Has specimens of 'Poa bulbosa' from France, Syria and Switzerland but not England. Has compared his specimen of the 'viviperous' variation against two texts. Not sending his 'Clumae' as his specimens are foreign. Comments on grasses.

Fears that the packages from India he has sent by waggon may be damaged in transit. Detained in London by experiments with alloys at the Mint.

Has received a letter from [Pierre Marie Auguste] Broussonet in Tangier, [Morocco], and forwarded to Smith a parcel of specimens collected in Barbary by Broussonet. Is sending a collector to New South Wales, asks for any papers from "Linnean Transactions" on plants of the area. Has received letters from [Friedrich Conrad] Hornemann, who was intending to set out for the interior of Africa on 12 September, following difficulties with the French. Thanks Mrs Smith for turkeys.

Received Smith's letter of 11 May, charmed by the description of Hafod, [Cardiganshire], and its owner, [Thomas Johnes]. Gives advice on the growing of yellow turnips, shall send Johnes a barrel of these and a barrel of German wine. Impressed with Johnes' planting of 670,000 trees in a year, remarks that such planting is unknown on mainland Europe although he is involved in the foundation of a nursery containing 1,500,000 plants, with which he intends to plant four-fifths of Holstein as an example to others. Received Smith's "Tracts" and letter sent via [Bracy] Clark, requests Smith's "Syllabus of botanical lectures". Currently has no time for botany as the promotion of practical agriculture and the Poor Institute take up all his time.

Sending second part of first volume of his edition of "Species plantarum". Will send Smith rare plants and diploma of their Society of Natural Scientists in a month's time.

Requests a specially bound copy of Smith's "Insects of Georgia" for the Bodleian Library, Oxford. Asks for recent specimens of Lichens used in medicine or in the arts, and whether any foreign author has recently written on the anatomy of plants.

Received the two volumes of Smith's "Insects of Georgia". Thanks for Lichen specimens.

Visit of Mrs Kett [of Seething Hall, Norfolk] to Oxford Botanic Garden, "it is singular on any occasion to meet a lady who is really conversant with plants". Informed that Smith is "destroying" a new 'Verbascum', hopes that Smith will soon examine this genera but believes Smith better employed working on 'Gramina' and mints ['Mentha']. Informed of Smith giving the name 'Campanula alpina' to his plant 'Campanula rhomboidea', which resembles 'Campanula pulla' in habit and foliage. Accepts Smith's offer to send specimens of each species and variety of mint ['Mentha']. After seeing Smith's new genera in last issue of "Linnean Transactions" suggests that the name 'Danbeia' be given to a new genus in honour of Henry Danvers [Earl of Danby (1573-1644)], founder of Oxford Botanic Garden.

His principle studies and enjoyments are of divinity, natural history, and music. Requests specimens of 'Crocus neediflorus', 'Crocus sativus' the saffron crocus, new specimens from "English Botany", and cryptogamics. A report circulating that [Thomas] Pennant "is at last dead". Asks if Smith has 'Bromus' specimens, particularly of the affinities to 'B. mollis', 'B. secalinus', 'B. arvensis', and 'B. erectus'. Will send Smith the 'Scirpus' found on the Welsh hills, at present thinks it 'Scirpus capitatus' of Linnaeus. In going over [John] Lightfoot's herbarium surprised to find there is no 'Ulva', he has named some of the 'Fucus' from his paper and asks why they do not appear in "English Botany". Looking forward to peace and a renewed exchange of the arts and sciences in Europe following "our great and repeated victories" which are exposing "the folly of French principles".

Relates facts and circumstances in case of a void legacy concerning Mr Norton, [Nathaniel] Kindersley, and Mr Harpur. Account of his tour through the north of England. [Adam] Afzelius to visit Smith in Norwich, [Norfolk]. Lack of papers at the Linnean Society; a motion passed not to publish "Linnean Transactions" until the first meeting after the summer recess.

Read Smith's paper at last Linnean Society meeting to a "numerous audience", and never meets with less than 30 on a general night now, still short of papers for next meeting. Asks Smith's intentions for coming to London. Death of [Thomas] Pennant; thinks it a "shame" that none of his works were presented to the Society. Recently afflicted with "a severe fit of the stone". Requests description of 'Scarabaeus conspurcatus' if in Linnaean collections to clear confusion over it, and a magnified sketch by Mrs [Pleasance] Smith or one of his sisters. Criticises preface of Paykull's "Fauna Suecica", intends to attack both him and Fabricius in his own [for "Entomologia Britannica" (1802)].

Thanks for Smith's description of 'Scarabaeus conspurcatus', also requests its measurements. Sorry to hear Smith suffers so much with his health, and thanks Smith for recommendation of "Mephitie water" [for his kidney stones], which he took with some success in 1794, but is now suffering from them again. Confirms death of [Thomas] Pennant.

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.

Writes on behalf of her husband, Edmund, who is too ill to write himself.

Address written in Davall's hand.

In red ink at top of first folio: "Mr Davall's last unfinished letter".

Revived by Smith's letter of 17 January 1798. His health totally destroyed, intellect affected and faculty of speech impaired at age of 35 by "frequent attacks of one of the most terrible" convulsive disorders. Fears he was too copiously bled on 2 February 1797, losing 150 ounces between that date and end of March and blisters applied to his leg caused violent cramps and tortured his nerves. Attended by a too young doctor trained at Pavia who thinks his ills come from an obstinate constipation caused by too frequent use of purgatives. Has taken a deluge of 'Valerian officinalis', 'Cinchona officinalis', flores zinci, 'Moschus', 'Viscum album', and since 10 January wholly on milk diet.

Letter unfinished and unsent, enclosed in Henriette Davall's letter of 10 October 1798 informing Smith of Edmund's death.

Relieved to receive Henriette Davall's account of his health. Thinks Davall's disorder is debility and prescribes Peruvian bark taken in peppermint tea, does not see the benefit of a milk diet and recommends plain light meats, warns against too debilitating a plan in case it causes apoplexy, fits, and fainting, not to load stomach with physic or food, take light plain broth or a little solid meat and keep bowels gently open. For uneasiness in head recommends bathing legs and feet in warm water before bed. Suspects he has taken too much physic and has too "Sangrado-like" a doctor [sangrado, Spanish for bleeding].

Lists his plans and destinations for year. Continuing work on "Flora Britannica" though currently cannot do more than five plants a day, just through 'tetrandria', grasses very troublesome. Sorry Davall has not received "English Botany" 42 to 66 he sent with letter of 2 November 1796 listing his reasons for moving to Norwich - domestic comfort, cheapness, command of time, and good air, his health much better. Offers to send "English Botany" and [James] Sowerby's "Fungi".

Note on letter received 7 May [1798].

Glad that Bracy Clark is with Davall, has received full account of Davall's health and symptoms in Clark's letters. Concludes that Davall chiefly needs repose. Reassures Davall not to worry about the fate of England, "every nerve will be exerted in National defence", he relies on "our navy, which has always saved us". Would like to send his just printed "Tracts relating to natural history". "English Botany" to be doubled to twelve plants a month. Extremely busy: his plans for next few months. Requests seeds of 'Pinus cembra' for [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert as he is writing on the genus.

Note for Bracy Clark on second folio, cropped.

Account of Edmund Davall's illness.

Death of Edmund Davall, encloses his last unfinished letter to Smith.