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Offers Smith information on marine plants, having collected them in Scarborough 1782-1783 and communicated them with and received descriptions in return from [John] Lightfoot and [William] Hudson. Drew microscopic studies of 'Confervae'; intended to publish but deaths of Lightfoot and Hudson and building works prevented him. One of the Scarborough plants he sent Lightfoot was 'Fucus hypoglossum' the 'phyllitis' of Ellis, Hudson thought it a variety of 'alatus'. Hudson denied that the 'Saxifraga umbrosa' Frankland found growing in Thorp-arch woods, near Wetherby, Yorkshire, was indiginous and was reluctantant to allow new species as he had a list of plants commissioned by Dr [Richard] Richardson [(1663-1741), physician and botanist] to be propagated in unsuspected places so that afterwards he could find them "wild" and this list might explain many discoveries but not 'Corrigiola litteralis' found by Hudson in Clapham Sands, Devon.

His specimens of 'Fucus hypoglossum' the size of those figured by [Thomas] Woodward [in his "Linnean Transactions" paper 'Descriptions of two new British Fucus'] but disputes Woodward's figure of fructification and engraving.

Cannot find any of the 'Bromus' he suspects is 'B. squarrosus' but encloses coloured drawing made by his sister [extant]. Encloses the grass [not extant] he previously mentioned to Smith, small sketch in ink illustrating a point about its growing, it differs from 'Poa rigida', [William] Curtis is growing it from a root from foot of St Vincent's Rock, [near Bristol].

Coloured drawing of plant [Smith has annotated: "'Bromus secalinus' JES"].

Received letter from [William] Curtis as if taking leave; Frankland wrote him a local case of angina pectoris being cured by following Dr Fothergill's advice in the "Medical Observations" but Curtis thinks his disorder is not that.

Unable to find Curtis' misquotation of Morrison in 'Lobelia ursens' article from having copied [William] Hudson and note he does not quote Hudson at all for that plant. Agrees that Curtis wrong to criticise Smith's use of terminology useage for 'Sageria corastoides'. Pleased with Smith's progress on the "Flora" and thinks the size and number of volumes does not matter, finding no description objectionable for its length except [Adam Afzelius' paper on] "3 certain 'Trifolia' in "Linnean Transactions", highlights [Richard] Relhan's as being particularly gratifying.

Would prefer a Botany Bay genus to be named after himself though admits he has contributed nothing to the botanical world though he has many drawings of 'Confervae' which he has not published. Gathered 'Viola canina' in full flower this week; proof of mildness of weather. Unsatisfied with his understanding of elms and confused by the different English, Dutch, and Cornish names for the same species. Encloses elm leaves [not extant]: large leaf of English elm, also sent to him from Wiltshire as Dutch elm; a narrow leaf with smooth twigs corresponding with enclosed marked as "common English Elm" from Circencester, [Gloucestershire]; obervations on elm bark.

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.

The moors so wet this season that riding is impossible and game is scarcer. Encloses undisclosed package. Mr Peirson an unambitious man who will be gratified by Smith's insertion of any two of his habitats; his qualities. His sister's illness: since marrying at 18 she has had 11 children, is now 39 and breeding and anxious attendance of children have worn her out; Dr Fraser diagnosed tubercules on her lungs, she came to Bristol after lowering plan, hemlock and herbane failed; Dr Moncrieffe confirmed Fraser's opinion and at first gave fruit and cooling diet alone and since then foxglove; in letter of 12th her pulse varies but is sometimes 100 and when the fever is on her cough abates and vice versa, complains of difficulty of access to the wells from Clifton, a great evil considering bad season in which he does not see fruit or corn ripening.

In Exmouth on account of his daughter; she has been unwell for months and recently more so though believes her lungs are not affected and that the disorder is nervous. His sister has received great benefit from taking foxglove under Dr Moncrieffe though just received letter that a fresh tubercule is inflaming. Beddoes currently has five ladies under his care, each in a hammock in a close room with an Alderney cow.

Will send any marine plants he finds to [James] Sowerby though presently none are washed up and the rocks are barren except for 'Fucus vesiculorus' and 'Ulva compressa', 'Rubia' on cliffs, and '[Calystegia] soldanella', 'Crygium campestre', 'Cuphorbia' and he supposes [William] Hudson's 'Ononis repens' on sand banks between cliffs and beach. Complains that having expected to live on John Dory can get nothing but small whitings and herrings every two or three days.

Sent [James] Sowerby 'Fucus tomentosus' and will send other marine plants. Observations on local plant 'Eryngium campestre'. His daughter's symptoms: regular chills followed by slight heats since last August but nothing prevalent till the last week; Dr Hunter of York and Dr Downman of Exmouth both conclude the lungs not affected but an abscess in her throat; Hunter prescribed bark and port wine but the bark disagreed with her bowels but now absorption of matter has given way to regular expectoration of pus, loss of flesh and appetite and hair, uncertainty whether the pus is from the lungs, trachea or oesophagus but supposes a large quantity can only come from the lungs. Delightful climate. Lady East reads Sertularice and [John] Ellis [(1710-1776), botanist] daily.

Gave Smith's remembrances to Sir William and Lady East, she is a "most charming woman" who received great benefit from being in Exmouth. Sir William has recommended steaming, milk and figs or some softening effluvia for his daughter to promote suppuration and healing of the abscess which now certainly lies in the throat. His sister Mrs Nicholas has returned to London and Dr Moncrieffe prescribes continued use of foxglove though her stomach is destroyed. Bad weather destroyed 'Euphorbia paralias' he found though slowly sending 'Fucus' to [James] Sowerby. Has 'Fucus pulmatus' Lightfoot and is satisfied from his observations at Scarborough, [Yorkshire], that the species is distinct; observations on other varities including 'F. coriaceus', 'F. tureicus', and 'F. hepaticus'. Will save 'Lichen caliendrinus' to "ornament" Smith's head next anniversary. Encloses full sized specimen of Porteus 'Fucus ceranoides' of [William] Hudson and will collect all varieties for Sowerby; thinks he has seen the "Dyers Lichen" figured in "English Botany" but unable to get it off the rock.

Sir William asks what 'Laver' is, being convinced that it is "sea liverwort" and not 'Ulva lactua' of modern botanists.