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His daughter's health good. Requests Mr Crown's and Mr Hatchett's forenames. Poplars which came two days ago are now laid in the ground. His daughter [Mariamne Johnes] has benefited from prescribing herself "some vinous tincture of Rhubarb", though she complains of a pain in her right thigh which he supposes is caused by the stay pressing on a muscle. Material for coats.
Has begun work on a new road to join that from the [Devil's] Bridge. Todd [his gardener] has planted almost all their available trees, which now number almost 300,000, and they are now waiting on supply from Scotland, when the number will be close to a million. Weather "unkind and fluctuating, but always ending with wet". Regrets placement of his kitchen garden.
Thanks for Welsh plant specimens. Does not doubt that 'Adiantum' is a different species; will preserve specimen of 'Pelargoniam' for Smith; thanks for specimen of 'S. albidna'. Death of Dr [Nicholas] Gwyn.
Sends copy of "Bauer's drawing done by Ennis" [not extant]. Asks is Smith intends a paper on the new genera he mentioned [unnamed]. Sir Joseph Banks has undertaken direction of the engravings [for Lambert's book "Description of the genus Pinus"] after being shown the drawings. Asks if 'Pinus orientalis' is in the Linnaean collections or anything else worth observing, and whether there is any information in Peter Collinson's [(1694-1768) botanist] letters, mentions Smith's intention of publishing them. Presided at Linnean Society, paper read on "the zoology of Leith" by Robert Jameson. Mungo Park [(1771-1806) surgeon and traveller] has returned from Africa "with great discoveries".
Finds that no.427 [of "English botany"] they settled on for 'Tragopogon pratense' is already occupied by 'Humulus lupulus'. Encloses drawing of 'T. farfara' no.429; he will bring the rest, with the 'Boronia', to Sir Joseph Banks'. Considering beginning vol 7 [of "English botany"] with 'Epimedium alpinum'.
List of plants for plates 415-435.
Thanks Mrs Smith for turkey. Unable to recommend Bracy Clarke to the directors [Executive Directory, body of five directors that held executive power in France, 1795-1799] for obtaining a passport, but nevertheless admires his acquirements as a veterinary surgeon.
Note on letter received 5 February [1798].
Sorry to have not written since 2 November 1796; informed by Bracy Clark that Davall is in bad health. His move to Norwich successful and happily settled with wife and no children. Has been in Wales treating [Mariamne] Johnes' diseased spine. Working on "Flora Britannica". Anxious to send Davall continuation of "English Botany". Has been studying [William] Sherard's [(1659-1728)] herbarium at Oxford and can now settle 'Mentha' to his satisfaction: gives botanical characters of 'M. arvensis', 'M. gentilis', 'M. sativa', 'M. pulegium', and thinks there are no real differences in species between 'capitate' and verticillate'. Publishing a volume of "Tracts relating to natural history"; contents. Lady Rockingham often asks after Davall.