Reliable account, from one of his labourers, of a hedgehog sucking udder of a cow, who 30 years ago whilst walking to work at 4 in the morning saw a cow stand up and a hedgehog fall from its udder. [Thomas] Bewick [(1753-1828), ornithologist] does not comment on this disposition whilst [Thomas] Pennant argues against it on account of smallness of the hedgehog's mouth; will ascertain this by measuring.

Feelings increasingly frail in mind and body, especially his legs, and has not been angling or worked in his workshop for sometime, and last year's shooting ended his sporting life. Received Banksian medal from Horticultural Society for his Green Egyptian melons. His son and daughter-in-law are creating a flower garden in the wood.

Read [Thomas] Rackett's "Linnean Transactions" paper on red viper ['Observations on a Viper found in Cranborne Chace, Dorsetshire' (1819)] and recalls a memorandum he gave Sir Joseph Banks 30 years ago on how as a boy, five miles from Newbury, [Berkshire], he saw "a small serpent with a red belly" the length of slow worm bite a greyhound, which survived but had an extremely swollen neck in morning. Considered it to be a sort of slow worm and suggested the name 'Coluber chersea', the memorandum will be in Banks' loose notices.

Pleased to hear of Smith's new work, "for to promote any study the greatest facilities should be given", believes that Valpy's and Jones' modern English-Greek Grammars would have saved him much time in his youth. His opinion on sexing of woodcocks changed, having considered opinions of Irish sportsmen and dissections made by Duke of Gordon.

Unconvinced by Horticultural Society's proposal for 33 acre experimental garden near Chiswick, [Middlesex], as the institution at present is already expensive, keeping up the garden could only be done through repeated calls for funds from members, and it will only be useful for publishing, for if the produce is sold then the nursery gardeners will be injured. Smith has not noticed his hedgehog anecdote.

Postscript on "Charms of fox-hunting", large portion of text missing from removal of address label on opposing side.

Returns Smith the curious Nepalese plant as he does not preserve exotics. Smith and he agree on use of "shall" and "will" and encloses copy of home instruction for use [not extant]. Encloses copy of letter he sent to [Thomas] Rackett [extant] describing his childhood sighting of red viper near Newbury, [Berkshire], and suggests name 'Coluber chersea', to be read as response to Rackett's "Linnean Transactions" paper.

Received seeds of Bergamont mint from Peru from his son. They have great prospect of fruit; used oiled paper frames to save from cold on open wall. Attempting to have green melons for 4 June anniversary but fears will be too late. Gave away cucumbers yesterday.

[On separate folio] "On the Red Viper - in a letter &c Feb. 1822", response to Rackett's paper on the red viper [2 pp]

Uncertain whether received his letter on red viper or whether the extract he sent Smith has been read at Linnean Society. Recently read of subscription for statue of Sir Joseph Banks by [Francis Leggatt] Chantrey [(1781-1841)] but ignorant whether the statue he subscribed the maximum £10 for in August 1820 has been executed yet, and does not think a second should be undertaken till the first is completed. Expresses disapprobation at Horticultural Society's "gigantic scheme" for a 33 acre experimental garden.

Sent [James] Sowerby 'Fucus tomentosus' and will send other marine plants. Observations on local plant 'Eryngium campestre'. His daughter's symptoms: regular chills followed by slight heats since last August but nothing prevalent till the last week; Dr Hunter of York and Dr Downman of Exmouth both conclude the lungs not affected but an abscess in her throat; Hunter prescribed bark and port wine but the bark disagreed with her bowels but now absorption of matter has given way to regular expectoration of pus, loss of flesh and appetite and hair, uncertainty whether the pus is from the lungs, trachea or oesophagus but supposes a large quantity can only come from the lungs. Delightful climate. Lady East reads Sertularice and [John] Ellis [(1710-1776), botanist] daily.

His pamphlet in great demand; encloses copy titled "Percussion Locks" which includes three engravings of woodcocks by [Thomas] Bewick [(1753-1828), ornithologist] but drawn by himself and son [extant]. Glad his red viper "has at last bitten somebody's fancy".

Pamphlet entitled "Percussion Locks", by Frankland.

Admires Smith's dedication to Mrs Corrie [in "A grammar of botany"]. Relieved [Thomas] Rackett received his letter on red viper. Superiority of percussion-locks. His recent health: after failing in strength for several months had a nervous seizure in July and felt low until thoroughly engaging himself in Buxton, has been assured it is not palsy and is all nervous; Buxton apothecary attributes it to neglected costiveness, Buxton doctors.

Encloses note [not extant] on corn measures. Has a profusion of peaches and nectarines; they were secured in the spring with oiled paper frames. [John] Crewe [1st Baron Crewe (1742-1829)] and party are visiting and brought green Egyptian melons for which the Horticultural Society awarded him [Frankland] the Banksian medal, but which Lord Crewe's gardener calls the Litchfield prize; supposes it has won a prize and that Lord Crewe obtained his seed from that which he [Frankland] sent the Horticultural Society in 1820 when it was new. Frankland has grown the same melon for some years so there is no contamination and the variety is kept pure.

Identified a 'Senecio lividus' in furze from figure in "English Botany", encloses specimen. Four line poem on himself entitled "The Ruling Passion", on love of sports in spite of ill health, dated 1821.

Encloses newspaper clipping [extant] blaming unusually high number of dead grouse on moors near Thirsk, [Yorkshire], on tapeworm. Was at Buxton at beginning of moor shooting and heard no similar complaint so it must be localised. [Edward Lascelles, 1st Earl of] Harewood [(1740-1820)], who has his moor, gave up shooting early on second day after finding many dead, and Dr Wollaston opened up a bird and found it full of tapeworms. In the past has seen the worm hanging down several inches from grouse on a bird rising. Thirsk surgeon thinks the cause is last summer's heat and drought killing some plant which is usually an antidote.

Newspaper clipping, see above.

Deserves explusion from Linnean Society from his neglect of it; unsure whether it noticed his memorandum on red viper or if [Thomas] Rackett received his letter on it. Seriously ill for last three years with low nervous disorder which leaves him uninterested in anything, thinks the complaint unusual and lists symptoms: barely able to stand though appetite and digestion good, pulse strong, gaining weight, looks as well as 10 years ago and memory nor judgment failing yet. Has beautiful plants of 'Chrysanthemum indium' like the figures in "Hort Trans" and very successful with "Arach pear".

Laments that his "life has long been a heavy burthen". Encloses his "first step" towards a herbarium. Never heard whether [Thomas] Rackett received his letter on red viper or whether it was read at Linnean Society.

Gave Smith's remembrances to Sir William and Lady East, she is a "most charming woman" who received great benefit from being in Exmouth. Sir William has recommended steaming, milk and figs or some softening effluvia for his daughter to promote suppuration and healing of the abscess which now certainly lies in the throat. His sister Mrs Nicholas has returned to London and Dr Moncrieffe prescribes continued use of foxglove though her stomach is destroyed. Bad weather destroyed 'Euphorbia paralias' he found though slowly sending 'Fucus' to [James] Sowerby. Has 'Fucus pulmatus' Lightfoot and is satisfied from his observations at Scarborough, [Yorkshire], that the species is distinct; observations on other varities including 'F. coriaceus', 'F. tureicus', and 'F. hepaticus'. Will save 'Lichen caliendrinus' to "ornament" Smith's head next anniversary. Encloses full sized specimen of Porteus 'Fucus ceranoides' of [William] Hudson and will collect all varieties for Sowerby; thinks he has seen the "Dyers Lichen" figured in "English Botany" but unable to get it off the rock.

Sir William asks what 'Laver' is, being convinced that it is "sea liverwort" and not 'Ulva lactua' of modern botanists.

His sister Mrs Nicholas has died, "a sad instance of the inefficacy of Foxglove taken early & steadily". Reviews "English Botany" for November and December: wishes 'Saxifraga umbrosa' leaves were figured larger; observed 'Veronica hybrida' and believes it is the same as the 'Veronica spicata' growing near Giant's Hole on St Vincent's Rocks [near Bristol], [William] Curtis also doubted it was 'spicata'.

Has perfect specimens from [William] Hudson of 'Corrigiola'. Hudson did not introduce 'Saxifraga umbrosa' in his "Flora [Anglica]" as it was on a list of plants which Dr [Richard] Richardson [(1663-1741), physician and botanist] of Birely, [Yorkshire], had commissioned to be planted in retired places so that he could afterwards discover them.

He has no positive recollection of [William] Hudson's opinion on 'Ulva flavescens' and 'U. diaphana', though it appears he doubted any distinction, having only done so from size; [James] Sowerby's drawing "very bad" according to Dawson Turner. Sowerby has still not drawn the 'Fucus torrertosus' he recommended.

Notes and observations on 'Ulva diaphana'; encloses specimens. Had thought that Smith's Hafod drawings were to be engraved in wood by a student of Bewick's.