Points out errors with the 'Pulmonaria' in "English botany" no.32, which he previously sent Smith specimens of; lists synonyms. Offers to write a paper on subject for "Linnean Transactions".

Thanks Smith for seeds from Sumatra and Sierra Leone. Sorrow at death of [William] Aiton [(1731-1793), director of Kew Gardens, 1759-1793]; his character.

Her 'Strelitzia' and an old 'Amarylis' no one knows anything of about to flower. Smith sent too many copies of his more books than she claimed: in addition to first large volume of his ["Icones] pictae [plantarum rariorum]". Has [William] Woodville's [(1752-1805), physician] work of medicinal plants ["Medical botany..."], it is beautifully coloured. Disordered by this week's tempestuous weather.

Suitable for Smith and his friend to visit on Tuesday, hopes they will also go to Bulstrode [Park, Buckinghamshire, home of Duke of Portland]. Will manage herself the arrangements for Governor [Arthur] Phillip [(1738-1814), first governer of New South Wales] to visit.

Her Sierra Leone bulbs are now in flower and invites Smith and [Jonas] Dryander to inspect them and [James] Sowerby to draw them. She has been extremely ill but is now recovering.

Sends specimens of 'Lagerstroemia' and 'Tamarindus'. Sorry Smith was away when four or five of her Sierra Leone bulbs came into flower; no one scientific saw them but [James] Sowerby took drawing and she hopes it can be ascertained whether they are 'Hamanthus' or 'Amaryllis', and if Sowerby can replicate the brilliant colour may be worth place in Smith's large work ["Icones pictae plantarum rariorum..."]. Recovered from her inflammatory fever and bilious complaints caused by intense hot weather, her family and labourers suffered the same.

Condolences on death of Smith's brother. Invites Smith and the Sierra Leone travellers [Adam Afzelius and François Borone] to visit when suitable. Another of her Sierra Leone bulbs is flowering. Sending Smith a "little pig" from her farm.

Offers her Westminster Hospital proxy to Smith's preferred candidate; her first consideration is to give it "for a person thoroughly qualified for the office". Her stomach complaints have been bad since visit by Smith and the [Harvey] Spraggs' but she is now taking a draught prescribed by Dr Freeman and hopes it will clear the "billious sort of obstruction". Sorry to hear that [Adam] Afzelius is returning to Africa but hopes it will advantageous for him, will send him dimensions of the matts she wanted made.

Filled in her Westminster Hospital proxy for Smith's candidate just before Mrs [Elizabeth] Weddell and [William Fitzwilliam, 4th Earl] Fitzwilliam [(1748-1833)] both solicited it for Mr Moore. Sent Smith flower of 'Malpighia'.

Sends small specimen of new East India plant in flower, from seed, not like any 'Monandria' plant that Grieg, her gardener, has seen.

[Smith annotation: "'Lopezia'"]

Asks after new numbers of "Icones pictae" and "Spicilegium botanicum". Approves of enlarged "English botany" [from 3 to 6 plates per number], thinks it will increase sales amongst botanists though the number ordered for Bungay has fallen from 5 to 2, previously bought "as pretty pictures".

Expects to hear from [Samuel] Goodenough on 'Fucus palmetta' following his examination of the Linnaean and Sir Thomas Frankland's specimens, asks Smith's opinion of the Cromer 'Fucus' resembling 'F. furcellatus' and Gmelin's 'F. rotundus'. [William] Withering at Lisbon; he had been extremely ill with pulmonary complaints but recovered; happy to hear Smith has approved Withering's 'Agaric' species but the 'Fucus' are a bad copy of [William] Hudson's and thinks Velley should have helped him better.

Discusses origin of turkeys in Europe. Unable to find verse version of the "City & Country Mouse" story. Warns Smith not to fall in love with Princess Elizabeth [(1770-1840), daughter of George III]; rumoured that Dr J Willis did and thought it reciprocal; finds it odd that she, who is "least handsome", has been "most admired"; rumoured that Smith's sister was offered Miss [Fanny] Burney's [(1752-1840), novelist and Second Keeper of the Robes to the Queen] place but refused it. Asks how Smith is to publish his ferns.

Thanks for Bulliard's plates ["Histoire des champignons"]; comments on contents, including 'Clathus cancellatus' and 'Lycoperdon stellatum', which resembles his 'L. recolligens'. His fears that the "present horrible state of France would have put all literature out of the question" have not been realised. Wishes to know L'Héritier's role as a politician, believes he initially took an active part. Shocked by "murder of poor Louis" [Louis XVI (1774-1792), King of France], though it is a mercy for him considering his "uncertain situation". Sees no point in going to war and believes the country is averse to it, regardless of what ministers say.

Unable to provide Miss [Sarah Sophia] Banks [(1744-1818)] with Bungay tradesmen's halfpence as they were not produced on account of high cost. Thanks for lichen and 'Convallaria verticillata' specimens; has Smith's specimen of 'Pyrola uniflora' from Mount Cenis. Hopes to see Miss Lane's drawing of Smith at the exhibition in town; admires her drawing of Smith's eldest sister. Discusses further issues of Bulliard's plates, longs to see L'Héritier's "Geranium".

Requests Smith to add note to his account of 'Lycoperdon recolligens' [from paper on 'Lycoperdon'] to take in information from Bulliard. Does not expect to be at expense for the "Zoology & Botany of New Holland".

[Letter incomplete: lower half of second folio cropped, text immediately following interruption suggests this was the note on 'Lycoperdon recolligens']

Details of his journey and pending visit to London. Expects [Charles] Bryant [(d 1799)] to be "very angry" on reading his paper [on 'Lycoperdons'], expects an attack in the "Gentleman's Magazine". Saw the attack on Smith's 'Geranium lucidum' of "English botany" in "Gentleman's Magazine"; unsure who the author is and attempts to apologise for him. Approves of "English botany" including cryptogams but warns against figuring too many for fear of "disgusting the florists & the ladies". Hopes to send [James] Sowerby 'Cineraria palustris' and others from Yarmouth; doubts whether the drawing of 'Agaric' is the 'Clypeolarias' of Bulliard, as [William] Withering refers to it. Visits from Sir John Rous [1st Earl of Stradbroke (1750-1827), politician] who grows exotic trees in his plantations, does not study them scientifically but knows their names in "Hortus Kewensis".

Thanks for Smith's hospitality in London. Details of his return journey via Huntingdonshire, including Ripton, Huntingdon, and Bury, where he dined with Sir Thomas Cullum and saw 'Holosteum umbellatum' adorning several thatched houses and 'Vicia lathyroides' near the town. At Cambridge saw 'Arabis turrita' on walls of St John's College. Will shortly be at Yarmouth, [Norfolk], from whence he will send [James] Sowerby 'Cinceraria palustris' and 'Convolvulus soldanella'. At Cambridge found [Richard] Relhan "quite crazy"about the "conjuror of Chalgravis" fern, inserted in appendix to "Flora Cantabrigiensis" under name of 'Acidium from Maller's "Systema"; observations including discussion of letter by Sir Joseph Banks on subject.

Urges Smith to contrive a way to visit him at Bungay. Glad Smith met [Dawson] Turner at Yarmouth, [Norfolk]; a "very clever young man [who] will make an excellent botanist"; comments on Lilly Wigg's appearance [(1749-1828), botanist]. Dry weather spoiled the 'Stratiotes' he promised [James] Sowerby. Suffered a strong "fever fit" for several hours last night.

Sends 'Orobanche ramosa' to [James] Sowerby after rediscovering it, only previously figured in "Hortus Romanus". Recovering from fever prevalent in this area. Asks after Smith's activities in East Anglia. Eager to see "Natural History of New Holland". [David Elisha] Davy of Yoxford, [Norfolk], to send Smith specimen of a 'Linum', the same as his 'L. angustifolium' but for Smith to determine whether it is that of Linnaeus'; observations. Sending certificate nominating Davy as a FLS; favoruably compares his botanical skills to those "nomenclators" who memorise names and think it makes them a botanist. Comments on a review in the "Monthly Review" of a work of Smith's and points out errors in review.

Asks if Smith has heard from François [Borone] by the ship just arrived from Sierra Leone; thinks the bad news come from there is from "some warm friend of the slave trade". Notes for Sowerby on drawing the 'Orobanche ramosa'; also sending 'Hieracium umbellatum', 'Epilobium montanum', 'Picris echioides', 'Hedypnois hieracioides' [William] Hudson, 'Achillea ptarmica', all from Bath Hills, and fruit of 'Crataegus torminalis' and 'Rhamnus frangula' of which flowers and foliage sent some time since.

Thanks for "[Botany of] New Holland" and specimens; glad to hear a second fasciculus is printing and a third "Icones [pictae]" will appear. Hopes death of Smith's brother, Richard, was natural, though knowing his situation and "perverseness" had his doubts and fears. Envies Smith his visit to Dr [Nichola] Gwyn in Ipswich, [Suffolk], and Harwich, [Essex]; finding of a 'Mentha' a "very capital discovery", should figure in "English botany", will inform [John] Pitchford, though doubts he will get through his mints. Gave [David Elisha] Davy Smith's specimen of 'Satyrium', as requested, does not grow near Bungay. Glad to see 'Linum tenuifolium'; distinct from their plant and specimens of wild 'L. angustifolium'.

Agrees to [Edmund] Davall's proposal to exchange specimens. Glad to hear of safe return of [Adam] Afzelius and François [Borone]. Has been studying 'Fucus abrotanifolius', 'F. foeniculaceus', and 'F. concatenatus'; detailed observations of each and character descripton of 'F. abrotanifolius'. Heard Smith is visiting Lady Rockingham and other botanical friends before returning to Frogmore [lecturing the Queen and Princesses]. Sends specimen of unknown plant picked at Lowestoft, [Suffolk] [Smith has annotated 'Spergula nodosa'].

Thanks for parcel and "Icones [pictae]"; spirit of the work "seems well kept up". Discusses Linnaeus' classification of 'Fucus foeniculaceus' and 'F. abrotanifolius' in his publications; his and [Samuel] Goodenough's paper on the subject; requests to see the Linnaean specimens. Received message and packet of grass seeds from [Edmund] Davall via Mr Forster, brother of the master of Norwich school. Requests a Sierra Leone penny for Mrs Woodward's collection. Requests Smith's to bring his "Tour" and "Linnean Transactions" vol 2.

List of queries for Smith to resolve if he cannot bring the Linnaean 'Fucus' specimens [annotated "sic in HL" by Smith].

Sorry Smith will not be visiting during his stay in Norfolk, but consoled by promise of summer visit. Laments death of Smith's brother, Richard, "a strong proof, how little great abilities & splendid genius avail, when not under the guidance of judgement, & how dangerous it is for a young man to give away to habits of indolence & inactivity". Admires Smith's "Tour", especially the preface, and thinks they must be "highly entertaining to a general reader", and of special interest to naturalists; problems with the copy; intends to order it in for his book club. Asks after separation of the "Natural History of New Holland" into botany and zoology volumes.

Received letter from [Samuel] Goodenough, who is in "great distress" over a fever at his school which has killed Mr Egereton, only son of Lord [Thomas] Grey de Wilton [1st Earl of Wilton (1749-1814)]; Smith had previously pronounced the boy "short lived". Sends sample of his and Goodenough's paper on 'Fucus'; their plan and comments. Notes on 'Ulva diaphara' of [William] Hudson's he has found.

[In Smith's hand at top of verso of first folio] Notes on 'Fucus capreolatus' Banks Herbarium being 'F. pinnatus' of Hudson.

Forgot to mention that the Cape Coast lily she sent Smith was from the Marquess of Bath, who had it from a young man he sent to Africa; he did not know what part of Africa it was from.

Her hot-house and conservatory in "great prosperity"; she must leave without seeing 'Blackaea trinerva', 'Eugenia jambos', and "more curious things" flower. Her gardener, Muns, will send Smith anything he desires. Received 'Geranium tricolar' from the Queen [Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744-1818)]. Sorry to hear of Smith's loss from Sierra Leone but glad the colony goes on well [Adam Afzelius was stationed there as botanist to the Sierra Leone Company]. Fears [Richard] Salisbury has forgotten his promise to give her a plant of 'Sterculia balanghus'.