Confesses to an error he made in his last letter to Smith regarding 'Sisymbrium monense', which he now supposes to be the variety of 'Erysimum barbarea' Smith refers to in "English Botany" and now has two seedlings of it growing, description of characteristics, differing "very considerably from the American Cress". Having compared prints of 'Melittis grandiflora' and 'Melittis melissopyllum' from "English Botany" concludes that he has never found the latter plant. The 'Lotus' he sent Smith has since been sent to the Oxford Botanic Garden by [James] Dickson. Notes a habitat for 'Convolvulus sepium'. Description and habitat for 'Verbascum blattaria'. Habitat for the 'Inula miginosa' of [John] Sibthorp, suggests [William] Withering's suggsted name of 'cylindrica' is improper, as is Sibthorp's. Glad to hear that Smith is undertaking publication of "Flora Graeca".

Has spent the last eight months in the 2nd Regiment militia which has prevented him from pursuing his botany interests. Glad Smith has seen 'Cycas revoluta', Smith will to determine whether the genus should with the palms or the ferns. Jokes that the "ardour in botanical pursuits is so great" he would not be surprised to hear Smith had found [Carl Peter] Thunberg's 'Disa longicornis', 'Serapias melaleuca' and 'Ixia maculata' in Britain.

His friend, Dr Salt of Birmingham, has found 'Gnaphalium margaritaceum' in Longdon parish, near Lichfield, [Staffordshire], in a meadow with small stream running through it. Sent in addition to [Thomas] Butt's letter [of 17 December 1799].

Offers to pay [John] Harriman's lifetime FLS subscription, following Lambert's assistance in having him admitted. Her gardener preparing the seeds Lambert sent.

Requests to anonymously pay [John] Harriman's lifetime FLS subscription as FLS. Asks whether Smith thinks the "famous" 'Cycas revoluta' at Farnham Castle, [Surrey], is sage as commonly bought or not.

Account of his 3 month botanical trip in north Wales, from which he returned in October [1798]: travelled on foot; unable to meet [John Wynne] Griffith [(1763-1834)]; accompanied on his mountain excursions by a non-botanical clergyman with good local knowledge. Plants include: 'Cardamine petraea' notes and observations; specimens for Smith of the three rarer 'Arenaria', 'Polypodium lonchitis', 'Isoetes lacustris', and 'Subularia aquatica'; seed of 'Saxifraga palmata', 'Cerastium latifolium', 'Subularia aquatica', 'Cerastium alpinum', and 'Anthericum serotinum'; 'Formentilla ceptans' with flowers of the 'Formentilla' and 'Potentilla', [William] Withering thinks the two genera should be united. Apologises for not sending rare Welsh plants to [James] Sowerby as intended.

At Smith's request sends specimens of 'Cardamine petraea', 'Subularia aquatica', 'Arenaria verna', 'A. laricifolia', and 'A. juniperina', and also 'Cochlearia groenlandica', 'Saxifraga palmata', 'Serratula alpina', 'Solidago cambrica', and 'Cardamine hastulata' he now determines as 'Arabis hispida' Linnaeus; requests they be returned except the two Smith likes best. Considers 'Arenaria juniperina' and 'A. laricifolia' varieties of the other; observations on this and other plants sent.

'Cistus marifolius' of "English botany" has every flower with only 4 petals. Glad to accept Cornish specimens; requests 'Pisum maritimum' of Norfolk coast.

In addition to plants already mentioned, sending: 'Gallium boreale', 'Scutellaria minor', 'Silene acaulis', 'Gnaphalium rectum', and 'Veronica spicata' or 'V. hybrida'. Found 'Lobelia dortmanna' in the alpine lakes; offers to send catalogue of the plants he found [on his Welsh botanical excursion].

Sending specimens to [James] Sowerby for "English botany", plants and habitats: 'Saxifraga umbrosa', 'Carduus helenoides', 'Veronica hybrida', 'Polypodium viviparum', 'P. oreopteris', 'Hypericum pulchrum', 'Cochlearia danica', 'Samolus valerandi', 'Drosera rotundifolia', and 'Drosera longifolia'. Mr Atkinson of Dalton to send 'Geranium lancastriente', 'Artemisea maritima', 'Selinum palustre', 'Massica monensis', 'Inula helenium', 'Crithmum maritimum', and 'Papaver maritimum' of Withering. Shown habitats near Halifax, [Yorkshire], of 'Anemone apennina', 'Arbutus uva', and 'Andromeda polifolia'._x000D_

Now thinks the 'Saxifraga palmata' he sent last year is more likely 'S. hypnoides'; observations. Offers to send Craven and Lancashire specimens of 'Saxifraga umbrosa', 'S. aizoides', 'Arbutus uva-wisi', 'Polemonium caeruleum', 'Dryas octapetala', 'Pyrola rotundifolia', 'Sedum vellosum', 'Polygonum vivparum', 'Melampyrum sylvaticum', 'Centunculus minimus', 'Drotera longifolia', 'Veronica hybrida', and 'Satyrium albidum'._x000D_

Thanks for Linnean Society application certificate. Desirous of seeing Smith's "Flora Britannica" before he publishes account of his Welsh Tour, as he wishes to insert list of habitats of rare Cambrian plants as useful tool for young botanists making same tour.

Replies to Smith's letter of 9 August 1798. Working on long delayed paper [on cattle]. Spent time in Fifeshire, Perthshire, and Roxburghshire last year, found no new acquisitions but saw 'Oenanthe fistulosa', 'Sison inundatum', 'Pilularia globulifera', 'Convallaria polygonatum', 'Euonymus europaeus', 'Utricularia', roots of 'Serapies longifolia', 'Valeriana diocia'.

"Flora Britannica" much anticipated. Recently received specimens from Lady Ashburton, in Devon, of 'Scilla autumnalis', 'Convolvulus soldanella', 'Colyledon umbil.', 'Crithmum maritimum', and species of 'Geranium'. Natural History Society of Edinburgh recovering from late treasurer, Mr Cunningham's, insolvency and loss of their funds; they have committed all funds and secretaryship to himself. His solitary mode of life. Smith's labours on British grasses will be much appreciated. Thanks for specimens from Smith.

Encloses paper for the Linnean Society [on cattle].

Sent a parcel of plants by coach, chiefly cryptogamic; numbered detailed descriptions and observations of the specimens, including: 'Polypodium lonchitii', 'P. aculeatum', 'P. rheticum', 'P. dryopteris', unidentified 'Lichen', 'Trichia fragiformis', 'Veronica montana', 'Primula elatior', 'Sphaeria mori', 'Carex digitata'. Discovered 'Saxifraga umbrosa' in 1796, communicated habitat to [William] Bingley.

Recommends John Hailstone [(1759-1847), geologist] to the Linnean Society; his skills and knowledge. Distress of [Richard] Relhan, his wife and seven or eight children; had hoped to make up the sum of money being paid for his herbarium but informed of difficulties.

As [John] Sibthorp's will enjoined the publication of 10 volumes [of "Flora Graeca"] with 100 plates in each, and there are only 900 drawings, asks whether the remaining drawings need to be made up from the specimens, and the half finished drawings completed. If so insists [Ferdinand Lucas] Bauer [(1760-1826), botanical artist] starts work on this as soon possible.

Sending drawing of a "minute species" of 'Jungermannia', made in November 1798 [extant]. Bryant has it in his collection, and [John] Pitchford sent him some; [James] Dickson named it 'minima'. Description of the plant. Notes for if it is published in "English botany"._x000D_

[Note to James Sowerby in Smith's hand on recto of second folio] 'Jungermannia divaricata' Smith, to be drawn for table 719 of "English botany"; asks Sowerby to take note of Francis' remarks and to return the specimens and drawing._x000D_

Eight small drawings of plant on single folio, coloured.

Encloses authority [extant, as copy] for Smith to take possession of [John Sibthorp's] collections; refers Smith to Lady Sewell and Professor Williams for the journals and other papers.

[Letter to Dr Marlow, President of St John's College, Oxford, and Vice-Chancellor of University of Oxford, from John Hawkins and Thomas Platt (d 1842), one of John Sibthorp's executors, supervised the publication of "Flora Graeca", copy in Smith's hand]: requests that Smith be given all materials required for completion and publication of Sibthorp's "Flora Graeca".

Discussed arrangements for the plates of "Flora Graeca" with [Ferdinand Lucas] Bauer [(1760-1826), botanical artist], who believes he will be cheaper than [Daniel] Mackenzie and wishes for it to be decided by a trial

Embarrassed, as though he agrees with Smith that [Ferdinand Lucas] Bauer [(1760-1826), botanical artist] is the best artist for "Flora Graeca", still thinks a fair trial ought to be given to [Daniel] Mackenzie. Bauer does not expect to procure assistants for the job; requests Smith to have a discussion with Bauer. [John] Sibthorp proposed obtaining cheap engravers from Germany. Unfortunate that all the Grecian seeds have been sown, which Sibthorp had collected to illustrate the carpology of the species; blames Sibthorp's successor. Saw at the Cambridge Botanic Garden some of the plants raised from the seed sent, including a new 'Crataegus'.

Objects to [Ferdinand Lucas] Bauer [(1760-1826), botanical artist] proposal to either be sole artist for "Flora Graeca" or to form a school of artists; proposes both Bauer and [Daniel] Mackenzie be employed. Refers ultimate decision to Sir Joseph Banks. Their dependence on Bauer's assistance.

Has always considered economy of time superior consideration to expense in engravings for "Flora Graeca"; believes the work cannot be solely given to [Ferdinand Lucas] Bauer [(1760-1826), botanical artist] and requires assistance of Mackenzie, as Sir Joseph Banks originally recommended. Recommends enlisting "other artists of merit" such as [James] Sowerby, but unsure how to resolve the issue and requests Smith's opinion as editor. Requests that a drawing be given to Mackenzie to engrave.

Wishes to introduce botany to the area, whose walks provide so many plants, via a course of lectures explaining Linnaean system; requests Smith's advice. Marquis of Blandford [George Spencer-Churchill] and Murray only men of neighbourhood with any botanical knowledge, hopes latter will prove to be a valuable Linnean Society member.