Lady Rockingham's [Mary Watson-Wentworth] character. She was 68 years old on 4 August last year. Himself, Mrs Thornton, and Grieg, her gardener, attended her to her burial in York with two mourning coaches of 6 horses each in addition to 6 horses on hearse and another mourning coach and 6 horses which met her at Doncaster, [Yorkshire], on orders of [William Fitzwilliam, 4th Earl] Fitzwilliam [(1748-1833)]. A great number of her Badsworth, [Yorkshire], tenants and her respectable friends were at York, and a great number of shops were shut up as a mark of respect.

Regrets that Hillingdon and all the stock are to be sold but does not yet know about the plants.

Praises Smith's "Exotic Botany"; flattered by the dedication. Criticises Smith for his treatment of "the poor snail" [Smith's response to criticism of his "Flora Britannica" in the "Monthly Magazine"] and thinks [William Fitt] Drake would have handled it better; applauds Drake's appearance in "Annals of Botany". Approves Smith's title page for "Flora Graeca". Saw Frederick Smith [Smith's brother] in Liverpool; looking forward to visit by Smith and Mrs [Pleasance] Smith.

Thanks for Smith's letter of 13 [January 1805], which came "very opportunely", as without it they would have had nothing to read at Linnean Society meeting. "Linnean Transactions" volumes being forwarded as instructed. Requests Smith's assistance in obtaining enough support to prevent election of Dr Maver.

Has just returned from Lewis [Lewes], Sussex, surprised to find herbarium of [Peter Simon] Pallas in possession of [John Marten] Cripps [(1780-1853) traveller and antiquary]. It contains all the plants of "Flora Rossica", Gmelin's "Flora Sibirica", and Pallas' "Travels". Also complete collection of Forster's plants, and several of Sir Joseph Banks' South Sea plants, Pallas being the only person Banks sent any to. Pleased with Smith's "Exotic Botany". A "curious conversation" at Soho Square, asks Smith if he [Lambert] ever signed Dr T's certificate [Robert John Thornton (1768-1837) physician and writer on botany, angered several botanists in pursuit of completing his work "New Illustration of the Sexual System of Linnaeus"].

As executor of Arthur Bruce's will sends Smith copy of the excerpt from it [on second folio, in a different hand] bequeathing Smith the whole of Bruce's herbarium. Short obituary of Bruce and further details of his will.