Discussion of a plant used for stupefying fish and its use by ancient Greeks and Romans. The plant has the modern name 'Euphorbia characias' and 'Verbascum sinuatum'. [John] Sibthorp said that 'Mercurialis annua' is now used for catching 'Scarus'. A further reference in memoirs of the French Institute on the fishing of the "ancients". A long extract from "His. Plan. IX.c.10", in French. Asks Smith's opinion on this, and the use of '[H]ellebore'. Sibthorp says the three plants with this quality are 'Conium maculatum ', 'Euphorbia characias', and 'Verbascum sinuatum', asks Smith to add the modern name 'Cyclamen'. Transcribes account of a herb being used to gather fish, sent by a friend travelling in Greece.

Had to delay forwarding Smith's letter to [Francis] Boott. [Alexander] Macleay confident that [Thomas] Marsham will repay the money but [Robert] Brown not sure, concern that the affair will bring the Linnean Society into "great discredit". Brown thinks [Edward] Rudge has exagerated the business. [William Elford] Leach did not at first state that Marsham had paid £300 for the lease of the Society's Gerard Street house. Marsham's debt found to be £700, not the £600 originally stated by others, including [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert.