Heavy snow fall delayed receipt of Smith's letter of 15 [March]. Condolences on death of Smith's father; comments that in such "melancholy cases" faith is the only recourse and blasts the French for attempting to take from the "wretched" their only consolation. Since his last letter they have been "seriously alarmed" at their daughter's health and Dr [David] Davies of Carmarthen stayed for a week; she is now improving and will come to Londonwith them. Details regarding departure of his sister, Charlotte, with the Kindersleys, to India._x000D_

Everything quiet in this part of the country and if the magistrates had "not acted imprudently" no agitation would have been needed: due to scarcity of food they must import barley or there will be famine before next harvest and got rid of the cavalry to save the horses from eating the poor's oats. Glad to hear that Smith's health improved and invites him to return from London with them for a change of air.

His daughter is now "as well as you can wish her" and she is impatient to see Smith. Country is in great beauty and if they can "fight off the scarcity till Harvest" they shall do well, and he will have the "pleasure of saving this country a second time from a famine". His champagne merchant lives and is offering him fine wine at 12 livres the bottle at Basle, and though he can sell it in France for 30 Louis he "wisely prefers the sterling coin".

Thanks for Smith's letter; pleased to hear he is to visit and gives directions for the most convenient route from Hereford. Coach details and places of interest on the route, including: Lord Maldon's house, Hampton Court, on way to Leominster, built in Henry IV's reign and with a "curious old picture of that king and a fine portrait of Lord Abergaveney"; his mother's house, Croft Castle, five miles on other side of Leominster, which has beautiful woods; Thebden Court, home of Lord Bateman, where there are some good pictures and a "fine statue of Mercury"; and Alderman Hadley has built a new house, Burrington, but he himself is not an admirer of Mr Holland's architecture. Ludlow one of prettiest towns he knows and recommends Smith take a day to see [Richard Payne] Knight's [(1750-1824), classicist] Downton Castle; Oakley Park is also pretty and near Ludlow, and there are magnificent view from the Bishop's Moat.

Received Smith's letter of 13 [October]; congratulates him on his approaching marriage. His opinion on his own marriage and the instituiton in general. Dr [James] Anderson staying. Weather "boisterous & rainy" but the cataracts and cascades have been in "high beauty" and never saw Devil's Bridge in "greater glory" than a few days ago, when he was visited by an old school friend.

Coming to London this month but longs for the time, as Falstaff [Shakespeare character] says, when "I can live cleanly & like a gentleman".