Thanks Smith for mention of him in his article on 'Salix russelliana'. Sends copy of his "Parochial Divinity" for Smith. Explains circumstances behind his sending specimen of 'Vicia bithynica' last summer: he had hoped to be proved its first discoverer, but found [James] Sowerby had received it a month before from a Sussex friend; gives its location anyway and urges Smith to mention receipt of it also; observations.

Sending specimens of the 'Vicia', a 'Gnaphalium', and an unknown plant like a 'Serapias' ['Epipactis purpurea']. Previously sent Sowerby fertile specimen of 'Bryum annotinum'.

Long list of specimens with habitats sent to Smith [possibly two different letters].

The 'Veronica' he gathered on the way to the Giant's Hole [St Vincents Rock, near Bristol] was in a very dangerous spot and considerably larger than that figured in "English Botany", will send this specimen if he cannot find another at home. Briefly saw Sir Joseph Banks yesterday.

Received new "Linnean Transactions", criticises [Robert] Teesdale's paper [ 'A Supplement to the Plantae Eboracenses'] for being too long; doubts propriety of giving whole floras. An attempted robbery at Hall Place whilst he was in Exmouth, [Devon]. Has anonymously published a six penny pamphlet "Cautions to young sportsmen" in attempt to prevent gun accidents, inspired by Lord Andover's accident [Charles Nevinson Howard, Viscount Andover (1775-1800), eldest son of John Howard, 15th Earl of Suffolk, killed by accidental discharge of his fowling piece], and that there is no advice of this kind in print except single line in [Thomas] Page's "Art of Shooting"; two gunmakers have seen and find no fault with it.

There is an account of Lord Andover's death, written by Mr Coke's desire, in January's "Gentleman's Magazine".

Unsure if the packet of dried plants he sent Smith March [1804] has reached England yet. Sending another small collection of plants, and if and when he is settled as a missionary here he will send for his herbarium and be more forthcoming with specimens. Sending drawing and description [both extant] of 'Polyandria' ['Magnoliaceae'], the drawing is by [Elizabeth Gwillim (1763-1807)], wife of Sir Henry Gwillim, Justice of the Supreme Court of Jurisdiction at Madras; Lady Gwillim says she has sent a living plant to England. Sorry Smith's parcel to him of 1802 was lost.

Description of 'Polyandria enneagynia' [see RelatedMaterial below for drawing].

Hopes his pamphlet "Cautions to young sportsmen" is widely circulated and prevents accidents; only criticism received is that it is too short, the gunmakers Manton in Dover Street and Joseph Manton in Davies Street make no objections in spite of its attack on double guns, which form greater part of their profits. Will put his name to a second edition if the 750 copies sell and regrets not already doing so. Criticises fashion for books to include engraving of the author and mocks Charles Small Pybus' [(1766-1810), politician] poem "The Sovereign" supposing "he expects some of the Russian Court Ladies to send for him [...] in consequence of the beauty of his appearance, at the head of his verses".

Page's book printed for Scutcherd & Whitaker, details of Norwich printing.

[This letter is marked "Duplicate", sent with Rottler's letter of 15 October 1807, see RelatedMaterial below]

He has only just received Smith's letter of 30 April 1800 and his "Specimen of the botany of New Holland", which he had long given up ever receiving. Encloses duplicate of his letter of [14] October [1806], which accompanied a parcel of plants. Received [Nathaniel] Kindersley's letter of 1 May 1806, will reply when chest of books for female asylum arrives.

[Label attached to letter:] "'Tetracera sarmentosa' 83) Vahl Delima Lin.".

Thanks for turkey and biscuits, which her ill-health prevented her from acknowledging sooner. Offers Smith a stuffed bird of paradise for his collection; she received it with a living parakeet from Bombay and its plumage is as though it died yesterday. Ashamed to put Smith's household to the expense and trouble of satisfying her demand for biscuits and ideally would like a box quarterly but her finances constrained "since Mr [William] Pitt [the Younger (1759-1806), prime minister] has been pleas'd to take £500 a year" from her income.

Comments that Smith's 'Agapanthus' which bore the winter and flourished in a border "must have been very pleasant", and wishes Smith could persuade Grieg, her gardener, to make similar experiments at Hillingdon. 'Amarylis radiata' in flower in her room which she thinks worthy of being drawn; [James] Sowerby does not recall her sending him a flower and leaf of it two years ago.

Curious to know whether Smith's sister is married to his young companion he brought to visit last year. Sending the bird in a box soon.

Praises "Flora Britannica" and Smith's work expanding descriptions, "reducing the Botanist's labour tenfold", and new specific descriptions; flattered by notice of him in it.

Invites Smith to visit her the next time he is in London. Apologises for long delay in correspondence, caused by her "nervous disaffection" and ill health, and had meant to respond to Smith's letter congratulating her on "the blessing of Peace". Sorry to hear Smith's old complaint has returned.

Proposes that a toast be made to her late husband, [Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd marquess of Rockingham (1730-1782), prime minister], at the Linnean Society Anniversary meeting on 24 May, as his birthday was also 24 May and he was a "rising botanist of great promise" and "a most attach'd disciple of Linnaeus". Thanks for present of dried fruit and biscuits, which have now regained their "peculiar taste & good quality" following "those cruel times of real, or pretended scarcity", though does not believe that any flour have yet or perhaps ever will return to same quality as before. Praises the sermon Smith sent her, which reminds her of something in [James] Saurin [(1677-1730), French preacher]; details of a sermon she will send in return. Apologises for legibility of letter as her eyelid complaint has returned.

Regrets the serious condition which prevented Smith from coming to Hillingdon. Recommends Dr James' powders for erruptive fevers, glad to hear Smith's lungs are not affected.

Enquires after Smith's recovery from his illness. Current "extraordinary weather" is very unfavourable to invalids; she has never known such "unabating high winds with violent storms of rain & sometimes hail, at this time of the year", she has been feeling very indifferent.

Encloses duplicate of letter he sent Smith in March [1807] [extant], and packet of plants; wishes to know Smith's opinion of this and the packet he sent October 1806. Asks if his new genus 'Gwillimia' has been accepted.

Uncertain whether Smith is in Norwich, [Norfolk], or in Paris. Sends the Smiths a "whimsical Christmas hommage" of gold Butterfly handkerchief and little fly pins for Mrs [Pleasance] Smith, and a pocket microscope for Smith. Intended to send them on New Year's Day.

Looking forward to Smith's visit but asks that he comes without his pupil as "a stranger is always a distressing restraint" upon her and would prevent her talking at her ease with Smith, who she has not seen for a long time.

Sends a sucking-pig to Smith for [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert's table tomorrow and recommends that it is roasted whole, including head and not with "the limbs cut off, as is the fashion of some cooks to send them up". Thanks for "the rich present of bulbs" and asks that Smith's "young man" provides a list. Her Sierra Leone white lily now has six flowers and "is a great height & has a noble appearance". Gratified by the possibility of peace, which she credits the "eloquent display of the wise & honest sentiments of my friend Mr Fox" for.

Smith was kind to her dogs and they have tried the vitriol but they still scratch. Her health indifferent from spasms. Hopes Smith's eye will not suffer on his journey.

Reports death, on 19 December, of Lady Rockingham [Mary Watson-Wentworth], ten days before Smith's box of biscuits and apples arrived. Mrs [Elizabeth] Weddell [Watson-Wentworth's step-sister] the sole executrix. Lady Rockingham was being treated by Dr Fraser and there were hopes she would recover, and she was not confined to bed any more than usual, but she died with water on the chest at about 5 o'clock in the morning.

Grief at death of Lady Rockingham [Mary Watson-Wentworth]. Mrs [Pleasance] Smith regrets that she never knew her personally. They saw the death notice in the Norwich paper the evening after sending box of apples and biscuits. Preparing a general account of Lady Rockingham for the "Monthly Magazine" and asks her age, presumes she will be buried in York Minster.

Lady Rockingham's [Mary Watson-Wentworth] character. She was 68 years old on 4 August last year. Himself, Mrs Thornton, and Grieg, her gardener, attended her to her burial in York with two mourning coaches of 6 horses each in addition to 6 horses on hearse and another mourning coach and 6 horses which met her at Doncaster, [Yorkshire], on orders of [William Fitzwilliam, 4th Earl] Fitzwilliam [(1748-1833)]. A great number of her Badsworth, [Yorkshire], tenants and her respectable friends were at York, and a great number of shops were shut up as a mark of respect.

Regrets that Hillingdon and all the stock are to be sold but does not yet know about the plants.

His hearing returned within a few miles of Grantham, [Lincolnshire]. A friend of his has recognised fern root in "Ching's lozenges" after Farquhar prescribed them for severe stomach pains, having previously taken nostrum of the male fern for a tapeworm in Switzerland; refers to a letter addressed to Mr Ching signed by Ireland, the Oxford apothecary, as an avowed piece of fun by an Oxford wag.

Will examine 'Ulva diaphara' and 'Ulva flavescens' at home. Travelling home with Lady Frankland's brother, Mr Smelt, who married Lord Chesterfield's only sister and has eleven children, and his eldest daughter who is to be a companion for Lady Frankland, lessening his dread of returning home.