Thanks for Australian plants; difficulties of communication in war time; death of Johann Hedwig; his collections to be sold; grasses; tabular chart of species collected.
Pleased by Smith's intention to visit her on his way to Oxford. She has been so ill with a painful arm that she recently cancelled a visit from [William Fitzwilliam, 4th Earl] Fitzwilliam [(1748-1833)] and Lady Fitzwilliam.
A long time since he heard from Smith, though kept informed by their mutual friend, [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert, who is his only contact with those who share his pursuits. Pleased to hear of L'Héritier's safety. Asks Smith to procure Cavanilles' most recently published volume of "Icones" for him.
Believes that 'Myosotis scorpioides', 'Myosotis palustris', and 'Myosotis arvensis' are distinct species rather than varieties, his observations.
Missed [James] Sowerby's call at Tredrea, although the poor health of his father prevents it from being a station for long journeys. Pleased that Smith is to finish [John] Sibthorp's work on "Flora Graeca". Pleased with progress of "Flora Britannica", wishes that Cornwall had been previously visited and studied, believes some Cornish plants are at least varities of "those considered as English species".
Sorry for the loss Smith had at Clifton, though her disorder was such that Smith must have been prepared. Sold Croft for £10,000 less than he expected so must make large sacrifices at Hafod; determined to be free from uncertainty and is to make a "sinking fund" in larch plantations, about which he is "even more wild" than [James] Anderson and intends to plant a million annually for as long as he has room. Todd [his gardener] has been very fortunate year in raising them from seed.
His daughter's [Mariamne Johnes] health improved since Jones came with an improved machine and she can now walk without crutches. She drinks three half pints of the Llanwated waters every day, which are sulpherous and have "done miracles" in several cases, and Jones is confident of her perferct recovery as long as she keeps away from surgeons. Weather uncommonly hot; hawthorns and crabs in "high beauty" and woods are like flower gardens.
Discussion of [John] Sibthorp's collections and materials for "Flora Graeca". Hopes Smith has received it all, especially large collection of seeds made in his last tour and named by Sibthorp on the spot, names on specimens are otherwise absent due to Sibthorp's "perfect knowledge" of them. Explains Sibthorp's subdivision of "Flora Graeca" into provincial floras including: "Flora Lacynthia" prepared by Consul Foresti; small collection from Maina; sub-alpine plants collected by himself in Crete. Happy to assist in deciphering the vulgar Greek plant names. [John] Flaxman [(1755-1826)] is executing a monument to Sibthorp. Sending specimens of several rock plants, left about 200 with a large collection of seeds in Patras, Greece.
Requests letters of introduction and recommendations of interesting places his eldest son's solo excursion to Scotland. Has heard [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert is suffering from a bladder complaint. His legs are better since last time Smith saw him and shortly intends a trip into Yorkshire as far as Wakefield, and will include a visit to [Richard] Salisbury.
Has had no acknowledgement of the parcel of his books and fungi he sent to [James] Sowerby nor the letter to Smith containing paper on beech tree. Plans to dedicate the second part of his "Mycological observations" to Smith ["Icones et descriptiones fungorum minus cognitorum.."?]. Offers to send fungi for Smith and Sowerby. Has edited [Carl Peter] Thunberg's "Dissertations".
Sent [John] Davies at Cambridge a bank post bill for £45 of the money collected for [Richard] Relhan's herbarium. Printer of "Linnean Transctions" has no copy to proceed with unless Smith sends his paper on 'Mentha' or Persoon's; current volume about 160 pages; desireable but not necessary for future volumes to be of a similar size.
Believes his letter to Smith of July 1798 and parcel to Sir Joseph Banks have been lost, contents included: latest parts of "Acta" [of Swedish Academy of Scienes], including Smith's paper on 'Westringia'; copies of Smith's dissertation on 'Plukenetia' from "Acta Soc. Upsaliens" vol 6; and a paper of his in same volume on 'Epindendrium'. Hope Smith received the West Indies plants and cryptogamic plants sent with his letter of October [1798]. Sends paper on 'Ehrharta' for "Linnean Transactions", further notes on it. Informed by [Adam] Afzelius that Smith is finishing "Flora Britannica". The printing of his "Flora Indiae occidentalis" has been delayed by the war. Has attended to ['Anthesteria'] in a similar way to 'Ehrharta'. Asks Smith's opinion of his work on 'Epidendrum', further notes on it.
Long postscript discussing specimens of a New Holland genus in the 'Gynandria' class Smith sent him in 1795 and provisionally named "nov genus orchidearum no 2", believes it is of the genus 'Orchid.' and has written on it in the "new journal of botany" published by [Heinrich Adolph] Schrader in Gottingen. Queries plants in Smith's "Tentamen botanicum de filicum generibus dorsiferarum", including: 'Onoclea', 'Osmunda spicant', 'Acrostichum septentrionale', and 'Davallia falcata'. Has two new species for 'Villaria', they are published in second volume of "Neue Schriften des Gesellschaft Naturforschende freunde in Berlin". Has been working for a long time on the 'Gynandrous' genera and order 'Orchid.', confident of finding a firm character.
Received Smith's Bristol letter. Repeats from his last letter his financial losses in sale of Croft, but now finds that he cannot get the money coming to him as a neglected fine has been found. Wrote to his solicitor about Smith's draft but cannot as yet get the money unlocked.
His daughter [Mariamne Johnes] "going on well" and now walks without crutches. Mr Abernethy advises for her, via Dr [David] Davies, seabathing and an enlargement of the tissues, but Johnes attributes the swelling in her thigh to sea bathing two years ago; "they seem all in the dark".
Lists previous members of Parliament for Radnorshire, from Sir Henry Howarth to the present day. Curious to hear anything of Sir George Chad, who is either "an extraordinary friendly man, or a consunmate charlatan", after he assisted Hanbury Williams [possibly Johnes' brother-in-law, married to his sister Eliza] with debt-planning and relieved him of his troubles.
Sends Smith specimen of 'Fucus subfuscus', which if placed in water will show it is full of fructification; certain the drawing of it in "Linnean Transactions" is accurate [see RelatedMaterial below], which means [James] Sowerby's for "English botany" is not, and if this is the case they may be able to ascertain 'F. subfuscus' and 'F. variabilis'.
Encloses paper for the Linnean Society [on cattle].
Introduces Dr. Noehden; asks for specimens of 'Potentilla', 'Filago', and other plants; thanks for introduction to Dawson Turner.
Discussed arrangements for the plates of "Flora Graeca" with [Ferdinand Lucas] Bauer [(1760-1826), botanical artist], who believes he will be cheaper than [Daniel] Mackenzie and wishes for it to be decided by a trial
Sends specimens of a local species of 'Lotus' that is not the 'Lotus angustissimus' of Bauhin or Linnaeus, and has blossoms resembling 'Medicago polymorpha arabica'. Detailed description and habitat information. From long observation concludes that two distinct species are included under 'Lotus corniculatus', suggests 'Lotus gibbus' and 'Lotus patulus' and gives detailed description and habitat information of each. Detailed description and habitat of local 'Rubia' and 'Melittis melissophyllum'. 'Brassica monensis' of [Dillenius'] "Hortus Elthamensis" grows abundantly, Lightfoot's plant resembles 'Erica monensis' in "Herbal" of Bobart or Merison at Oxford and believes it to be a different plant, in a detailed description remarks that the leaves resemble 'Sisymbrium nasturtium'. Praises Smith and "English Botany". Remarks that he has found 'Euphorbia lathyris' twice in a "truly wild state". On the last page 'Lotus diffusus' is noted, possibly in Smith's hand.
Sending copies of his "Lichenographiae Svecicae prodromus" to Linnean Society, in honour of Linnaeus, and to Sir Joseph Banks and [Jonas] Dryander; details of the work, including species named after Smith. Offers to send lichen specimens. [Adam] Afzelius has safely returned to his native country [Sweden].
Embarrassed, as though he agrees with Smith that [Ferdinand Lucas] Bauer [(1760-1826), botanical artist] is the best artist for "Flora Graeca", still thinks a fair trial ought to be given to [Daniel] Mackenzie. Bauer does not expect to procure assistants for the job; requests Smith to have a discussion with Bauer. [John] Sibthorp proposed obtaining cheap engravers from Germany. Unfortunate that all the Grecian seeds have been sown, which Sibthorp had collected to illustrate the carpology of the species; blames Sibthorp's successor. Saw at the Cambridge Botanic Garden some of the plants raised from the seed sent, including a new 'Crataegus'.
Gave his 'Confervae' drawings to [Wilson] Lowry [(1762-1824)] to be engraved but unaware of their progress as his London contact and brother-in-law is in Bristol with his ill wife, Frankland's sister, who is being treated with foxglove. Criticises [James] Sowerby's "English Botany" of July, "he is more slovenly in his engraving as he advances". Smith forgot his habitat for 'Carex digitata' of Thorp-arch woods near Wetherby, Yorkshire, gave some to Mr Peirson and Dr White. Knows nothing of [William] Curtis' affairs and whether his works will be continued [Curtis died 7 July 1799], though expects the "[Botanical] Magazine" will be as it is so profitable.
Sir Joseph Banks is marking his sheep with earrings and amused by Frankland's method of calculating cattle breed developed from a genealogy table he created for a litter of pigs, which he copies for Smith on recto of second folio.