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]

Encloses letter from [Joseph] Sabine, secretary to the Horticultural Society, for Smith's opinion on the proposal [that the Horticultural Society have daily use of Linnean Society's rooms]; doubts how far the Society ought to give the constant use of its rooms to another Society for the sake of "a few pounds".

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]

Observations on 'Lignum cyprinum', following an article in "Linnean Transactions"; has compared it with specimen of the same in [Richard] Pococke's herbarium, in the possession of Baker, and compares it to the 'Liquidamberi arbor' of [Leonard] Plukenet's "Phytographia", identified by [Paul Dietrich] Giseke as the 'Liquidambar styraciflua' of Linnaeus, and 'Acer campestre' from [Caspar] Bauhin's "Prodromus". Offers Smith any information from Pocoke's herbarium if required.

Outline sketch of leaf on verso of second folio.

Has made his own experiments on growth of wood similar to those of [Jean-Baptiste] Du Hamel as described by Smith in "Introduction to Botany" and offers one to the Linnean Society. Also offers a specimen of petrified moss.

Necessary for him to make an addition to his 'Tofieldia' paper before it is printed.

Objects to the Horticultural Society having daily use of Linnean rooms as it would "endanger our property", and be "extremely burthensome" to [Robert] Brown and the servants, "not on acc[oun]t of that Soc[iet]y most of whose members are our friends, but because there will unavoidably be strangers, gardeners &c, up & down", but if agreed to the Horicultural Society ought to pay at least £100 per annum; he has "always felt that we should be more dignified if we had our house to ourselves". Intends to be in London by end of April.

Sending the specimen of wood and petrified moss for the Linnean Society as offered in his previous letter. Has made an experiment on wood growth with a willow similar to the one that Smith has intentions of doing himself, and offers to send a specimen if requested.

A theological observation inspired by Smith's "Introduction to Botany", 'Monocotyledones' and Matthew 6:26-29 ["consider the lily of the fields"].

Disputes Smith's attribution of 'Fragaria indica' as a new genus in "Linnean Transactions" and [Abraham] Rees' "Cyclopedia", countering Smith's observations with his own, taken from his own plant given him by Lord Valentia [George Annesley]. Would like to show Smith his collection around 1000 hardy herbacious perennials, would be grateful if Smith could suggest anyone with whom he could exchange. Toured Scotland in 1811 but did not make any botanical discoveries. Has [John] Mackay's [(1772-1802), employed at Dickson nursery, Edinburgh] Irish 'Saxifragas' from Edinburgh. List of plants and their habitats.

Council unanimously rejected application of the Horticultural Society [to use Linnean rooms everyday]. [Thomas] Marsham paid £50 of his debt. Bishop of Carlisle [Samuel Goodenough] objects to Council meetings being held after General meetings, but [William George] Maton and [Edward] Forster can only attend Council in evening; believes opinion of Council members who regularly attend should be given precedence.

As "English Botany" is almost finished asks Smith to reconsider the genus 'Circaea', encloses a specimen from a Yorkshire plant and a 'Circaea alpina'. Through comparison with Linnaeus, [Carl Ludwig] Willdenow, and [William] Withering, believes 'Circaea alpina', 'Circaea intermedia' and 'Circaea lutetiana' are all distinct. Contests the validity of separate genera for 'Potentilla' and 'Tormentilla' when 'Potentilla reptans' and 'Tormentilla reptans' have the same flower. Thinks that 'Geranium lancastriense' and 'Geranium sanguineum' are distinct, his observations. Would like to be introduced to [George] Don's successor. List of rare British plants, hopes for assistance from Smith's friends in acquisition, [some of the names are marked by circles with dots in the middle].

Butt puzzled by a 'Rubus' which grows in a nearby wood, gives descriptions in Latin of three varities and in English of his variety, which he thinks may be a hybrid of raspberry and blackberry, would like Smith's observations.

Wishes Smith success with his Cambridge candidature. Agrees with Smith that "the small 'Circaea'" is 'Circaea alpina' but thinks it differs from that in "English Botany". Has not made any further observations on 'Rubus'. 'Glechoma hederacea' is known in his neighbourhood as "ground ivy" and "robin-run-in-the-hedge", a tea is made from it for "scorbutic complaints".

His trip to London delayed by an influenza attack but hopes to be there by 5 May [1817]. Proposes Sir Christopher Pegge [(1764-1822), physician] as a Council member. Essential for [Thomas] Marsham to repay more of his debt before Linnean Society anniversary meeting.

Received Smith's letter of 25 April. Expecting to leave [India] in two years and will bring with him a large collection, although it will not be as interesting as the one from Nepal. His collection of fish is more curious and increasing rapidly, has been unable to trace more than a few in Lacépède. This year is working in the Bhagalpur district of India. A squabble the previous year between the British and Nepalese governments has prevented him from obtaining seeds and flowering specimens of the officinal plants of the Indian Alps. Has managed to procure specimens of one genus, similar to 'Caltha', two species used for medicinal purposes and resemble either the 'Ranunculus arvensis' or 'Ranunculus acris', and another species which is one of the most violent poisons known in India and is used by the natives on their arrows.

Received Smith's letter of 7 May. Remarks on Indian weather and seasons. Has visited Agra and Allahabad. Now in the Gorakhpur district, where he plans to finish his survey, followed by a short trip to Hurdwar and then returning to England via Calcutta next year. Has been collecting the flowers of 'Scitamineae' orchids and 'asclepiades' in spirits as dried specimens are not satisfactory and the want of an appropriate terminology prevents a full description. His collection is large and various, eager to show Smith so as to have a new terminology for fructification developed. Concerned its bulkiness will result in high duties but hopeful of meeting with a Lord of the Treasury as obliging as the Marquess of Blandford was on the last occasion.

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.