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.

Defends the Roman Catholic faith against Smith's attacks on it in "Sketch": criticises Smith for "picking nettles and moss" instead of visiting the Palace of Caserta, Naples; for commenting on art and statues but labelling a statue of the Virgin Mary "idolatory"; Smith's hypocrisy in despairing of lack of religious freedom in Turin but rejoicing at the anti-Catholic songs sung in Geneva. Defends the Catholic litany; remarks on religious liberty of Protestants in Rome compared to Catholic priests in England; points out that common people are superstitious in all countries, such as maids in London divining from tea leaves; criticises [Jean-Jacques] Rousseau's [(1712-1778), philosopher] contradictions.

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'.

Sends a specimen of a local kind of flax, found in Darisham, [Suffolk], for Smith's opinion; [Thomas] Woodward thinks it 'Linum tenuifolium'.

Thanks Smith for plan he settled between gardener at Bulstrode, [Buckinghamshire, home of Dukes of Portland] and herself to exchange plants. Requests copy of [James] Sowerby's drawing of 'Spercalia' , as hers is so different from Lady [Amelia] Hume's and she wishes to get a plant sent from China.

Asks which Sierra Leone seeds and plants are most worth sending for, having a contact offering to acquire any.

Received Smith's letter of 22 January [1793]. Sending papers on natural history of the mole and meteorological phenomena in Perthshire [see RelatedMaterial below].

Delighted by Smith's employment at Windsor; hears that the Queen [Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744-1818)] wants to set up a botanic garden and he has been approached to send plants from Welsh mountains. Sending plant specimens for Linnean Society, will send lichens in next post. Hopes to send animal drawings via a friend. Has not seen a figure of the 'Pycnogonum'; Herbert's bad figure of the 'Cancer' [crab].

Bearer of the letter is a gardener recommended by Hunter of [Kenwood], for the gentleman Smith mentioned.

[Note in Smith's hand] account of expenses to [Shute] Barrington, and "Gulielmus Fridericus Baro de Gleichen, author of Microscopic observations on the parts of genera of plants".

Busy with receipt of two mails from Jamaica. Has a "great respect" for the [banking] house Smith mentioned to him, which is a neighbour; does not hold the sins of their predecessors against them [in reference to slavery and planters]. Requests copies of Smith and Shaw's works ["Botany and Zoology of New Holland" (1793-1794)]. Informs Smith of 'Scutellaria minor' he found at Barnet, [Hertfordshire], for possible inclusion in "English botany".

Recently sent specimens of 'Lithosperum caeruleo-purpureum', fears their quality will have diminished. Sketched map showing where he gathered it.

Presents his compliments and leaves two drawings of 'Lithosperum caeruleo-purpureum' for Smith.

Pleased his response to Smith's enquiries about 'Lithospermum' was satisfactory. Prices for his "Synopsis of birds" and "Index [ornithologicus]".

Invites Smith to visit in August.

Disappointed Smith could not visit in the autumn and laments the distressing cause. Invites Smith to visit anytime he is free. Thanks for present of seeds.

Thanks for seeds. Will likely acquire the books Smith mentioned in his letter. Offers use of his botanical library during Smith's work on his book.

Returns his revised paper on 'Lycoperdon anemones', for possible publication and so it is at the Linnean Society before [Richard] Relhan's publication on same. Offers to send specimens of 'Pinguicula villosa' and 'Gentiana filiformis' for [James] Sowerby to draw; explains how he was the first person to find them outside of Cornwall.