Illustrates "lamentable colouring" of 'Ulva plumosa' in "English Botany", which should have been "sap green", as in small coloured sketch [extant]; forgot to send one of the late flowering Gordon Castle, [Scotland], specimens. The late "tormenting" wife of [Alexander Gordon, 4th] Duke of Gordon [(1743-1827)] is now on road to be buried in Scotland and he has never been so happy.

Grafting: in [Thomas] Martyn's edition of [Philip] Miller's "The gardener's and botanist's dictionary" root grafting described as "a newer invention" but has succeeded in whip grafting 'Ilex' onto common oak, and surprised to find root grafting accurately described and extolled in Lowthorp's "Abridgement" vol 2 p.654. Delayed in coming to London by son's illness.

'Salix caprea' "Flora Britannica" is abundant in his woods but called 'sauve', reference to Marshall's "Yorkshire Glossary" "Saus - 'Salix caprea'". Found "host of holly natural layers, & shall layer some hundreds".

Discussion of apple trees: received "Downton pippin, Golden Harvey, Grange apple, & Foxley" from Hereford. Canker developed on his south wall Newton pippin which had fine crops for two years, observed with a lens the destruction of the eggs and insects under the diseased bark with turpentine. Forsyth says train oil is used in Kent, Forsyth himself prefers Torp seeds with terrie, thinks turpentine is as efficacious, plus more fluid and searching and its evaporation does not clog pores. Recommends Indian ink for nurserymens labels as it does not wash out.

Sketch of 'Ulex plumosa'.

Concerned by Smith's illness and abscence from London. [Lewis Weston] Dillwyn [(1778-1855)] apologised for detaining his 'Conferva' drawings. Sir Joseph Banks well and last October increased dose of his gout medicine from 12 to 15 drops daily; it is not proven if it has undermined his constitution. Banks has entire management of the Royal Mint and "pays great attention to it"; Marchant has executed dies for a new 3s & 1/6 pieces; has recommended a coinage of good sixpences to Banks. Drury Lane Theatre proceeding "magically, & will certainly be open early in Oct[obe]r next"; only regret is that the avenues around it "will remain blocked up precisely as they are now".

Smith's letter and enclosure for [Richard Griffin, 2nd Baron] Braybrooke [(1750-1825)] delayed; hopes Smith has not lost anything which Braybrooke "could do in the case". His son on a tour of Ireland; young men of this day cut off from continental tours and "perhaps do well to see the more of their own country". Experiencing a cold summer; fruit all backward but they have more grapes than they can eat from vinery and has not eaten "such invaribly good melons as in this year - orange cantaloupe, & green fleshed Egyptian", credits Mr Knight's frames which "give equal depth from the glass to the plants throughout", two rough sketches in ink of new and old beds. Has only been shooting three times but gratified by accomplishment of his fancy for gun with vertical barrels instead of horizontal, explains previous difficulties making this work and the solution made by Forsyth.

[Richard Griffin, 2nd Baron] Braybrooke's [(1750-1825)] second son, George Neville, convinced to return to his intended path of the Church and ultimately head of Magdalen College, Oxford, after being offered Sir Stephen Glynne's [8th baronet, (1780-1815)] vacant living at Flawarden, Flintshire, £3-4,000 per annum.

Amused with a 'Ranunculus' being taken for Fiorin grass; does not trust Dr Richardson's account of 'Agrostis stolonifera' which he has always taken as indicator of barren soil, Dary's report of this grass in his Lectures does not give a better opinion. Received seed of Guinea grass from [James] Brodie; grew under glass but did not flower.

Discusses apples: Siberian crab a most beautiful variety, delicious made into tarts; of his Herefordshire patent apples of golden pippins and Ribston pippins only two Grange are forthcoming; and a Ribston is in good health a year after being treated for canker with turpentine. Figs in pots not worth their room in vinery and following Mr Knight's experience will try mulberries.

Saw willow bonnets in York whiter and finer than the straw ones. Encloses specimen of willow sent by Mr Nicholas from Wiltshire. Just read of death of Dr [William] Gretton [(1736-1813), master of Magdalen College], the mastership will probably be held for George Neville. Summarises letter from [Alexander Gordon, 4th] Duke of Gordon [(1743-1827)] stating he shot a one horned, one testicled stag, and as deer castrated with or without their horns either never shed them or never produce them this deer must have been wounded in velvet for the defficient horn was a small hump, illustrated with small ink sketch. Davy has been shooting and fishing at Gordon Castle and he is to go "vulcano hunting" in Europe, Berthollet has insured his favourable reception in France.

A fruit basket brought from Vicenza, [Italy], by Mr Dawnay has frustrated several local basket makers, but he and his son managed to succeed in replicating it. Expects his son [on tour of Ireland] to arrive at Holyhead, [Anglesey] soon, he has been away for 8 weeks.

Having spent last 17 of 18 springs in London he "received high gratification" from spending the last one in the country. His son has developed an interest in botany. Intercedes for [William] Travis [(1771-1851)] of Scarborough, who regrets no longer being a FLS and claims to have been struck out by a friend's blunder and is prepared to pay his arrears, vouches for him as "indefatigable in seeking improvement in his medical profession [...] and attends to every branch of natural history" and [James] Sowerby knows him as "a zealous naturalist".

His son bought a book on mineralogy by Aiken, dislikes it much and wishes there was a good manual on it. The Downton and Grange pippins of his new Herefordshire apple trees bore fruit this year; some fruit cracked, as did many of his pears. Foxley crab and Golden Harvey had fine blossom but no fruit. Siberian crab "took beautifully" on espaliers. Has started wearing flannel next to his skin as his son has done so for several years and he does not remember when he last had a cold.

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.

Congratulates Smith on his knighthood, which his "state of long rustication" had left him ignorant of. Does not agree with rewarding men for personal achievements with hereditary baronetcies, which "should evidently exclude a Richmond Apothecary, & many others". Conveyed [Alexander] Macleay's letter on [William] Travis' [(1771-1851)] case [request to be readmitted to Linnean Society] directly to him to prevent further doubts, having already told him that from the circumstances he had no chance. Questioned his son on his marriage intentions following a letter from Smith.

Does not know 'Chrysanthemum indium'. [James] Lee did not sent the mulberries he requested for pots, he had two on a south wall which bore nothing. His Ribston and Newtown pippins keeping well, as well as his Carlisle codlings raised from cuttings there is no better baking apple.

Complains that a shooting pony he originally paid £10 for has so far cost about £100 in taxes, with an additional £40 should it live another four years.

Smith's letter from Dorset on his son's marriage intentions more accurate than his own information; he is to marry Miss Murray, daughter to [John Murray, 4th] Duke of Atholl's [(1755–1830)] late brother, Lord George, she is 24 and he 31. Nerves broken by alarming accounts of his brother in Cheltenham, [Gloucestershire], son's marriage, and Lady Frankland's declining health.

Received Smith's letter and "curious melon seed"; currently his preferred variety is the green fleshed Egyptian melon. His family: son at Brussels, Lady Frankland confined by paralytic stroke since 20 October, and his brother become incurably blind.

Received Smith's letter from Woburn [Abbey, Bedfordshire]. His health good but Lady Frankland weakened by summer weather, gave up London trip to care for her. His son in Geneva avoiding the 400 English there, but returning to act as his uncle's executor and so Lady Frankland can meet her new daughter-in-law for first time. Grew successful crop of Great Mogul melons from the seeds Smith sent from Lord [Thomas, 1st Viscount] Anson's [(1769-1818)] and will compare with the green Egyptian and scarlet-fleshed melons, though thinks melons too troublesome to be worth raising.

Strawberry propagation: laid straw in two beds of alpine and pine strawberries, in the latter half of ripe fruit was daily found scooped out, the gardeners think it was slugs but he suspects beetles concealed in the straw during the day, encloses specimen. Strawberry plants given him by [Edward Lascelles, 1st Earl of] Harewood's [(1740-1820)] gardener in January 1815 not pines; they have a uniform shape, a higher colour, blood red inside, and firmer than pines, detailed ink sketch of fruit. Unable to succeed with hautboys even when raising from seed of very fine fruit of Mr [Christopher] Dundas' in Berkshire.

Two beetles in small blue envelope labelled "Beetles 'Carabus striatus' Kirby mss. near 'vulgaris'".

Gave "5 lights" to the Great Mogul melon Smith sent seeds of from Shuckburgh, [Warwickshire], and thinks that those who admire this fruit do not know the small orange cantaloupe or Green Egyptian melons.

His garden: abundant mushrooms from mushroom house he built last spring; like most others has no peaches or nectarines on open walls this year so is now building a 43 feet long peach house; began mowing 8 July but much of the hay still out and is as black as the corn is green.

Undertook tour of England in June, travelling 654 miles: London, where the temperature was 84°F, to Wincanton, [Somerset]; Stourhead and Longleat, [Wiltshire]; Bath, [Somerset]; Rodborough, [Gloucestershire]; Cheltenham, [Gloucestershire]; Warwick and its Castle, [Warwickshire]; and Northampton, [Northamptonshire], before joining north road at Wansford, [Cambridgeshire]. Encloses plant specimen collected between Andover, [Hampshire], and Amesbury, [Wiltshire]; Smith has annotated "'Sonchus oleraceus' the prickly var[iet]y". His son failed to find local 'Burbaumia' in Tunbridge Wells, [Kent], but [James] Dickson has sent both kinds though he only requested 'B. foliosa'.

Garden developments: success of his recently constructed mushroom house, adapted from [Isaac] Oldacre's [(fl 1810s-1852), Lady Banks' gardener at Spring Grove, Isleworth, Middlesex] engraved plan but with flue above ground; explains benefits with small ink sketch. New peach house: Oldacre recommends "noblesse" and "Galande" as those which force best, but [James] Lee prefers the "Buckingham mignon"; details of the building.

Regrets missing the recent show of fruits at the Horticultural Society. Intends to try Lee's recommendation of Verdeltro grapes; reported to be very hardy and one of the grapes Madeira wine is made from. His daughter and Lady George Murray prefer the green Egyptian melon to any other. One of [Erik] Pontoppidan's [(1698-1764), Danish bishop] sea serpents "seems to have got down the American coast - to gobble up herrings!". Recently received 'Linnaea' specimen from [James] Brodie. Praises botanical zeal of Miss Murray, Lady George's unmarried daughter; she began with mosses and would walk five miles to find a 'Phuscum' and brought many mosses from Isle of Man; compares her beginning and Joseph Dalton's with 'Carex' to beginning music with thoroughbass.

Has an ear of 'Talavera' wheat from near Cirencester, [Gloucestershire], and two from Gordon Castle, [Moray]. Ate last green melon yesterday, small but excellent. Prices of apples: abundance of French apples at York imported to Hull, [Yorkshire], at 16/ per bushel; recently given 20/ for natives and 24/ at Thirsk, [Yorkshire], his gardener thinks the French "most like cur Hawthorn Dean".

Discussion of melons: should not have dismissed Great Mogul before Smith tried it, and read of a fine variety brought from Persia by Sir Gore Ouseley [1st baronet (1770-1844)] but till he tastes it will stick with the Green Egyptian. Will determine whether the plant he sent Smith is 'Sonchus arvensis var' with seeds he saved. Low barometer readings during recent storm: 28.17 on Wedneday at Thirkleby and 27.95 at Gordon Castle, [Moray], their wind "trifling compared to its fury in the South" and no damage to his house built on hill but skylight and tiles on his son's house in Curzon Street, [London], were damaged and trees uprooted in Chesterfield Gardens.

Trying to find plants unattractive to rabbits and hares after having to cradle 'Pyrus japonica' sent by [James] Lee: has not ascertained whether it is true that they only interfere with transplants and not those sown directly; 'Rhododendron ponticum' grown in the wood, box and privet safe but American bird cherry, 'Hippophae', 'Aucuba japonica' and juniper destroyed. Convinced a neighbouring nurseryman to write his labels in the more durable Indian ink. Surprised to receive letter of thanks from Horticultural Society for the Newton pippin apples he sent to [James] Dickson. Intends to search for ferns and mosses by side of Hambleton, [Yorkshire], believes no botanist has been there before.

Gathering evidence on power of crossbills to kill young rooks; Norfolk Eton boys used to speak of them being shot with bolts. Mentions his son's growing interest in natural history, especially geology, and encloses specimen as example [undisclosed]. His health good but Lady Frankland gradually failing from complaint of several years standing from which none have ever recovered, she is frequently attended by Sir Everard Home and Atkinson of York.

Small sketch in ink of plant detail "'Aspidium thelypteris (from Mr Teesdale) confirms you descrip[tio]ns in "English Botany" by the length of lower leaves, very ill figured by [James] Sowerby".

Received Smith's letter of 30 [August] enclosing his son's sketch of 'Lepas anatifera'; was not aware of such an accumulation of shells but should have known at first sight and happy to hear of his son's short interview with Smith. His son and daughter-in-law have a 9 month old daughter, latter "makes herself mistress of whatever subject she undertakes by reading & retaining all"; she makes out botany genera "with great acuteness" and his son shapes his pursuits to hers and the garden benefiting from their attention to it.

Pest control: plagued with wasps this summer and they tried destroying every nest and also hung 100 opodeldoe phials baited with treacle, but the most effective solution were small Scotch gauze landing nets with an iron wire bow held under attacked fruit and gently shaken, sketch in ink of trap. Flies now attacking semi-ripe nectarines. 'Hoya' and yew berries do not attract wasps. Scotch gauze bags do not protect grapes but foundation muslin bags do, and saved many large moonpark apricots by covering each with tow which in addition equalises heat and ripens the fruit more perfectly.

Exotic seeds and plants: his recent exchange of correspondence with [Sir Joseph] Banks after sending Banks seeds from Lima, [Peru], sent by his nephew, Commodore Bowles, including 'Araucaria imbricata' which is described "as growing as high as St Paul's". Sowed seeds received from his vicar's married sister in Bombay: 'Poinciana pulcherrima' (Geal Mohr), 'Ipomoea quamoclit' (Chinese creeper), 'Annona squamosa' (custard apple), Blue convoloulus his gardener thinks 'Dolichos', and 'Abrus precatorius' as scarlet pea. Also sent from Lima: many air plants but only one is alive, at Southampton Botanical Garden, and it is just flowering; received five seeds of 'Annona tripetala' and raised three, gave other two to Banks who intends to send them to Malta; Circassian beads ('Adenanthera pavonia') and both 'Ipomoea' came in last parcel, Banks ascertained species in difficult cases; the seeds were collected by [Aimé Jacques Alexandre] Bonpland [(1773-1858)]; raised amongst the Lima plants 'Apocynum androsaemifolium'.

Too late to suggest examination of his theory that the first flight of woodcocks consists only of males and the second flight of hens and young. Thirkleby has few in any season and the thirty he examined last year were all males, and that from the mildness of the winter thinks no second flight came over. Has only seen four this year so far and they were all males.

Sir Joseph Banks in good health and has only missed dining at the Club two days in the season. Some of the chili seeds sent [from Lima, Peru] by Commodore Bowles [his nephew] are 'Araucaria imbricata'; [James] Lee has raised several. His son called away by Parliament. An unknown bird shot in Wiltshire stubble identified by Nicholas as a "Jamaica quail" from stuffed specimen at Leadbeaters after Banks and [William Elford] Leach erroneously named it as a red-legged partridge, thinks it escaped from a collection.

Pleased Smith had such an agreeable tour. His wife died 19 May; "a bitter affliction" to be separated from his companion of 45 years but considering the complaint in her breast, paralysis of left side, and digestion and appetite gone it was a "desireable blessing".

Attended Horticultural Society anniversary meeting and invited by Sir Joseph Banks to visit Spring Grove [Isleworth, Middlesex]. Bank's successor at Royal Society: not canvassed by any candidate; initially objected to Prince Leopold as he lived too far away to be easily consulted and though convinced by his promises to keep a librarian at Marlborough House, to have dinners and evening meetings, and to dedicate £4000 a year to the Society it is said that enmity from "a certain quarter" has induced Leopold to give up his campaign. In London received ten air plants from his nephew, Commodore Bowles, but neglected them and only three are alive, two are 'Epidendrum cochleatum' and other a 'Tillandsia'; saw many at Leddiges but they have no great beauty. Raised several plants from Buenos Aires, [Argentina], but [James] Lee says they are not new having been collected by [Aimé Jacques Alexandre] Bonpland [(1773-1858)] travelling with [Alexander von] Humboldt.

A "profusion of peaches" and his favourite green fleshed Egyptian melon, which he exhibited at Horticultural Society and were so admired that he is saving seed for members. Immediately looked at 'Hypnum resognitum' in [James] Sowerby, the name a good one from singular circumstance of Smith's "refinding it". Dwarf apple trees 4 feet high with fruit brances supported by stakes, chiefly Hemick codlings and Hawthorn clean.

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.

Received Smith's letter from Holkham, [Norfolk, home of Sir Thomas William Coke]. Supposes Smith occupied "by the business which has so long disgraced the house of Lords, but more so everyone of those who have brought such foul matters before them" [probably "trial" of Queen Caroline], his opinion same as Lord Harewood's speech in today's paper and regardless of whatever party is more in the wrong the business in hand is "insanity & is more likely to shake the government than the attempts of the Radicals". Prince Leopold seems to have had "some tiff" with the King [George III (1738-1820)] lately.

His son and daughter-in-law have been placing single trees and shrubs on the lawn "so zealously that the Lady carries various articles, & even digs". His son has renounced foxhunting. His own health generally good but debility and rheumatism leave him helpless at hedges and when shooting has to be pulled through.

His garden thriving: had asparagus on the 3rd and peas today, the former raised in a "pigeon holed frame" invented by McPhail which prevents manure vapours affecting the bed so the produce is sweeter. Disapproves of [Thomas] A[ndrew] Knight's "filthy practice of drenching [his] fig, & his pines, with a mixture of piegons' dung & water the colour of Porter" to guarantee multiple crops from his fig tree, received a letter reporting nine crops in fifteen months. Too few woodcocks this season to prove his theory that only males come over in first flight; encloses exterior quill feathers [not extant] of the male as example, females have a white line running most of the way from the quill to the extremity, small ink sketch illustrating this.

Copying and "tearing out likenesses in paper"; there is much chance in tracing them, encloses example of "old Mrs Warburton, well known in the society at York 30 or 40 years ago", requests its return. Just requested specimen of 'Menziesia caerulea' from Scotland and will attempt to procure 'Menziesia polifolia' through his sister, Lady Roche, in Dublin.

Since last letter received four male woodcocks from an outkeeper and has not seen one dead or alive since. Favourable season for his son's shrub planting; tempertature 52°F today. His son went to York nursery recently and found 'Menziesia caerulea'; proprieter says it is difficult to keep alive. Stopped Duke of Gordon's factotum [James Hoy], brother to [Thomas] Hoy [(c 1750-1822)], the Sion gardener, getting anything from the 'Menziesia caerulea' growing at Inverness.

Asks Smith to recommend a "Genera plantarum" more recent than his Vienna 1767 edition. Request to [James] Dickson for price of cut asparagus 3 November met with "almost a doubt of the possibility of having it so early", but they cut 274 this morning in addition to a regular supply since they began, and in addition it is sweeter than that raised by common process as the pigeon holed frames keeps the manure detached from the bed.

Praises Lady Smith for developing new method for copying paper portraits, discusses further. Remembers Corrêa [de Serra] well and often listened to him at Sir Joseph Banks'. A York bookseller will get him Smith's "Grammar of Botany" and ["A selection of the correspondence of Linnaeus..."] when published.

Mild winter: does not remember a milder one, thermometer has not been lower than 31°F and fears vegetation will "suffer from being too far forward"; peach buds are swelling and cucumbers are in rough leaf. Snow at Gordon Castle in last few days, received two plants of 'Menziesia caerulea' procured from Inverness, one placed in bog earth with 'Rhodendra' and other potted and both look well so far. Duke of Gordon also sent quill feathers of the supposed female woodcock, enclosed [not extant]; has written to Ireland for further opinion.

Had rent day yesterday and remitted 10 per cent on land, "such are the bad times for farmers that I rather think I did too little, however they were well pleased". Requests recommendation for more recent "Genera plantarum" than Linnaei 1767. Encloses his pamphlet [extant] titled "On the Winchester Bushel", which "has nearly given the finishing stroke to our Country bushel".