Thanks for Smith's letter of 21 [January]. Waiting to see Smith to fully explain his personal affairs; found that when "money comes into competition with [...] friendship the last vanishes away like an airy vision".

Suggests contents for Smith's proposed "short Tour" of his part of Wales, "which are hitherto maiden", for it to be published by Edwards will publish and for it to include "beautiful" drawings of his own and of Colonel Greville's, which alongside Smith's writing will "answer for the sale being very great".

They have had fine weather but very great storms of wind, rain, and thunder; many of his sheep killed by lightning. Introduced "capital improvements" in the economy of forcing plants and fruit in his garden.

Asks after Smith's recent movements and activities, including "Flora Britannica". A mild winter allowed him to gather flowering 'Vinca minor' three miles from Bury. Sends his respects to Dr [George] Shaw and [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert. Asks if Smith has heard from [Richard] Relhan, whose affairs are "deranged" in spite of a £700 subscription. Asks if new editions of [William] Withering's "Botanical Arrangement" and "Hortus Kewensis" are to appear. Will pay his lapsed Linnean Society subscription before next anniversary meeting. Asks for a copy of Sir George Staunton's "Embassy to China" to be reserved for him at White's; missed the first edition of [James] Cook's last voyage through failing to do this. A spare room always available at his house for friends.

Addition at head of recto of first folio states he fears a letter to [James] Sowerby requesting all previous numbers of his "Cryptogamia" has been lost.

Received Smith's letter of 28 [January 1796]. Account of last Linnean Society meeting: [George] Shaw disappointed him in not taking the Chair as promised, but [Richard] Salisbury filled the place and read the papers; received papers from Colonel [George] Montagu [(1753-1815)] on 2 or 3 species of birds; a motion was made for the Society to treat with Smith for purchase of the Linnaean fossil collection he intends to sell, but doubtful the funds can be found. An artist has offered to give the Society a portrait of Smith if the members subscribe to a print of it.

[Aylmer Bourke] Lambert encloses a newspaper clipping [extant], stating that Smith has retired from London on a pension "granted by his pupil the Queen"; his concerns. [James] Sowerby has obtained Smith's parcel from [Olof] Swartz.

Present state of affairs make correspondence difficult. [Rodrigo] de Sousa [Coutinho] anxious to receive any works by Smith that are not listed [in letter] with those he already owns, alongside Aiton's "Hotus Kewensis", Linnaeus' "Flora Lapponica", and [James] Dickson's ["Plantarum cryptogamicarum Britanniae"].

Details of [John] Sibthorp's will: provision for publishing his "Flora Graeca" in ten volumes each containing 100 plates, and when the work is finished the produce of the estate to be applied to the establishment of a professorship of Rural Economy at Oxford University when certain conditions are met. Discussion of candidates for professorship at Oxford. The "miraculous field" near Norwich.

Congratulations on Smith's engagement to Pleasance Reeve. The cinnamon tree not likely to open its flowers for a week to ten days. Death of [John] Sibthorp, asks whether Smith will apply for Sibthorp's post as a professor at Oxford.

His cousin Schreibers' work on mollusca and insects; books sent and wanted; his marriage and family.