Satisfaction at the Peace; Institut to acquire all of Smith's works; desire duplicates of Jamaica plants.
Pays tribute to the late Lady Russell [Georgiana Russell (? 1768-1801), 1st wife of 6th Duke of Bedford]. Desires opinion on 'Pyrus aria'. Despairs at [James] Sowerby's apparent negligence with specimens he sent him.
Sends the contents of a parcel from Stockholm, Sweden, and the the [Johann] Hedwig volume requested by Smith. Suggests a plant of Smith's is 'Orobus sylvaticus' owing to the stipulae. Thanks Smith's mother for turkeys.
Has delayed sending the books Smith requested as he has heard that books are being stopped at Calais until the signing of the "definitive treaty" [Treaty of Amiens, signed 25 March 1802, which temporarily ended hostilities between the French Republic and the United Kingdom. It lasted until 18 May 1803 when Britain declared war on France]. On arrival to Paris delivered Smith's letters to [Andre] Thouin and [Aubin-Louis] Millin, news of both including evening meetings at Millin's house. Has seen most of the "curiosities of Paris" including statues and pictures in the Louvre and lists some of the works, and a hundred pictures by Rubens pillaged from churches in the Low Countries and now in Paris.
Begs for natural history news, especially of the new 'Carex' species discovered since he last wrote. Fears all are mistaken over his 'Carex fulva'; left specimens in all stages of growth at the Linnean Society for verification. Identifies himself as the one to ascertain [John] Lightfoot's 'Carex tomentosa' as Linnaeus' 'C. filiformis' after begging the Queen [Charlotte (1744-1818), wife of George III] to examine her herbarium for the purpose. D[awson] Turner insists on writing to him even after being informed that his neighbour [Thomas] Woodward knows as much [about 'Fucus'], Turner talks of a work on 'Fucus' but has urged him to a "tentamen confervarum". Is about to receive a French paper on the fructification of 'Confervae', will inform Smith of anything striking. Deterred from visiting London by the expensive accomodation.