Illness of his brother-in-law, Mr Palmer, has delayed his coming to London till Easter and Linnean Society anniversary meeting. Remarks on various phenomena of the early spring: recently saw 'Papilio phamni' flying, 'Scarabaeus luisquilius' in hundreds, and "those nimble animals the 'Carabi'"; an apricot tree in flower in a Cambridge college garden as reported in Cambridge paper, observed in his brother's [Sir John Cullum, 6th baronet (1733-1785)] journal that the apricot tree at Hardwick, [Suffolk], flowered on 20 February 1779 and 27 February 1775 but did not flower till March or April in following years; observed 'Veronica hederacea' and 'Veronica agrestis' in flower and considering looking for 'Veronica verna' and 'Veronica triphyllos'.

Praises number fifteen of "English Botany"; 'Papaver hybridum' and 'Anchusa sempervirens' commonly grows near them does not doubt 'Verbascum blattaria' is native having seen it in similar conditions and in barren places in Cornwall. Requests of White copies of Smith's new "Flora Lapponica", Thunberg's "Characteres genenum insectorum", and [Pehver's] "Weekly Memorials for the Ingenious". Asks of Mr Poulter, [William] Hudson, and Sir George Staunton's safe return.

Fears that [William] Hudson is dying after suffering a second paralytic stroke and losing the use of a leg. Spent five weeks of summer in Bath, [Somerset], followed by Weymouth, [Dorset], where he regularly saw the King and Queen [George III and Charlotte], though the weather was changeable. Asks whether 'Trifolium stellatum' and 'Trifolium maritimum' are the two distinct species of 'Trifolium', as he found [John] Ray's teasel-headed 'Trifolium' (Syn:p 329 n8) near Bristol, some think it distinct from 'Trifolium stellatum'. Could not find 'Vicia hybrida' at Weymouth; '[Vicia] lutea' common on the seashore and 'Vicia bythynica' in a hilly pasture with 'Ulex' and on Portland Island, compares the pods with 'Vicia lutea'. Recommends [William Lloyd] Baker and Thomas Ruggles as FLS. Intended to send [James] Sowerby Suffolk plants but weather too cold to botanise. 'Thesium linophyllum' and 'Cucubalus otites' still in flower. Coming to London at end of January.

New publications: Thunberg's "Flora Japonica"; Gaertner's "de Seminibus Plantarum"; Gmelin's "Systema Vegetabila" from 'Monandria' to 'Polyandria', including the genus 'Culhamia' and notes that an old way to spell Cullum was Culham; has heard there is a new edition of a "Species Plantarum"; saw Olivier's "Insecta Coleoptera"; with so many natural history books laments absence of a "Flora or Fauna Anglica". Further plants seen: field of nine inch high 'Orchis ustulata' at Bath; 'Trifolium maritimum' in low meadow near St Vincent's Rock, Bristol; 'Vicia lutea' at Weymouth; and 'Vicia bythinica'.