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'"]

Confirms that her health has been bad since Smith's last visit but implores him and his three friends to still visit. Grieg, her gardener, has been confined for five weeks after injuring his leg climbing over a gate but has escaped fever and mortification. Her botanical zeal low recently. Prefers eating 'Convolvulus batatas' [sweet potato] to potatoes.

Apologises but will be too ill to receive Smith and his two friends on Saturday, though they should still visit on their way to Bulstrode [Park, Buckinghamshire, home of Duke of Portland]. Warns Smith that her garden is not currently looking its best.

Acknowledges Smith's postponement of his visit on account of her ill-health and hopes the next time he visits the [Harvey] Spraggs will be of the party. Grieg, her gardener, disappointed Smith did not come as he had got the plants in best order possible. Will send seeds.

Her "very uncomfortable state of health" has caused her to neglect her friends but hopes to see Smith soon. Asked [John] White [(1757-1832), surgeon in New South Wales] to convey her regret at Smith's intention to move to Norwich, [Norfolk], and invites him to visit before he does so, though also accidently invited White when she would prefer Smith's conversation "without the company of a stranger". Belatedly congratulates Smith on his marriage.

Disappointed not to see Smith before he left, especially as was in Windsor, [Berkshire]. Thanks Mrs Smith for Norfolk cakes and requests the recipe. Returns copies of Smith's "Spicilegium [botanicum]" and "[Icones] pictae [plantarum rarorium]" and requests others, and sends a Sierra Leone 'Amarylis' to be drawn by [James] Sowerby, requests the name. An exchange of fasciculi with set of late [Harvey] Spragg's.

Enquires after [John] White [(1757-1832), surgeon in New South Wales], Mrs [Elizabeth] Weddell reports that he "had got what he wished" although not sure what that is other than it being "ten shillings a day". Imagines White saw a lamentable scene at Portsmouth, [Hampshire]; she fears "all things are growing worse & worse". Wishes to subscribe to the work Smith mentioned.

Thanks for Smith's "rich cargo" of Norwich biscuits; uses them medicinally when she has a dry mouth and throat in the night. Smith's visit to Wales must have been "truly gratifying" on account of "being the means of restoring health to a beloved Daughter of a beloved Friend" [Mariamne Johnes, daughter of Thomas Johnes]. Invites Smith to visit on his return journey and details of the roads from Bath, [Somerset].

Apologises for not being able to send recipe for "those little cream cheeses". Her health better recently and freer from "those billious pains & sensations that are so tormenting both to the body & the mind".

Asks Smith's opinion of [Nikolaus von] Jacquin's new book ["Plantarum rariorum Horti Caesarei Schoenbrunnensis"] as whilst she is tempted by "so many beautiful lillys [sic]", price of 30 guineas for two volumes is "enormous" and whether he thinks it will be Jacquin's last work, in which case she would purchase it. Requests fresh supply of Smith's Norfolk buns as they check the spasmodic wind in her chest. Suffering from the extreme hot weather but her eyelids and incessant tear in her eye are better after Mr Phipps' application.

[Smith annotation: "I have only seen some plates of Jacquin's work, but I think you sh'd have it"]

Hopes Smith's health is as good as the last time she saw him. Sends gift of two Mortlock china tea-cups with Vatican borders, similar to those he admired of hers. Thanks for packet of seeds and box of biscuits. Her health varying but stomach complaints less severe.

Congratulates Smith that Admiral [Horatio] Nelson [(1758-1805)] is his countryman. Requests another box of biscuits.

Pleased by Smith's intention to visit her on his way to Oxford. She has been so ill with a painful arm that she recently cancelled a visit from [William Fitzwilliam, 4th Earl] Fitzwilliam [(1748-1833)] and Lady Fitzwilliam.

Cannot find any of the 'Bromus' he suspects is 'B. squarrosus' but encloses coloured drawing made by his sister [extant]. Encloses the grass [not extant] he previously mentioned to Smith, small sketch in ink illustrating a point about its growing, it differs from 'Poa rigida', [William] Curtis is growing it from a root from foot of St Vincent's Rock, [near Bristol].

Coloured drawing of plant [Smith has annotated: "'Bromus secalinus' JES"].

Received letter from [William] Curtis as if taking leave; Frankland wrote him a local case of angina pectoris being cured by following Dr Fothergill's advice in the "Medical Observations" but Curtis thinks his disorder is not that.

Unable to find Curtis' misquotation of Morrison in 'Lobelia ursens' article from having copied [William] Hudson and note he does not quote Hudson at all for that plant. Agrees that Curtis wrong to criticise Smith's use of terminology useage for 'Sageria corastoides'. Pleased with Smith's progress on the "Flora" and thinks the size and number of volumes does not matter, finding no description objectionable for its length except [Adam Afzelius' paper on] "3 certain 'Trifolia' in "Linnean Transactions", highlights [Richard] Relhan's as being particularly gratifying.

Would prefer a Botany Bay genus to be named after himself though admits he has contributed nothing to the botanical world though he has many drawings of 'Confervae' which he has not published. Gathered 'Viola canina' in full flower this week; proof of mildness of weather. Unsatisfied with his understanding of elms and confused by the different English, Dutch, and Cornish names for the same species. Encloses elm leaves [not extant]: large leaf of English elm, also sent to him from Wiltshire as Dutch elm; a narrow leaf with smooth twigs corresponding with enclosed marked as "common English Elm" from Circencester, [Gloucestershire]; obervations on elm bark.

Gave his 'Confervae' drawings to [Wilson] Lowry [(1762-1824)] to be engraved but unaware of their progress as his London contact and brother-in-law is in Bristol with his ill wife, Frankland's sister, who is being treated with foxglove. Criticises [James] Sowerby's "English Botany" of July, "he is more slovenly in his engraving as he advances". Smith forgot his habitat for 'Carex digitata' of Thorp-arch woods near Wetherby, Yorkshire, gave some to Mr Peirson and Dr White. Knows nothing of [William] Curtis' affairs and whether his works will be continued [Curtis died 7 July 1799], though expects the "[Botanical] Magazine" will be as it is so profitable.

Sir Joseph Banks is marking his sheep with earrings and amused by Frankland's method of calculating cattle breed developed from a genealogy table he created for a litter of pigs, which he copies for Smith on recto of second folio.

The moors so wet this season that riding is impossible and game is scarcer. Encloses undisclosed package. Mr Peirson an unambitious man who will be gratified by Smith's insertion of any two of his habitats; his qualities. His sister's illness: since marrying at 18 she has had 11 children, is now 39 and breeding and anxious attendance of children have worn her out; Dr Fraser diagnosed tubercules on her lungs, she came to Bristol after lowering plan, hemlock and herbane failed; Dr Moncrieffe confirmed Fraser's opinion and at first gave fruit and cooling diet alone and since then foxglove; in letter of 12th her pulse varies but is sometimes 100 and when the fever is on her cough abates and vice versa, complains of difficulty of access to the wells from Clifton, a great evil considering bad season in which he does not see fruit or corn ripening.

In Exmouth on account of his daughter; she has been unwell for months and recently more so though believes her lungs are not affected and that the disorder is nervous. His sister has received great benefit from taking foxglove under Dr Moncrieffe though just received letter that a fresh tubercule is inflaming. Beddoes currently has five ladies under his care, each in a hammock in a close room with an Alderney cow.

Will send any marine plants he finds to [James] Sowerby though presently none are washed up and the rocks are barren except for 'Fucus vesiculorus' and 'Ulva compressa', 'Rubia' on cliffs, and '[Calystegia] soldanella', 'Crygium campestre', 'Cuphorbia' and he supposes [William] Hudson's 'Ononis repens' on sand banks between cliffs and beach. Complains that having expected to live on John Dory can get nothing but small whitings and herrings every two or three days.

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.

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.

Sent sprig of 'Myrtus tomentosa' via [William] Weddell to be drawn by [James] Sowerby, she and Grieg, her gardener, are unclear on it having previously only seen the specimen [Harvey] Spragg gave Smith last year.

Greig is in London to buy corn and would like to hear Smith's lecture; will stand behind a door if necessary. Grieg has had cough again for three weeks and though appetite strong his voice has altered and his face drawn, she believes these are constant indicators of consumption and asks Smith to examine him. Unless the 'Strelitzia' stays out in flower doubts whether she can come to see it.

Smith and his friend should visit on any day acceptable to them but warns neither her plants nor her buffaloes are looking their best; she lost two young bulls so diseased that they were not safe for dissection. Wishes Smith could have seen how Grieg, her gardener, divided 'Helicornia'. 'Ixora coccinca' coming into flower. [James] Lee says the 'Pancratium' [James] Sowerby sketched is the 'P. littorale' in [Nikolaus von] Jacquin and [Georg Dionysius] Ehret [(1708-1770)]. Pleased her 'Justicia' "comes to so much honour in its old age", never saw it flower before and did not know it was unusual.

Expecting [Harvey] Spragg tomorrow, he wanted Smith to come too but Smith prefers a Saturday. Grieg has not got rid of his cough. She has been ill; blistered her stomach and is now better. Would like to see Linnaeus' manuscript.