Directions for Smith to obtain box expected for him from Calcutta, before going through Customs House; Smith still has a friend at Court, Mr Dominicus, brother-in-law to [William] Kirby and Mrs Sutton. He is making two cabinets, one for insects and one for shells. [Jonas] Dryander presided [at Linnean Society] but was very ill "with the Piles". [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert also ill.

Papers for "Linnean Transactions" vol 3 plentiful, including ones by [John] Latham on "The Trachea of Birds" and [Bracy] Clark's paper. Sorry to hear that ideas have started for removing Smith from his Chair; reassures Smith he does not think so and thinks the best solution for Smith's absence is a "steady & active substitute", which [Jonas] Dryander is to undertake.

Congratulates Smith on his marriage.

This letter has also signed by Cullum's wife, Mary [née Hanson (1745-1830)].

Asks after Smith's recent movements and activities, including "Flora Britannica". A mild winter allowed him to gather flowering 'Vinca minor' three miles from Bury. Sends his respects to Dr [George] Shaw and [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert. Asks if Smith has heard from [Richard] Relhan, whose affairs are "deranged" in spite of a £700 subscription. Asks if new editions of [William] Withering's "Botanical Arrangement" and "Hortus Kewensis" are to appear. Will pay his lapsed Linnean Society subscription before next anniversary meeting. Asks for a copy of Sir George Staunton's "Embassy to China" to be reserved for him at White's; missed the first edition of [James] Cook's last voyage through failing to do this. A spare room always available at his house for friends.

Addition at head of recto of first folio states he fears a letter to [James] Sowerby requesting all previous numbers of his "Cryptogamia" has been lost.

Numbered botanical observations by Smith on parcel of plants received May 1794: 'Veronica longifolia', 'Poa angustifolia' HL and Hudson, 'Festuca spadicea', 'Galium anglicum' Hudson, 'Rubia tinctoria', 'Potamogeton', 'Juncus nivens' HL and Jacquin, 'Juncus angustifolius' Jacquin, 'Rumex hydrolapathum', 'Vaccinium uliginosum' HL, 'Silene dichotoma', 'Euphorbia amygdaloides' HL, 'Aconitum napellus', 'Thalictrum', 'Acquilegifolium' HL, 'Lamium laevigatum', 'Lamium album', 'Melampyrum cristatum' HL and "Flora Anglica", 'Antirrhinum gennistifolium' HL, 'Antirrhinum linaria' HL and "Flora Anglica", 'A. purpureum', 'Hesperis inodora' Jacquin and Linnaeus HL, 'Xeranthemum annum' HL, new 'Carex', 'Buxus sempervirens' HL, 'S. angustifolia', '[Salix] repens' [HL probably signifies Herbarium Linnaeus].

Responds to Davall's letters of 10th November 1795 and 29 December 1795: regrets death of Mandrot, honoured to be namesake for Davall's son, his summer plans, Davall is not entirely unhappy, vague plans for an Italian trip with wife, eldest sister sends her remembrances, joys of the Johnes family who they are staying with in Wales this summer.

Sends seeds of 'Digitalis lanata' Ehrhart, 'Saxifraga mutata', and 'Verbascum nigrum' with white flower. Acknowledges Smith's letter of 17 April 1796, will respond more fully by next post, his time currently taken up supervising workmen working on his garden. His daughter died in March at 20 months. Recommends treating the 'Digitalis' like a hardy greenhouse plant.

Responds to Davall's letter of 18 September 1796: thanks for seeds, sends numbers 42 to 66 of "English Botany". Enjoyed delightful tour of Wales by Bath, Bristol, Worcester and Oxford. Moving to Norwich for family comfort, leisure, and command of his time, but will still be in London three to four months every spring continuing his pursuits including lecturing at Guy's Hospital and Presidency of Linnean Society, which now has four vice-presidents. Sends fresh seed of true 'Vicia bithynica' from Weymouth; a new 'Vicia' there commonly taken for 'bithynica', will explain in "English Botany". A superb 'Renealmia' in flower at Grimwood's, the same as Rumphius' figure quoted in "Supp." for 'R. exaltata' and 'Globba nutans' Linnaeus; Smith calls it 'R. nutans'. Third volume of "Linnean Transactions" almost printed and he is working on a "Florula of New South Wales".