Offers Smith information on marine plants, having collected them in Scarborough 1782-1783 and communicated them with and received descriptions in return from [John] Lightfoot and [William] Hudson. Drew microscopic studies of 'Confervae'; intended to publish but deaths of Lightfoot and Hudson and building works prevented him. One of the Scarborough plants he sent Lightfoot was 'Fucus hypoglossum' the 'phyllitis' of Ellis, Hudson thought it a variety of 'alatus'. Hudson denied that the 'Saxifraga umbrosa' Frankland found growing in Thorp-arch woods, near Wetherby, Yorkshire, was indiginous and was reluctantant to allow new species as he had a list of plants commissioned by Dr [Richard] Richardson [(1663-1741), physician and botanist] to be propagated in unsuspected places so that afterwards he could find them "wild" and this list might explain many discoveries but not 'Corrigiola litteralis' found by Hudson in Clapham Sands, Devon.

His specimens of 'Fucus hypoglossum' the size of those figured by [Thomas] Woodward [in his "Linnean Transactions" paper 'Descriptions of two new British Fucus'] but disputes Woodward's figure of fructification and engraving.

Looking forward to Smith and [Richard] Salisbury's visit on Monday from Bulstrode [Park, Buckinghamshire, home of Duke of Portland]. Hopes weather will be more settled after the "truly tremendous & extraordinary storm we had here from four o'clock till past six this morning". Fears lack of sunshine will have affeteced her hothouse plants. Asks Smith to bring his first volume of [Sir Hans] Sloane's [(1660-1753), physician and collector] "[Voyage to] Jamaica" for figure of "that little plant". Thanks for seeds and directions to plant figure in L'Héritier.

Returns and apologises for keeping Smith's copy of [Hans] Sloane's "[Voyage to] Jamaica" for so long and sends specimen of "provoking grass" for identification; it was grown from Jamaican seeds last year and is now almost taller than her pine hothouse. Her great 'Portlandia' is flowering again and has been doing so ten months out of twelve. Mrs [Elizabeth] Weddell admires Smith's ["Icones pictae plantarum rariorum..."]; requests the smaller sized one. Affected very much by the "variable uncommon weather". Her 'Moraea northiana' about to flower.

Sending flower and account of another [unspecified] via Grieg, her gardener. They have discovered that 'Datura aborea' does not fully open till 11 o'clock at night and is asking [James] Sowerby to stay all night to draw it; expects Smith has seen it at [Richard] Salisbury's or at Kew but invites him, too. Smith's 'Dombeya' has "a little delicate sort of flower" and 'Murraya' about to flower. Pleased by the looks of all her plants, "they are crowded to death".

Surprised to find sprig of thyme in Smith's tin box sent via Harrison after expecting 'Hortensia'.

Pleased Smith and [Richard] Salisbury are visiting tomorrow as plant recommended to Smith's attention by [Edmund] Davall is likely to be in flower. Thanks Salisbury for the plants he is bringing for her.

Postscript mentioning 'Datura aborea' [truncated due to corner of page being torn out].

Awkwardness of following up [Richard] Salisbury's recommendation of a servant by the Bishop of Bristol [Christopher Wilson]; his duties.

Asks after the "poor frightened puppy" Smith took with him and requests that Smith's servants do not tutor it "for they have seldom much feeling about living creatures, and none at all if they are troublesome, or dirty in the house".

Watson-Wentworth writes on 2 December: Still waiting for information from [Richard] Salisbury on the servant he recommended to take Crabb's place. Received box of Botany Bay seeds but did not let [Harvey] Spragg take any to show Smith as he should see the whole contents. Sorry to hear of Dr Pictairn' death , she only met him once.

Watson-Wentworth writes on 3 December: Received letter from Salisbury stating that sevrant he recommended does not wish to leave his current position. Found 'Passiflora suberosum' in flower for first time this morning and as she is uncertain whether this is common will send [James] Sowerby a specimen for painting; along with 'Corsiopsis' on vellum will compliment his drawing of 'Catesbaea'. Has not heard from Sowerby regarding dimensions of 'Datura' and fears he does too much at once.

Points out errors with the 'Pulmonaria' in "English botany" no.32, which he previously sent Smith specimens of; lists synonyms. Offers to write a paper on subject for "Linnean Transactions".

Sends letter for [John] White [(1757-1832), surgeon in New South Wales] to be forwarded by Mr Wilson. Nut drawn in Smith's letter is amongst the seeds she received from White in New South Wales; Smith has "a neat way of punishing stingy people by withholding the name" and if it is the same as that brought by Mr Hoye to his house thinks it is unknown.

Repeats questions whether 'Passiflora suberosa' commonly flowers and if it has been painted. Pities Smith and his "little Italian" [François Borone] on their missing dog; her own "little old favourite" has "a most dreadful cough like the distemper". Still looking for a servant to take Crabb's place and asks after Mr Smershall, an apothecary in Portman Street, [London], who has given her a recommendation. Hopes [Richard] Salisbury's sister will recover.

Invites Smith to see her 'Amaryllis capensis' in flower; Crabb brought it from Holland as a bulb and neither Smith nor any other botanist have any knowledge of it, urged [James] Sowerby to draw it. She is very unwell and in addition to losing her domestic servants her favourite dog has died. Grass also ready for inspection by Smith.

Sorry she could not see Smith and [Adam] Afzelius before latter departs [for Sierra Leone], "there is something in the countenance & manner of that little man that shews a Goodness which interests very much ones good wishes"; hopes he will find "both advantage & satisfaction in his botanical researches". Asks Smith to pay Afzelius for works by [Carl Peter] Thunberg and ask whether they will be completed, and to give him ten guineas to purchase botanical materials as "a remembrance of Hillingdon [her home in Middlesex]". Disappointed in her recent change of servants; hopes Smith and the [Harvey] Spraggs will visit to revive her spirits.

An 'Atamasco' lily in flower in her room; thinks the drawing is not correct. Congratulates Smith on "all the honours & glories surrounding him". Smith very good to give up his François [Borone, who travelled to Sierra Leone with Afzelius as his botanical assistant].

Sorry to receive account of Smith's ill health. Made herself ill after staying at her house in Stratton Street, [London], and visiting the ill Mrs [Elizabeth] Weddell, who was much better and more composed than she expected. Hopes Smith enjoys his trip to Matlock, [Derbyshire], and [Richard] Salisbury.

Wishes Smith had sent a name for her 'Geranium', the seeds came from Captain Rhio via [Harvey] Spragg. Received Botany Bay seeds from Lady [Amelia] Hume and additional seeds from Governor [Arthur] Phillip [(1738-1814), first governer of New South Wales] via John King and [Sir Joseph] Banks; they were packed very badly. Asks if [John] White [(1757-1832), surgeon in New South Wales] is returning to England. Asks Smith to look again for drawing of Lord Charlemont's Room and the Epitaph she sent him. Smith can keep the Voltaire volumes for longer and she will read the sermons Smith speaks of if he leaves them at her London house.

Thanks in advance for plants Smith sent from [Adam] Afzelius [in Sierra Leone], pleased to be "the first & best supply'd". Invites Smith and [Richard] Salisbury for brief visit on Sunday before they leave for Norwich, [Norfolk].

Invites Smith to inspect the East India seeds Mr Molesworth is sending her and asks him to bring Molesworth so she can thank him for his "repeated remembrance of her plants". Her 'Portlandia' with 18 very large flowers and 22 buds, the plant still flourishes and nearly outgrowing the glass only recently raised over it. Offers the Botany Bay bird Smith said was unknown, to be figured.

Thanks Smith for seeds from Sumatra and Sierra Leone. Sorrow at death of [William] Aiton [(1731-1793), director of Kew Gardens, 1759-1793]; his character.

Her 'Strelitzia' and an old 'Amarylis' no one knows anything of about to flower. Smith sent too many copies of his more books than she claimed: in addition to first large volume of his ["Icones] pictae [plantarum rariorum]". Has [William] Woodville's [(1752-1805), physician] work of medicinal plants ["Medical botany..."], it is beautifully coloured. Disordered by this week's tempestuous weather.

Suitable for Smith and his friend to visit on Tuesday, hopes they will also go to Bulstrode [Park, Buckinghamshire, home of Duke of Portland]. Will manage herself the arrangements for Governor [Arthur] Phillip [(1738-1814), first governer of New South Wales] to visit.

Her Sierra Leone bulbs are now in flower and invites Smith and [Jonas] Dryander to inspect them and [James] Sowerby to draw them. She has been extremely ill but is now recovering.

Sends specimens of 'Lagerstroemia' and 'Tamarindus'. Sorry Smith was away when four or five of her Sierra Leone bulbs came into flower; no one scientific saw them but [James] Sowerby took drawing and she hopes it can be ascertained whether they are 'Hamanthus' or 'Amaryllis', and if Sowerby can replicate the brilliant colour may be worth place in Smith's large work ["Icones pictae plantarum rariorum..."]. Recovered from her inflammatory fever and bilious complaints caused by intense hot weather, her family and labourers suffered the same.

Condolences on death of Smith's brother. Invites Smith and the Sierra Leone travellers [Adam Afzelius and François Borone] to visit when suitable. Another of her Sierra Leone bulbs is flowering. Sending Smith a "little pig" from her farm.

Offers her Westminster Hospital proxy to Smith's preferred candidate; her first consideration is to give it "for a person thoroughly qualified for the office". Her stomach complaints have been bad since visit by Smith and the [Harvey] Spraggs' but she is now taking a draught prescribed by Dr Freeman and hopes it will clear the "billious sort of obstruction". Sorry to hear that [Adam] Afzelius is returning to Africa but hopes it will advantageous for him, will send him dimensions of the matts she wanted made.