Due to a "hellish plot" instigated by the Inquisitor General has been obliged to leave Portugal. [Pierre Marie Auguste] Broussonet will inform Smith of what he saw of it. In his haste to leave did not acquire the necessary passport to enter England and asks for assistance from Smith and Sir Joseph Banks. He cannot apply to the Portuguese Ambassador to England, the Chevalier Almeyda, as he is a relative of the Inquisitor General, which also prevents him for choosing England for his asylum. Reminds Smith that he once did a similar deed for their common friend Broussonet in Lisbon. Informs Smith that his ship is the "Sloop Mary" captained by Anthony Roskruge although it is currently held at Penzance by the government's embargo on all ships coming from abroad. Has taken the pseudonym Joseph Porto. Laments his situation, comparing it to happier times as described in Smith's "Tour of the Continent".

Hopes Smith received his previous letter written from Penzance, Cornwall. The embargo detaining ships at Penzance has been lifted and they are now at Deal, expecting to reach London in three days.

Sends his compliments to Smith's family, looking forward to seeing Smith when he is next in London. Positive about the [unstated] news from Portugal.

Comments on Smith's class name 'Kuamos' ["Cyamus" transliterated from Greek alphabet, appropriated in English as "legumen"], its use by ancient botanists and how they distinguished 'Cyamus agyptius', which is '[Cyamus] nelumbo', from 'Cyamus hellenicus', which is "the common bean". Conjectures that the Ancient Greeks used it in a similar way to the English word "bean" and compares this with other languages and cultures including the Ancient Egyptians. Discusses the etymology of the Greek words and approves of the name. Botanical publication news: [Carl Peter] Thunberg's "Monographia of the Hermannia" and [Thomas] Velley and [John] Stackhouse's works on 'Fucus', critiques them for their obscure and vague physiological sections, which has inspired him to write his own memoir on the fecundation of submersed plants. At [James] Lee's with [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert experimented with success on the phenomenon of the irritable flowers of 'Verbascum', asks Smith to do the same at Norwich, gives instructions. Observed the same behaviour in Portugal with 'Verbascum thapsi', 'Verbascum sinuatum' and 'Verbascum blattaria', intends to write a paper on it for the Linnean Society. Bower is about to publish the "Digitales". [Archibald] Menzies has written to Sir Joseph [Banks] from Valparaiso, Chile, and is returning to England in a few months. Wishes to become acquainted with [Casper von] Voght after reading his "benevolent" pamphlet.

An abscess on his right hand has delayed his reply to Smith's letter of 3 January. Has seen [Pierre Remi] Willemet's "Herbarium Mauritianum", agreeing with Smith that it is a "poor performance" and remarks that the Conway mentioned in the preface is the French commanding general in India, who may have obstructed Willemet from a political difference rather than a dislike of natural history. Attended meeting of the "Class of Natural Sciences" where it was reported that Willemet is in France and planning an expedition into the interior of Africa, and a eulogium of [John] Sibthorp by Mr de Guys was read. The only foreign botanical work of interest recently published is the "Museum Schtio-lithologicum-conense", a "splendid publication" and in English publications [Richard] Salisbury's "Prodromus", praising him as a "nebulous star". [Adam] Afzelius has brought "very extraordinary" and "truly paradoxical" plants from Africa, believes his "Flora Guineenss" will be a great step towards the improvement of botany. Has received a friendly letter from Rodrigo de Sousa [Countinho], advises Smith to write to him.

Has a diploma for Smith from the Lisbon Academy, who are also sending a gift of all their works. [John Theodore] Koster has written from Portugal asking if Smith thinks they are worth paying the high duty on books coming into England and adds that Sir Joseph Banks, who received a similar gift, is glad of having them all. Pleased to see from a letter sent to [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert that Smith has divided the 'Protea' family. He is currently in the middle of examining [Francis] Masson's [(1741-1805), Kew plant collector] collection of Cape [of Good Hope] 'Proteas'. Believes the flora of New Holland [Australia] and the Cape are "both fragments of a whole". Masson has two species of 'Styphelia' from the Cape. Makes observations on formation of 'Protea' flowers through comparison with 'Lambertia' and 'Tilia'.