An abscess on his right hand has delayed his reply to Smith's letter of 3 January. Has seen [Pierre Remi] Willemet's "Herbarium Mauritianum", agreeing with Smith that it is a "poor performance" and remarks that the Conway mentioned in the preface is the French commanding general in India, who may have obstructed Willemet from a political difference rather than a dislike of natural history. Attended meeting of the "Class of Natural Sciences" where it was reported that Willemet is in France and planning an expedition into the interior of Africa, and a eulogium of [John] Sibthorp by Mr de Guys was read. The only foreign botanical work of interest recently published is the "Museum Schtio-lithologicum-conense", a "splendid publication" and in English publications [Richard] Salisbury's "Prodromus", praising him as a "nebulous star". [Adam] Afzelius has brought "very extraordinary" and "truly paradoxical" plants from Africa, believes his "Flora Guineenss" will be a great step towards the improvement of botany. Has received a friendly letter from Rodrigo de Sousa [Countinho], advises Smith to write to him.

Has a diploma for Smith from the Lisbon Academy, who are also sending a gift of all their works. [John Theodore] Koster has written from Portugal asking if Smith thinks they are worth paying the high duty on books coming into England and adds that Sir Joseph Banks, who received a similar gift, is glad of having them all. Pleased to see from a letter sent to [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert that Smith has divided the 'Protea' family. He is currently in the middle of examining [Francis] Masson's [(1741-1805), Kew plant collector] collection of Cape [of Good Hope] 'Proteas'. Believes the flora of New Holland [Australia] and the Cape are "both fragments of a whole". Masson has two species of 'Styphelia' from the Cape. Makes observations on formation of 'Protea' flowers through comparison with 'Lambertia' and 'Tilia'.