Did not see description of 'Herniaria glabra' in "English Botany" otherwise would not have sent his paper on it to the Linnean Society, has asked [Thomas] Woodward to procure it for his opinion. Advances in his microscopic investigation into the fructification of 'Fucus': believes it possible to construct a generic character incorporating most of 'Fucus' that will be analogous to Linnaeus' sexual system, except for the "vapour", which is substituted for pollen. Explains his method, wishes others could make similar investigations in different locations and describes [Thomas] Velley's contributions. Observations on '[Fucus] bifurcatus'. Relationship of his book ["Nereis Britannica"] with reviewers and the public, [William] Withering has recommended it to [Carl Peter] Thunberg. Asks if Smith has any specimens of or information on 'Fucus natans' as it was described in "Tour of the Continent", does not believe Linnaeus' claim that it is the "most common vegetable in the world". Would like to compare 'Fucus selaginoides' with 'Fucus tamariscifolius'.

Thanks for observations on the plants he sent Smith. Thanks for plants sent by Smith and Sir George Staunton last July, New Holland [Australia] plants sent for Staunton, and second volume of "Linnean Transactions". Sends his "Statistical Account" of the parish of Luss [from Sir John Sinclair's "The statistical account of Scotland" (1796) vol 17 pp.238-271]. Currently editing a Gaelic translation of the New Testament.

Thanks for extracted papers from "Linnean Transactions" and New Holland plants [Australia], immediately translated Smith's remarks on 'Sprengelia', it and the drawing to be published by the [Swedish] Academey [of Sciences]. Praises Smith's "Tour of the Continent". Smith's "Tentamen botanicum de filicum ..." is edifying and has thought the same as Smith in some instances in separation of 'Asplenium nodosum' from 'Asplenium'; 'Lindsaea' Dryand from 'Adianthum'; moving of 'Osmunda peltata' and 'Asplenium cicutarium' to their places; division of 'Trichomanis' into two with name 'Darea' being reinstated. Intends to keep Smith's name 'Hymenophyllum' for his "Flora Indiae", may leave out 'Schizaea'. Asks where Smith has placed 'Polypodium reticulatum' Linn and 'Meniscium' Schreb. Discussion of multiple species of 'Lichen'. Requests two copies of Smith's "New Holland Botany".

Large parcel for Smith, including: West Indies plants, mostly those mentioned in his "Prodromus"; six parts of the "Acta Holm" of the [Swedish] Academy [of Sciences], the first part includes Smith's paper on 'Sprengelia', plus a silver jetton, and the new lichens described in the transactions; and 'Lichen deustus' and 'Lichen polyrrhizos' for Smith's opinion. Believes they should only search for the lichens of Dillenius, even Linnaeus considered lichens to be the "crux botanicorum". Has heard that the New Holland [Australia] colony is progressing well, asks if Smith has received the lichens, ferns, mosses and algae he sent from there.

[Copy or draft]

Thanks for copy of "Icones plantarum". Sending a "trifle" from his "youthful days".

Sends plants. Has news of his relations. News of others.

Concern for health of Smith and Smith's father's. [François] Borone's "melancholy and premature" death. Thanks Smith, Sir Joseph Banks, [Thomas] Marsham and Mr Forster for resupplying him following the French attack on Free Town.

Proposal by [Jonas] Dryander to procure for [Adam] Afzelius the late Richard Southgate's position at British Museum, but Afzelius unlikely to accept it, not least because of five other candidates being more skilled for the medal department.

Has directed the Mayor of Falmouth, Cornwall, to grant a passport to Joseph Porto [pseudonym of José Francisco Corrêa de Serra] so he can come to London. Has enclosed a letter from Corrêa.

Sends works for Smith and others; thanks for Australian plants; progress of his work on Cape plants.

Thanks Smith for opinion on his manuscript [Velley's 'Remarks on the Nature and Propagation of marine Plants' for "Linnean Transactions"]. Discusses origin and use of the word "seeds" and his initial reluctance to apply it to marine plants, references [Carl Friedrich von] Gaertner [(1772-1850)] and discusses his own observations of 'Fucus' and 'Confervae'. Wishes to forward to Smith parts of a collection of exotic duplicates he has lately received.

Recalls the botanical assistance he once received from Smith. Encloses copies of his pamphlet ["Account of the Management of the Poor in Hamburg since the year 1788", not extant, see RelatedMaterial below]. Hopes Smith found something worthwhile in the "Suriname 'Papillions'". Asks for introductions in towns on his route back to London.

Asks for Smith's assistance in verifying the truth of a report in the "Historical Magazine" May 1792, p.167, of a 16-year-old boy in Eye, Suffolk, being cured of hydrophobia [rabies] by a blood transfusion with two lambs, administered by a Mr Russel. [Casper von] Voght and M. Schmeisser send their regards.

On the reverse of this letter Smith has noted: "no ans[we]r yet from Eye".

Thanks for Smith's "Tour". Sends a silver medallion for his paper on 'Sprengelia'.

Apologises for absence from Linnean Society meeting. Received from [William] Markwick [(1739-1813), naturalist] a 'Loxia curvirostra' for Linnean Society and attention of [John] Latham. Puzzled whether [James] Dickson's 'Carex' is new or 'Carex rigida'. Quotes [Edmund] Burke that "the age of chivalry is gone" otherwise he would certainly have fallen in love with Miss Charlotte Aynscombe [artist]. Hopes Smith is not affected by the "dreadful sharp weather" and that Smith, Latham, and [Thomas] Marsham will be able to visit him.

Sympathies on death of Smith's father; writes on the support provided by harmonious families in difficult times.

His opinion on the French Revolution: his politics lie in "a small compass of Wiggism" and as to his religious ones "people have no right to practice disobedience & impiety towards God - it makes no part of a monarchial or republican cause". Believes the King of France was murdered and that nothing in him deserved death and that it was a "monstrous apostasy in the low people who got into power making it as a law that there was no God [...], vote the Bible a lie & kill those who believed it". Will have a copy of his sermon delivered to Smith [see RelatedMaterial below].

His fourth daughter, Charlotte, has been suffering from fits for the last six weeks. Encloses preface to his paper [with Thomas Woodward] 'Observations on the British Fucus', and [William] Markwick's paper 'Aves Sussexienses; or, A Catalogue of Birds found in the County of Sussex', for "Linnean Transactions".

Glad Smith liked his sermon; has received many compliments on it. Accepts Smith's change to wording in his paper '[Observations on the British] Fucus' and explains he decided to indefinitely express the notion that 'Fucus' are nourished solely by the surface. Does not agree with Smith over terminology used to describe capsules of '[Carex] pseudocyperus', refers to Linnaeus. Has sown the Rose of Jericho sent by Smith. Offers to have drawn the 'Dentaria bulbifera' which is about to flower in his garden. Sorry that Smith is leaving Great Marlborough Street, largely on account of its turning the Linnean Society adrift. Will enquire about a house on the Mall in Hammersmith. Remarks on formation of Greek words. Does not like [François] Borone's epitaph as there is "too much play on Flora" and fears the phrase "and art thou gone?" without proper cause for its introduction will be ridiculed by wits. Thinks Smith's family epitaph "beautiful" but points out several errors. Sorry that Smith's "Flora" is interrupted ["English Botany"?]. Copies out Smith's family epitaph and marks his alterations.

Sends specimens of 'Dentaria bulbifera' should Smith wish for [James] Sowerby to draw them. The parcel Smith sent on was from [William] Withering, not [Thomas] Woodward, concerned Woodward's parcel containing rare seaweeds may be lost. Charmed with Smith's "Syllabuys [of a course of lectures in botany]" but advises him not to expand on the contents at full length otherwise it would be "another "Phil[osophia] Botanica" in a fashionable dress". His sermon heavily criticised by in a review ["A sermon [on Psal xvii 13] preached before the Hon house of Commons Feb 25, 1795"]. Asks if Smith thinks he and Woodward are justified in thinking the root of 'Fucus' has something to do with its nourishment; conjectures that it may be where all the nerves of the plant meet.

Informs Smith of a house available in Kensington Square. Asks Smith to enquire after a missing parcel of his sent by [Thomas] Woodward to Norwich for Smith to take care of. Received letter from [William] Withering containing specimens and asking about 'Carices', one specimen was labelled as "definitely 'Carex caespitosa'" and the other as Goodenough's 'Carex stricta'; thinks them both 'Carex recurva'. Withering also sent specimen of 'Carex pauicea' with an account of its habitat in Cornwall and asked whether it is [Nikolaus Joseph von] Jacquin's 'Carex praecox'; he "always thought his blunders with 'Carices' inexplicable". Fears that if Smith does leave London it will interrupt his presidency of the Linnean Society "to the sickness if not the death of it"; asks Smith to think how to secure the Society.