Regret at Smith's departure. Found a butterfly she thinks the "great tortoiseshell butterfly", will try to send a specimen. Found a curious bright yellow fungus in the stove house, will send specimen with letter.

Heavy snow fall delayed receipt of Smith's letter of 15 [March]. Condolences on death of Smith's father; comments that in such "melancholy cases" faith is the only recourse and blasts the French for attempting to take from the "wretched" their only consolation. Since his last letter they have been "seriously alarmed" at their daughter's health and Dr [David] Davies of Carmarthen stayed for a week; she is now improving and will come to Londonwith them. Details regarding departure of his sister, Charlotte, with the Kindersleys, to India._x000D_

Everything quiet in this part of the country and if the magistrates had "not acted imprudently" no agitation would have been needed: due to scarcity of food they must import barley or there will be famine before next harvest and got rid of the cavalry to save the horses from eating the poor's oats. Glad to hear that Smith's health improved and invites him to return from London with them for a change of air.

His daughter is now "as well as you can wish her" and she is impatient to see Smith. Country is in great beauty and if they can "fight off the scarcity till Harvest" they shall do well, and he will have the "pleasure of saving this country a second time from a famine". His champagne merchant lives and is offering him fine wine at 12 livres the bottle at Basle, and though he can sell it in France for 30 Louis he "wisely prefers the sterling coin".

Thanks for Smith's letter; pleased to hear he is to visit and gives directions for the most convenient route from Hereford. Coach details and places of interest on the route, including: Lord Maldon's house, Hampton Court, on way to Leominster, built in Henry IV's reign and with a "curious old picture of that king and a fine portrait of Lord Abergaveney"; his mother's house, Croft Castle, five miles on other side of Leominster, which has beautiful woods; Thebden Court, home of Lord Bateman, where there are some good pictures and a "fine statue of Mercury"; and Alderman Hadley has built a new house, Burrington, but he himself is not an admirer of Mr Holland's architecture. Ludlow one of prettiest towns he knows and recommends Smith take a day to see [Richard Payne] Knight's [(1750-1824), classicist] Downton Castle; Oakley Park is also pretty and near Ludlow, and there are magnificent view from the Bishop's Moat.

Thanks for Smith's letter and plant. She has been ill with the mumps. Pleased Smith thought the beetle she found in her father's room and sent curious, she does not want it returned and not disappointed it proved common. Sends coloured drawing of a lichen [extant] by Mr Trossavelli after failing to remove it from the stone. Encloses dried specimen of a fern she has found [extant]. Demands that Mr Edwards write and inform them whether he intends to visit.

Specimen of fern, wrapper annotated by Smith "'[Polypodium] cristatum'", and by Johnes, detailing the location it was found.

Note by Thomas Johnes [on separate folio] that he read the letter before it was sent.

Drawing of lichen [Smith has annotated on reverse: "'L. geographicus'"]

Received Smith's letter of 13 [October]; congratulates him on his approaching marriage. His opinion on his own marriage and the instituiton in general. Dr [James] Anderson staying. Weather "boisterous & rainy" but the cataracts and cascades have been in "high beauty" and never saw Devil's Bridge in "greater glory" than a few days ago, when he was visited by an old school friend.

Coming to London this month but longs for the time, as Falstaff [Shakespeare character] says, when "I can live cleanly & like a gentleman".

Thanks for Smith's letter and his intention to send a box of insects. Sends dried flower of the unknown plant from Constantinople her mother showed Smith in the hothouse [extant]. Dr [James] Anderson is visiting and sends his compliments.

Specimen, wrapped annotated by Johnes.

Received Smith's letter. Weather is cold and stormy. Has sent with her father to London Smith's microscope and a small box of insects. Dr [James] Anderson has found a "very pretty spot" for her flower garden.

Note pasted onto recto of second folio apparently sent separately: also sending with her father the great tortoiseshell butterfly mentioned in earlier letter, a curious beetle, and a "very pretty" insect found in broom tree. Her mother asks Smith to send some of the moss which they make "fireworks of in the playhouse as Sir Joseph Banks says there is some here".

Cold and wet weather has prevented her botanising. Glad Smith safely received microscope and box of insects. Congratulates Smith on his approaching marriage and looks forward to showing his wife [Pleasance Smith] the "romantic beauties of this place". Dr [James] Anderson now well but her father still in London.

Thanks for Smith's letter. Their new gardener from Scotland, Mr Todd, has arrived, he was previously at the Edinburgh Botanical Garden and he knows Smith by name. Dr [James] Anderson is working on her flower garden. Received letter from her aunt, Charlotte, who complains of the heat but is happy and pleased with Mrs Kindersley [probably with Smith's cousins, the Kindersleys, in India]. Her father still in London.

Notes and observations on the 'Hypericum' Smith sent from Wales, which nearly approaches 'H. perforatum' but seems clearly distinct; the 'Gnaphalium' is undoubtedly 'G. rectum'. Comparison of prices for books owned by [Thomas] Johnes' and [Andrew] Fountaine. Finest harvest almost ever remembered, with great bulk of barley, oats, peas, and beans; wheat not quite as good. Death of Lee a "great loss" to Smith. [Andrew] Caldwell's disappointment at frustrated Guernsey trip; suggests he supplies 'Fucus' from Irish coast; Caldwell's promise of supplying Irish halfpence, lists the varieties.

Congratulations on Smith's engagement; his opinion of Mr Reeve; what he has heard of "the lady" [Pleasance Smith, née Reeve]. Corrects observations he made on 'Hypericum' Smith sent from Wales. [John] Pitchford met a surgeon in Wisbech, [Cambridgeshire], who has found 'Orobanche ramosa', 'Dactylis stricata', '[Riccia] glauca' which he thinks 'Riccia natans', and 'Ulva incrassata'. [John] Stackhouse hopes Smith has received his paper on 'Hirniaria glabra'; received specimens of 'Fucus' from him and Velley via [William] Withering, including 'F. elimiathoides' and 'F. defractus'; observations. Coins.

Received a letter from Matthew on great financial distress of [Richard] Relhan, who applies to Smith and Sir Joseph Banks for a subscription to be raised for him at the Linnean Society or elsewhere; unsure of Relhan's current situation. Asks when Smith is next at Norwich; hopes for an introduction to Smith's fiancée [Pleasance Smith, née Reeve]. Asks after elections to Linnean Society, including Abbé Ricolini. Anxious to hear from [Samuel] Goodenough, who is comparing [John] Lightfoot's [‘Fucus'] specimens at Frogmore for their joint paper. [John] Stackhouse's great progress on marine plants; expects him to discover real nature of their fructification and mode of propagation; Stackhouse's paper on 'Hirnicaria glabra'. Arrangements for exchange of coins between himself and Miss [Sarah Sophia] Banks [(1744-1818)].

Mail coaches to Bungay. Enjoyed last number of "[Botany of] New Holland", particularly 'Eucalyptus' for curious construction of its flowers, and 'Styphelia', Mrs Woodward says the 'Mimosa' are "ugly". Asks for most recent copy of "Zoology [of New Holland]". Acquisition of coins. [John] Stackhouse to lend him a parcel of 'Fucus' specimens; Stackhouse's and [Thomas] Velley's publications. [Samuel] Goodenough has sketched a preface for their paper on 'Fucus' but he is "too speculative" in parts of his theory; notes on contents of the paper.

Fears Smith's father's illness is a "symptom of a breaking constitution". Smith's "Flora [Britannica]" "much looked for". Distress of the poor during this severe frost. Transcribes epigrams from Bacon's halfpence.

Condolences on death of Smith's father; recounts the news he received of it. Surprised at Norwich paper listing his age as 68, having supposed him to be 62 or 63. Smith's family will receive consolation from the "uninterrupted harmony" that has always existed between them, and "their love & affection for each other". Glad Smith's health has been better since arrival at Norwich, [Norfolk]. Unsure whether Smith intends to publish the 'Ulva diaphana' in "English botany" or "Linnean Transactions". Corrections to make to his paper on 'Ulva' and additional notes. Condolences on death of François [Borone].

Sorry he is not visiting Norwich whilst Smith is there. His old disorder recurred again, moving between his stomach, ankle and foot, and intestines, leading him and his doctor to think it a "vague & unfixed gout". Sends specimens for [Samuel] Goodenough, and parcel of Bury halfpences for Miss [Sarah Sophia] Banks [(1744-1818)].

Received from [John] Stackhouse manuscript account of several 'Fucus' species, "extremely well" drawn up in English & Latin; expects it to print in May. Also has specimen Stackhouse's 'Ulva punctata' for Linnean Society. [William] Withering's and his own opinion of Stackhouse's abilities. Hopes Smith is recovering from death of his father.

Sends his joint paper with [Samuel] Goodenough on 'Fucus'. Uncertain how Smith is to settle the Linnean Society anniversary meeting which he will be missing for the first time; his absence will be looked upon as "unpropitious to the Society". Also understands Smith is quitting his Marlborough Street house, another "serious inconvenience" to the Society if they are not yet rich enough for their own premises and a caretaker salary.

Sends parcel for [William] Withering and coins for Miss [Sarah Sophia] Banks [(1744-1818)]. Taking Withering's prescription to fix or dispense his gouty condition; keen to get to anniversary meeting to see [Samuel] Goodenough and look over Linnaean 'Fucus' again, as well as Buddle's and other herbarium in the [British] Museum. Sends [John] Stackhouse's specimen of 'Fucus punctatus', his new name for 'Ulva punctata', probably too late for reading of the paper.

Thanks for Smith's "Syllabus [of a course of lectures on botany]". Sorry to be missing Smith in Norwich previous to his going into Wales. His poor health: constant swelling of his foot and ankle and shrinkage of his person. [William] Withering would like Smith to visit him in Birmingham, [Warwickshire]. Glad Smith likes [John] Stackhouse, though does not have a personal acquaintance with him. Concern at Smith's move from London to Hammersmith, [Middlesex].

Ordered to attend the embassy going to Ava, Burma, and anticipates being away for nine to ten months, doubts he will find a draughtsman. Sent Smith plants and seeds via Messrs Mercer and Bryce. Asks Smith to remember him to old friends, especially Baillie Young and Lubboch.

Thanks for seeds [not named] and pleased that the specimen he sent [illegible] has met with approval, the plant of which is the most "beautiful vegetable [he] has yet seen in bloom", and was sketched by Mr Bacon.