In addition to other items he is sending by Mr Brown also sending seeds, and box of insects gathered by Mr Le Beck, they both wish to become members of the Linnean Society; Le Beck will be a valuable correspondent as he intends to spend his life in India. Recently drew and described a new species of 'Dolphinus'; as large as common dolphin but without dorsal fin, 60 teeth in each jaw, and chiefly inhabits the Ganges river, calls it 'D. gangetica'. [Francis] Buchanan is visiting them; he will send Smith plants.

No summary available.

Received Smith's letter of 1 February; congratulates him on his marriage and for giving up the "drudgery of medical practice" to devote himself to the "study of sciences". Urges Smith to undertake the production of a new "Genera and Species Plantarum" for the honour of Britain, as [Joseph Pitton de] Tournefort and Linnaeus did for France and Sweden.

Since his return from Burma has been botanising at Luckipore, India, on the east side of the Meghna River, and sending findings to [William] Roxburgh, arranging geographical papers, written a treatise on the religion of the Burmas, and is comfortable except for want of books and a wife. Concerned that the papers he sent for possible inclusion in "Linnean Transactions" have not been received, and that Smith is ignorant of the "Enumeration of Burma" plants, specimens and drawings that were probably offered to Sir Joseph Banks. If Banks is not interested in them he is confident that [William Fullerton] Elphinstone, director [of the East India Company], will assist Smith in procuring them for himself.

Makes some observations on his "Enumeratio", mostly corrections and clarifications in the naming of plants and new genera, with reference to Roxburgh and [Jonas] Dryander: his 'Asclepias tinctoria' is in fact 'Asclepias tingens'; his 'Sium ninsi' is '[Sium] sisarum' as stated by Dryander in "Linnean Transactions"; a new genus of 'Laurus' which Roxburgh names 'Buchania', believes the plant he sent which Smith named for him is a 'Valisneria'; does not agree that 'Oxalis corniculata' is two species as discussed in "Linnean Transactions"; his 'Rhizophora conjugata' Roxburgh has since named '[Rhizophora] decandra'; his 'Hibiscus strigosus' may just be variety of '[Hibiscus] cannabinus'; his 'Epidendrums' are all 'Limodorums'; believes his 'Bryonia saggitata' is the same as Roxburgh's '[Bryonia] umbellata'; his 'Pandanus pecten' is Roxburgh's '[Pandanus] foetidus'; and his 'Cissampelos pata' is Roxburgh's '[Cissampelos] hexandra'.

Does not collect insects but has sent a parcel of dried plants, will supply descriptions if desired. Dampness and insects currently make it impossible for him to preserve plants and form a collection. Notes on the plants he has sent to Smith: 'Gardenia bisperma' could differ from plant "barbarously" named by Roxburgh; he thought 'Asclepias reticulata' might be the 'Apocynum reticulatum' but now sure it is new to Linnaeus; his 'Polygonum sagittatum' may be the new species '[Polygonum] horridum'; 'Kirpa', a fine timber tree, is 'Decandria monogynia'; believes Roxburgh's 'Athulia aquatica' is a new genus; the 'Painlot' of the natives may be a 'Tannonia' although he has called it a 'Bryonia', has not found the female plant; the plant he called 'Urtica' may not belong to that genus, having only seen the female flowers; and the plant with six stamens inserted into a globular nectarium of which he formerly sent a drawing is 'Amur'. Literary pursuits frustrated by a lack of books.

Thanks for Smith's letter of 4 November [1797]; pleased by account of favourable turn in [Mariamne] Johnes condition; recommends book just published in Paris detailing similar cases, "Observations sur la nature et sur le traitment du Rachitisme, pur M. Poral". Steady recovery of Mrs Manning [Woodward's mother-in-law], in spite of her old age.

Reexamined all his 'Bromus' specimens and found that 'B. erectus' is ciliated; notes on this. [John] Stackhouse has a new 'Medusa' for Smith, and a nondescript bird with description for Linnean Society [see RelatedMaterial below]. Glad Oxford has a professor "more liberal minded" than [John] Sibthorp; "mysteries & secrets in scientific matters never answer any other purpose than to hurt the character of the person who deals in them". Thinks the 'Tordglium maximum' and 'T. officinale' must be erroneous, knowing that the habitats given for them are the same place.

Received Smith's last letter of 16 August from L'Abbé Correa. Awaiting arrival of copies of Smith's "Tour of the Continent" and "Lectures on Botany", has ordered his work on the "Insects of Georgia" and [George Leonard] Staunton's book, has already read passages on Madeira, Prague and Rio de Janeiro. [Carlo Antonio Ludovico] Bellardi pursuing his botanical work with a passion. Hopes Smith will visit Portugal one winter.

Thanks for Smith's "rich cargo" of Norwich biscuits; uses them medicinally when she has a dry mouth and throat in the night. Smith's visit to Wales must have been "truly gratifying" on account of "being the means of restoring health to a beloved Daughter of a beloved Friend" [Mariamne Johnes, daughter of Thomas Johnes]. Invites Smith to visit on his return journey and details of the roads from Bath, [Somerset].

Apologises for not being able to send recipe for "those little cream cheeses". Her health better recently and freer from "those billious pains & sensations that are so tormenting both to the body & the mind".

At [William] Roxburgh's request sends Smith box of insects collected in Calcutta, observations: 1. 'Meloë cichorii', comparison to 'Meloë visicatorius' and its use by European physicians in Calcutta, an account by Captain [Thomas] Hardwicke in "Asiatick Researches"; 2. an insect found in the Botanic Garden and preserved in spirit [Smith annotation: "'Acheta monstrosa' Fabr[icius] Syst[ema entomologiae?]"]; 3. an unnamed insect that emerges after October rainy season [Smith annotation: "'Gryllus monstrorus' Drury's Ins. v2 t43 f1 ["Illustrations of natural history"]"]

No summary available.