Sending four specimens of 'Trifolium', which he thinks misunderstood by English botanists; presumes they are 'T. procumbens', 'T. filiforme', 'T. agarium', and 'T. spadiceum', discusses each in detail.

Has given Mr Frost a letter of introduction to Count [Benjamin Thompson] Rumford. Compliments Mrs Smith on her turkeys. Has planted 'Eriocaulon decangulare'.

Count [Benjamin Thompson] Rumford received Mr Frost, on Banks recommendation. Approves of Smith's plan to publish the first two volumes of "Flora Britannica" now and to delay publication of the third "till paper is cheaper". Mr Mayer's presentation to George III. A large narwhal washed up on Lincolnshire coast, a chance to correct former errors regarding the description of the creature.

He has no positive recollection of [William] Hudson's opinion on 'Ulva flavescens' and 'U. diaphana', though it appears he doubted any distinction, having only done so from size; [James] Sowerby's drawing "very bad" according to Dawson Turner. Sowerby has still not drawn the 'Fucus torrertosus' he recommended.

Notes and observations on 'Ulva diaphana'; encloses specimens. Had thought that Smith's Hafod drawings were to be engraved in wood by a student of Bewick's.

Postpones dinner with Smith and [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert.

[Notes on recto of folio in Smith's hand:] transcript of description of 'Eriogonum' from Michaux "Flora Boreali-Americana" vol 1 246, and list of plants headed "Hort Gramina Austriaca".

The Linnean Society; Broussonet; Delaunay.

Thanks for gift of books to Musée d'Histoire Naturelle. The letter is signed by [Antoine Laurent de] Jussieu, Lamarck [Jean-Baptiste de Monet], [Barthélemy] Faujas [de Saint-Fond], [René Louiche] Desfontaines, and [André] Thouin.

Thanks for Australian plants and "Flora Britannica", most prizes the 'Carex vera leporina'. Sending seeds of 'Sonchus alpinus', 'Astragalus arenarius', and 'Kitaibelia vitifolia'. Will send recently published part of his edition of "Species plantarum".

Thanks for copy of Smith's "Flora Britannica", gratified that he now has a standard to which his botanical arrangements can conform, although regrets that his favourite class of gynandrous plants has not been included.

Received Smith's "Compendium florae Britannicae", a work of this kind was greatly needed by botanists. Has an interest in producing a similar work for foreign botany for the use of travellers, some views on its probable contents. Sorry that Smith did not come to Oxford, fears the desiderata from [John] Sibthorp's collections are either already with Smith or lost: was always surprised by Sibthorp's lack of care with his original specimens. Asks if Smith has settled Sibthorp's 'Verbascum' and 'Campanula'. Wishes that Smith had observed that the Oxford 'Orobanche' was 'Orobanche elatior' and not 'Orobanche major'.

Thanks for gift of seeds to Oxford Botanic Garden. Visitors to Oxford: missed Dr [Carl Franz Anton von] Schreiber, [Peter] Lathbury [(1760-1820), Church of England clergyman] has not repeated his visit, unsure if Mr Watts passed through. His plans for the garden hindered by his eye complaint. Informed by [Thomas] Garnier that Smith believes [Johann Jacob] Dillenius confused between 'Elatine alsinastrum' and 'Centunculus'. Asks the state of Smith's "Flora Graeca" labours; communications with the executors of [John Sibthorp's] will regarding money.

Prevented by gout from reviewing Smith's papers; it was caused by his horse plunging into an unexpected hole whilst crossing a river at Old Windsor, Berkshire. Smith "deep in the willows": he thinks they should be described in the two states of fructification and leaf; agrees that 'Salix amygdalina' and 'S. triandra' are the same, having seen it in Bath and on Battersea fields with different leaves but the same bark; found 'Salix rubra fissa' Hoffmann in a holt on the north side of Ely, Cambridgeshire, and not on Prickwillow Bank; wanted to add the habitat of Walmer Castle and Deal, Kent, to 'S. arenaria' but not sure of Smith's plant; glad that Smith has thrown out 'S. hermaphroditica'. Does not follow Smith's 'Polypodium': thought they found 'P. thelypteris' near Bury but Smith has listed it as 'P. oreopteris'; asks how Smith has addressed 'P. aculeatum' and 'P. lobatum' on account of how different they appeared in [William] Sole's garden.

Spent the summer at his living of Cropredy, Oxfordshire, "one of the stillest places imaginable" but complains how all of the country "is in a state of cruel high cultivation, so that Nature's original designations are not to be discovered". Found 'Ulva compressa' on rocks in a rapidly running stream, an occurance never witnessed by him before; informed by [Dawson] Turner that 'Ulva compressa' and 'Ulva intestinalis' are the same plants. Hopes Smith's "Flora [Britannica]" is proceeding; its imperfect appearance "not relished" at Oxford. Did not see [George] Williams at Oxford but did visit the Botanic Garden, which was in very good form, and received 'Crocus officinalis' specimen which agreed with the description and figure in "English Botany". Received an old specimen of [Sir] T[homas] Frankland's 'Bromus secalinus' and now convinced he never saw it before; those sent under its name were 'Bromus mollis'. Presented Smith's gift of a plant to the Queen [Charlotte (1744-1818), wife of George III]. Knows nothing of political agitation or riots in the market town next to Cropredy.

Investigated report in old letter from [Samuel] Goodenough that 'Veronica spicata' and 'Veronica hybrida' grow on a chalk bank at Icklingham, [Suffolk], with assistance of his "Calendarium florae", and in relating his observations thinks there are two species of 'Veronica'. Found a 'Serapias' distinct from Smith's "English Botany" 'Serapias latifolia' in Dunmow, [Essex], and Clare, [Suffolk], woods as mentioned on p.442 of [John] Gerard [(1545-1612), herbalist]. Observations on the 'Oppioglossum' he recently collected in every state. Praises Smith's paper on 'Mentha', found it much clearer than [William] Sole's "Menthae Britannicae". 'Erysimum cheiranthoides' in full flower in their sandy hills. Encloses specimens of the 'Veronica' discussed.