Glad Smith has received "Flora Oxoniensis", explains its rushed production and how it only contains plants he has seen. In his opinion latter classes of Linnaean system benefit from being "melted down amongst the others" but concern that in Germany the mixing has "almost spoiled its shape and form", disliking especially Gmelin's mixing of 'Icosandria' and 'Polyandria'. Was ill in Constantinople with a bilious fever and colic but has since conducted a full botanical exploration of the Bosphorus, woods of Belgrade, and sands of Domusderi on Black Sea. Has observed nearly 800 plants and obtained seeds of 'Daphne pontica' and 'Convolvulus persicus'. Queries 'Epimedium alpinum', ubiquitous in Belgrade woods which are barley mountainous. Frustration at custom of burning of forests, "very unfriendly to researches of the Cryptogamist", has only observed 'Boletus lucidus' the 'Boletus marginalis' of [Pehr Forsskål (1732-1763)]. 'Rosa centifolia' grows wild, pleasant odour from its mixing with 'Smilax'. Shores of Bosphorus poor in 'Fucus' and 'Testacea'. Collected fifty species of fish, many species of 'Labrus' present, inferior flavour of 'Julus' which is often sold in markets. Dolphins playful in the Bosphorus, gulls are as tame as pigeons. 'Procellaria puffinus' known locally as "souls of the damned". A 'Percnopterus' [Egyptian vulture] perched in the tree he was reading under, "I could not resist, not having the fear of the Egyptians before my eyes, to shoot it". Insects limited to scorpions, mosquitos, bugs and 'Conops calcitrans'. [John] Hawkins is in "high preservation" and has "huge mustaches, which he is nursing" for a Syrian and Egyptian tour. Travelling with Hawkins in Greece to Thessaly, Attica and the Peloponnesus and wintering in Zante. In short postscript states that [François] Borone is in good health, "in action quite a Le Fleur".

After a "long series of fatigue & ill health" he has shut up his business at Mercers' Hall and is leaving for Shepperton, [Middlesex], for three months to recoup his health and spirits. Hopes Smith's lectures have succeeded. Requests copy of Smith's "Travels".

Account of plants collected from his excursion in Glamorganshire and Cornwall, including: 'Asplenium marinum', 'Pinguicula villosa', 'Erica vagans', 'Anthericum ossifragum', 'Triglochin palustre', 'Littorella lacustris', 'Sison inundatum', 'Bartsia viscosa', 'Cuscuta europea', and an 'Anselea'/'Osmunda' never discovered in England before.

Has several young plants in his "H. gippor." coming to fructification and a correspondent in Penzance, [Cornwall], to send him specimens. Has other cryptogamia specimens for Smith if he calls at Ipswich on return to London, including 'Corrigiola littoralis' for [James] Sowerby. 'Capparis frondosa' flowered with him.

Has found new plants in Bengal including 'Asjogam' of "Hortus Malabaricus" vol 5 tab 59, thinks it a new genus and has named it after the late Sir William Jones ['Jonesia'] [(1746-1794) philologist and scholar of ancient India]. A manuscript of Jones' botanical observations to be posthumously printed in "Asiatic Researches" vol 4. Sends Jones' description of the 'Asjogam' and his own with drawing, hopes Smith can publish one. Has 400-500 drawings of plants to send by the next ships, his previously sent drawing of 'Nauclea orientalis' incorrectly labelled. Bark of 'Corchorus olitorius' and 'Corochorus capsularis' discovered to be equal to "the best flax" and will be a valuable export, it was mentioned by [Georg Eberhard] Rumphius and asks if it is known if "the ancients" or any other people substituted flax for it; the Bengali have long used it but only for cordage and twine uses, they believe 'Crotalaria juncea' is more valuable.

A duplicate copy of this letter was also sent.

This is letter is marked as a duplicate and was presumably sent at a later date to ensure arrival of at least one copy of the letter.

Has found new plants in Bengal including 'Asjogam' of "Hortus Malabaricus" vol 5 tab 59, thinks it a new genus and has named it after the late Sir William Jones ['Jonesia'] [(1746-1794) philologist and scholar of ancient India]. A manuscript of Jones' botanical observations to be posthumously printed in "Asiatic Researches" vol 4. Sends Jones' description of the 'Asjogam' and his own with drawing, hopes Smith can publish one. Has 400-500 drawings of plants to send by the next ships, his previously sent drawing of 'Nauclea orientalis' incorrectly labelled. Bark of 'Corchorus olitorius' and 'Corochorus capsularis' discovered to be equal to "the best flax" and will be a valuable export, it was mentioned by [Georg Eberhard] Rumphius and asks if it is known if "the ancients" or any other people substituted flax for it; the Bengali have long used it but only for cordage and twine uses, they believe 'Crotalaria juncea' is more valuable.

In postscript additional to the original letter writes that the majority of the season's ships have arrived but without letters from Smith or Mr Molesworth, fears some of his letters to Europe may have been lost.

Has obtained a copy of [Johan Christian] Fabricius' "Entomologia systematica emendata et aucta" for Smith.

No summary available.

Received Smith's letter from Bungay, [Suffolk]; they are disappointed that Smith cannot visit and sorry to hear of Smith's sore throat, which many have complained of this season, his wife's medicines are not yet arrived. His wife thanks Smith for Mr Wilson's New Holland seeds, scarcely any plants have succeeded this year though they have "a fine yellow 'Hibiscus' in flower from seeds given by Smith, offers to send flower or plant. His garden doing well; vindication of those who thought it impossible. Late rains brought grass and turnips but cattle "very low indeed", which he blames on lack of fodder from England's drought last summer. Has not yet visited the "Chalybat" [mineral spring found close to Johnes' house] but from the taste it appears very strong and according to Dr [David] Davies of Carmarthen the strongest in Wales._x000D_

"That wild girl still continues as wild in her wishes to go to India" [Johnes' sister, Charlotte] and asks Smith if Mrs Kindersley would taker her under her protection when she sails, though they are all uneasy about it. Compares his sister to [Jean de] La Fontaine's [(1621-1695), French fabulist] letter of "the pigeon that wishes to travel".

No summary available.

Sent books to Smith [Fabricius' "Entomologia systematica emendata et aucta"]; expects final volume in 1795, payment details. Dr [Godfry Christian] Reich is sending German translation of botanical part of "Linnean Transactions" vol 1 and paper on 'Tringa hypochondriara', he intends to propose Smith as member of Society of Ratisbone, he has also requested anything on the "English sweating sickness".

Sending cryptogamic specimens of plants described in Rohmer's "Botanical Diary" ["Botanical Magazine", part 1, June 1794] and two other commentaries. Asks permission to send paper for Linnean Society on new cryptogams. Engaged in researching synonyms of fungi; requests specimens of fungi described by Linnaeus, including: 'Agaricus betulinus', 'Boletus favus', 'B. tuberosus', 'B. fomentarius', 'B. igniarius', and 'B. subsquamosus', 'Hydrum parasiticum', 'H. imbricatum', 'Clavaria digitata', 'Helvella pineti', 'Clathrus delicatus', 'Lycoperdon truncatum', 'L. variolosum', 'L. radiatum', 'L. aurantium', 'Mucor sphaerocephalus', 'M. embolus', 'M. fulvus', 'M. furfuraceus', and 'M. clavatus'.

Thanks for parcel of books, just received, though disappointed it did not include two copies of third part of "Icones pictae"; requests that English and Latin versions be added with part 5 of "Botany and Zoology of New Holland". Will return spare copy of Smith's ["Sketch of a Tour on the Continent"]; so many copies have been imported into Holland there is no one to give it to. Received from Sir Joseph Banks not only a letter but also a human skull from New Holland. Requests second and third volumes of "Asiatick Researches".

Lady de Clifford [Sophia Southwell] and herself are anxious for Smith to repeat last year's visit to Northaw as promised. Asks for Smith's assistance in recommending Lady de Clifford's gardener, Duncan Mucheson, to a new situation.

Recently met Smith's German friends [Caspar von] Voght, Wattenbach, and Smeisser; disappointed that the latter has already claimed discovery of new species of earth in the spar from Strontian in two publications; long statement of his own claims to its discovery. Informed that [William] Withering is to publish new edition of his "Botanical arrangement", will supply him with Scottish plants. Need for a new and enlarged edition of "Flora Scotia", now that Lightfoot's is becoming scarce, and [James[ Dickson has enabled a cryptogamic addition. Asks Smith's opinion of [Joseph] Trapp's proposed translation of [Dietrich Heinrich] Stoever's "Life of Linnaeus".

Sends copy of his work, intended to "encourage the study of botany" in Ireland; believes is the first systematic account of any branch of natural history in Ireland [probably of his "Catalogus systematicus plantarum [...] Dublinensi" (1794)]; desires Smith's opinion. Delighted by Smith's various publications; hopes Smith long lives "to gratify the botanic amateur"; asks best way to obtain new numbers.

Hopes Smith has seen Andrew Caldwell and presumes he has told Smith of the plans for establishing a botanic garden at Dublin, for which Parliament have already granted £1,700 and £500 per annum, hopes of being superintendent. Collecting material for a "Flora Hibernica"; dreads the cryptogams, though assisted by Dillenius, Michelieux, Schaeffer, and Hedwig; [William] Withering's work a "great labour", but much confusion, and [James] Bolton's "Filices" and "Fungi" good but descriptions do not always correspond with common ferns and mushrooms of this country.

Note by Davall letter received 24 October [1794]._x000D_

Lectured in Norwich for three months "to a crowded & admiring audience [...] diffusing a taste for our beloved study". Returned to London to work on "English Botany" before seeing off family in Norwich returning to India [the Kindersleys]. Thanks Davall for packet, glad he likes his "Tour". Requests seeds of the 'Verbascum' and 'Digitalis', latter appears to be that described from Tournefort's oriental herbarium. News of botanists: letter from [Adam] Afzelius in Sierra Leone, François [Borone] in the Archipeligo with [John] Sibthorp, and Broussonet has taken refuge in Spain and is coming to England. Joseph Trapp's translation of "Life of Linnaeus" "odd, amusing, ridiculous, quackish, bombastic, [and] German".

Dedicated his "Phytographia" to Smith, apologises for its deficiencies. Desirous to establish a correspondence and exchange of plants, as few plants grow in Germany in the fields or gardens.

Thanks for Smith's permission to consult the Linnaean herbarium in his absence, which he will use to examine 'Fucus' specimens. Reassures Smith he will be too busy for any "gallantry" with the maids, who were not chosen, "as single men's maids sometimes are for their superior beauty". Sends paper he has drawn up on genus 'Ulva', including description of new species 'U. decorticata', for Smith's opinion; notes on its contents.

As Smith now a "great collector of coins" asks him to acquire Sheffield coins from Dr [William] Younge. If Smith's brother goes to America wishes him success; discusses coins from the north of England. Asks after Smith's publications "[Specimen of the botany of ] New Holland", "Spicilegium botanicum", and "Flora Britannica". Asks if he could acquire remaining Bulliard plates ["Histoire des champignons"] through [Edmund] Davall. Asks after specimen of 'Atriplex laciniata'. Mr Windham requests visit from Smith.

Introduces Mr Archer, their state surgeon and a "great lover of botany".

[Note at foot of letter by Archer, dated 12 October 1794] introduces himself; his regret at missing Smith when he called at Great Marlborough Street.

No summary available.