In a "kind of torpor" and waiting for letter from Smith to reanimate his existence. Aware that Smith's "Sketch of a Tour on the Continent" now published. His last remaining aunt died 31 January of a sudden serious apoplexy at age of 74 and 8 months, having previously been in perfect health. Depressed by his own and his wife's illnesses and threat of invasion by French to his wife and son, and library and herbarium formed at expense of more than a third his patrimony. Asks for Smith's assistance in drawing up plans for a heated greenhouse as no mason or carpenter in his area has an idea of the matter; specifications. Requests copies of Smith's "Tour", volume two of "Linnean Transactions" (1794), and continuation of "English Botany", directions for them to be sent.

Note on left-hand margin of recto of first folio detailing most recent letters received from and sent to Smith.

Note by Davall letter received 28 March 1794.

Numbered botanical observations on packet of plants received from Davall 10 September [sent 16 August 1793]: 'Eriophorum alpinum', 'Melica ciliata', 'Avena orientalis', 'Saponaria ocymoides', 'Anemone alpina', 'Orchia abortiva', 'Ophrys ovata', 'Carex', 'Carex pauciflora', 'Carex leporina' HL, 'Carex chordorhiza', '[Salix triandra]', 'Lichen rimosus', 'Lichen perlatus', 'Linum flavum', 'Saxifraga mutata' HL. Gave [Samuel] Goodenough all of the 'Carex' specimens [HL probably signifies Herbarium Linnaeus].

Responds to Davall's letter of 13 October 1793: received and distributed seeds; anecdote of Haller's herbarium and fireworks came too late for printing in third volume of his "Sketch of a tour on the continent"; the liquor he uses to protect his plants is the Cajeput oil of 'Melaleuca leucadendron' "a thing not to be had but by chance and seldom pure", camphor also good either alone or dissolved in [spirit vinegar]; currently bathing his insects and moving them to a new cabinet.

Responds to Davall's letter of 6 December 1793: pleased by comments on Haller's herbarium and Davall's opinion of the matter; François [Borone] shortly leaving for Greece with [John] Sibthorp, although he is not permitted to collect his own plants; [Adam] Afzelius shortly returning to Sierra Leone, against his advice; does not pity Davall over the younger Haller's actions and urges him to publish whatever he has finished to avoid becoming like Sibthorp and his "Florae Graecae", although admits himself facing similar difficulties with his "Systema Vegetabilium" and is going on with a "Flora Britannica" in Latin; Este well and living 6 St George's Row, his travels to be published soon.

Responds to Davall's letter of 25 February 1794: condolences on death of Davall's aunt; busy with writing and two courses of lectures and another beginning at Guy's Hospital; his "Tour" meets with "unexpected commendation" and is selling fast, "the political part seems to conciliate most people"; difficulties with [Horace Bénédict] de Saussure's [(1740-1799)] lichens. His health good, Lady Rockingham "grows more whimsical and retired" but has heard nothing of the Duchess of Devonshire or Lady Dowager Spencer. A translation by a "hackney writer" [Joseph Trapp] of [Dietrich Heinrich] Stoever's "Life of Linnaeus" to be published. Offers specimen of 'Ophrys loeselii'.

Requests translation of [Dietrich Heinrich] Stoever's "Life of Linnaeus". Responds to Smith's letter of 14 March: suffering from "wretchedly weak" stomach and "violent windy colic"; will send further information on Haller's library; will dry 'Orchis abortiva' and 'Satyrium hircinum' for [Thomas] Woodward; offers to send Smith ripe seed of his 'Morina persica' which looks as though it will flower this year; observes that his 'Cerinthe perennis' he wanted to be figured in Smith's "Spicilegium botanicum" is Haller's 'Cerinthe' in his "Historia & Nomenel". Thrilled by Smith's Botany Bay specimens especially 'Epacris', 'Embothrium', new 'Octandria' genus with fruit-like acorn, and obscure 'Diadelphia'.

Transcription of part of letter from [Jacob] Wyttenbach relating his knowledge of sale of Haller's collections and a fireworks display held in Berne the same year costing as much as the collections were sold for, including anecdotes on dispersal of specimens, the younger Haller and Wyttenbach's abandoned proposal to publish new edition of [Albrecht von] Haller's "Historia stirpium indigenarum".

Sending smaller than anticipated parcel of plants via Mandrot. Collated on separate sheet all he knows from [Jacob] Wyttenbach on Haller and his collections [see RelatedMatieral below].

Responds to Smith's observations on plants received via Mandrot June 1793: 'Bromus arvensis' HL, 'Avena strigosa' Schreber, 'Avena strigosa' Retz, 'Triticum tenellum' HL, 'Minuartia campestris' HL, 'Geranium palustre' HL, 'Carex' species, 'Salix incubacea', 'Hieracium', and Lichens: 'Lichen ulmi' Swartz, "aurorae colore" Scopoli, '[Lichen] tumidulus', 'Saxifragus' Smith, and others unnamed [HL probably signifies Herbarium Linnaeus].

Repsonds to Smith's observations in his letter 14 March 1794 on parcel received 10 September 1793: 'Morina pesica', 'Melica ciliata', 'Orchis abortiva' extensive, 'Carex lerporina' L, 'Lichen perlatus', 'Saxifraga mutata'. Would like specimen of 'Ophrys loeselii' in flower to accompany his own in fruit, and 'Malaxis paludosa'.

Includes parcel of mosses, some for [James] Dickson. Asks that [James] Sowerby return plates and copper plates he commissioned.

His lectures: gave two Germans and an American private courses; is to hold a course on every genus in the Linnaean herbarium, about 50 lectures of an hour each; his usual course of one of zoology and one of botany at home; and one of botany at Guy's hospital; making him very busy but the "profitableness" allows him to let other things give way to it. Spending summer in Norwich with relations from India [the Kinderlseys] and as he has often been asked will give course on zoology and botany at Norwich. Apologises for sending small packet of plants.

Responds to Davall's letter of 14 April 1794: subscibed Davall to [Joseph Trapp's] translation of [Dietrich Heinrich] Stoever's "Life of Linnaeus"; Davall's disorders those of sedentary people; [James] Dickson will communicate full instructions for Davall's proposed greenhouse; flower bud of Botany Bay plant 'Octandria' like an acorn but not the fruit.

Reponds to Davall's letter of 12 May 1794: thanks for [Jacob] Wyttenbach's anecdotes on Haller's collections, will insert them in second edition of his "Tour", if it gets one; general approbation in England for the "Tour" "is very strong" though some think "the politics not courtly enough": De Luc of Windsor thinks him too partial to Rousseau though the majority including the "most loyal & religious like that part of the book, & as to French politics most think I have drawn the line well between liberty & anarchy", it has procured him many new acquaintances and sales very rapid, corrects error in vol 3 p.133 for 'Carex filiformis' read 'capillaris'. Davall should have received second volume of "Linnean Transactions" via Mr de Morsier; 'Lichen saxifragus' correct, 'Lichen ulmi' Swartz is 'L. marmorens' of Dickson's "fasc.". After consultation with [James] Dickson sends account of [Horace Bénédict] de Saussure's [(1740-1799)] lichens [fifth folio] though except for 5 and 8 none of interest. 'Orchis abortiva' specimen not fresh enough for "English Botany", asks if fresher flower spikes could be sent. [James] Sowerby will return Davall's drawings. Sends his paper on ferns and specimens of 'Ophrys loeselii' and 'Malaxis paludosa'. Cannot yet answer Davall's most recent packet though comments that no.1 is not 'Veronica spuria' but probably variety of 'Veronica longifolia', no.2 not different from 'Milium effusum' HL and 'Milium confertum' very different; no.8 must be 'Scilla italica' HL [probably signifies Herbarium Linnaeus].

Current "aspect of politics" very alarming but believes they are safe from insurrection though many think otherwise. His "Tour" being translated into French and Italian, the latter "somewhat castrated". Duchess of Portland [Dorothy Bentinck] died; "we regret her much".

Numbered observations on de Saussure's lichens: 'Scutellis lividis', 'Lichen proboscideus', 'Lichen scaber' [Huds. in pencil], 'Lichen fahlunensis', 'Lichen geographicus', 'Lichen tessellatus' new sp obs, 'Lichen deustus' or 'decussatus' of Villars, 'Lichen pubescens', 'Lichen mesenteriformis' Jacquin "Miscellanea Austriaca" 2 t9 f5, 'L. deustus', 'L. loricatus' new species obs.

Delighted by Smith's "Tour", were he ignorant of the author would say "he is the favour'd child of Nature" and enjoyed his remarks on painting. Sends specimens of what he thinks is the 'Carex' like coriander mentioned in "Tour" vol 3 p.142 and corrects errors viz. 'Lichen encaustus' gathered in Alps, of Smith's new lichens only 'exanthematicus' and 'saxifragus' grow near Orbe, Smith's vol 1 p.175 "like a fucus in miniature" [these have all been ticked in pencil]. Sending a few plants. Financial and legal troubles with his wife's eldest brother. Sending plants without numbering, offers to send seed of the 'Verbascum' and 'Digitalis'.

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".