs Hooker at Liverpool, and Simon Wilkin. Received a "most kind sensible" letter from sister Francis [widow of Smith's brother], who can live on what they have but is reluctant to give up the trade for the sake of her sons. Also received a letter from Frederick [Smith's brother], in financial difficulties. His high opinion of Lord Anson [Thomas Anson, 1st Viscount Anson (1767-1818)]. [Thomas] Marsham recovering but his affairs in bad order owing to his son's extravagance._x000D_

He has been free of headaches but his "fat or fulness" unaffected by travelling. Richard Kindersley [Smith's cousin] has attained his fellowship. Duke of Gloucester and Blackwells send their compliments.

Directions for sending letters. Dined at Royal Society club, in attendance were the Duke of Somerset, 5 baronets, 6 esquires, Dr Herschell, and "your devoted knight". Dined at [William George] Maton's and afterwards attended Lady Anson's assembly; description. Visited the Duchess of Grafton and her daughters.

[Letter incomplete: second folio cropped, presumed destroyed]

Pleasance's "long bullace" curious, though the specimens now too dry to examine. Attended the theatre to see Miss O'Neil as Juliet [in "Romeo and Juliet"]; "not extravagantly delighted". His last lecture was on 14 June with plants from Kew, seemed well liked. Dined with Richard Kindersley [Smith's cousin] at Mrs Wiggin's, delighted with Miss Nicolay's singing; dined at C Scott's. Pleasance's writing box in "great honour, & much admired". Dined with the Hudson Gurneys, Mr and Mrs Hanbury alone; Jemima Kindersley [Smith's cousin]; saw Richard Westall [(1765-1836), painter], whose property all to be sold; dined at Mr Stracey's; Dr [Martin] Davy of Caius [College, Cambridge], who is interesting the Duke of Gloucester [Prince William (1776-1834), chancellor of Cambridge University] in his Cambridge concerns; attended Stephen Weston's "long promised" lecture on Chinese porcelain. His mother has departed for Liverpool, [Lancashire]. He has heard too many new waltzes to decide which to dance with Pleasance's mother._x000D_

Anxiety about politics; the engagement they had [Battle of Waterloo, 18 June 1815] a "serious one" and it is in vain the ministerial papers "make a triumph of it"; [Alexander] Macleay says the Belgian troops ran away. Plans for his return to Norwich, [Norfolk].

[First two folios letter of 7 September from Holkham]: Thanks Robert [Pleasance's brother] and all concerned for the ring. Encloses copy of what [William] Roscoe has written in his "Leo"; the manuscripts "admirably restored & bound" and to fill a room next to present library and dedicated to Roscoe, with a specially commissioned portrait of him the only picture. Account of his journey to Holkham [home of Thomas William Coke] and its guests, including Dr [Martin] Davy, and Coke's heir, Sidney.

He and Coke leaving tomorrow for the Marquis of Tavistock's [Francis Russell, 7th Duke of Bedford (1788-1861)], Lord Bradford's [Orlando Bridgeman, 1st Earl of Bradford (1762-1825)], Wynnstay [estate of the Wynns, Denbighshire] for the Agricultural Meeting of 13 September, Hafod, [Cardiganshire, home of Thomas Johnes], Shrugborough [home of Thomas Anson, 1st Viscount Anson (1767-1818)], and Liverpool.

[Next two folios continuation of 9 September from Oakley]: Account of their journey from Holkham; [Charles] Abbot here, opinion of Lord and Lady Tavistock. Account of Sidney's illness.

Spent an agreeable day at Oakley, [near Bedford, home of Lord Tavistock, Francis Russell, 7th Duke of Bedford (1788-1861)] with Lady Tavistock and [Charles] Abbot, whilst the rest of the party were farming. Account of their journey from Oakley to Weston, [home of Orlando Bridgeman, 1st Earl of Bradford (1762-1825)], via Woburn [Abbey, home of John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford], Ampthill, Northampton, Coventry, and Birmingham. Account of dinners at Weston. [Thomas William] Coke's indisposition. Kindness of the Duke of Bedford and Lord Tavistock, who spoke well of his Cambridge concerns; considers their acquaintance a "great acquisition". Impossibility of getting to Hafod [home of Thomas Johnes], Lord Grey's, or Rose Castle [home of Samuel Goodenough]. Their future movements. Indebted to Coke. Expects Sir Watkin's agricultural meeting to be "much fun", will also visit Llangollen and other celebrated scenes; badness of the roads for reaching Hafod.

Shock at "miserable news" of death of "poor dear Francis" [Smith's brother], received in letter from Mr Martineau. Kindness of [Thomas William] Coke in delivering the letter, comforting him, cancelling their planned excursion to Wynnestay, [Denbighshire, for an agricultural meeting], and coming straight here [home of Thomas Anson, 1st Viscount Anson (1767-1818)]. Resolved to see Fanny [Smith's sister] in Liverpool; his grief.

He has written to his mother and sister-in-law Francis [following death of Smith's brother, Francis]; anxious to hear news from Norwich. Describes the party and scenes at Shugborough [home of Thomas Anson, 1st Viscount Anson (1767-1818)]; George Blackwell is his constant companion. His grief. Intends to go to Liverpool to see [William] Roscoe and Fanny [Smith's sister].

[Letter incomplete: lower half of second folio cropped, presumed destroyed]

Irregular post. Their future movements, including trips to Liverpool to visit [William] Roscoe and return to Shugborough [home of Thomas Anson, 1st Viscount Anson (1767-1818)] to meet the Duke of Gloucester [Prince William (1776-1834), chancellor of Cambridge University]. Grief [at death of his brother, Francis], hopes to console himself with Fanny [Smith's sister]. Charms of Shugborough and its inhabitants.

[Letter incomplete: final lines of second folio cropped, 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.