Requests letter of introduction to [Benjamin Thompson], Count Rumford [(1753-1814), physicist], for Mr Frost, "a very intelligent workman".

Has given Mr Frost a letter of introduction to Count [Benjamin Thompson] Rumford. Compliments Mrs Smith on her turkeys. Has planted 'Eriocaulon decangulare'.

Details of [John] Sibthorp's journeys and collections. Convinced the specimens Smith believes are missing are merely mislaid as duplicates of every uncommon species were collected, one of each being given to Sir Joseph Banks. Recommends contacting [Ferdinand Lucas] Bauer [(1760-1826) botanical artist] for information on plants from first tour in 1787. Details of methodology of Sibthorp's journals and provenance of Dacian, Olympian and Cretan collections. The last tour's collection was given to Dr Wenman although uncertain whether he rearranged or almagamated any of it, in addition to this also collections of plants from Zante and Maina, as well as collections of insects, fish, birds, shells, quadrupeds, and seeds. Smith should have two large and distinct collections of Greek plants from the two tours. Believes if Bauer cannot execute "Flora Graeca" on his own terms he will decline it, citing in part the "sacrafice of liberty in so tedious a work" and the problem of finding good assistants. If he did take on the work would take girls to be his assistants "who are more manageable", reminds him of George Forster's plan to translate English works into German "with the assistance of females".

Prevented by gout from reviewing Smith's papers; it was caused by his horse plunging into an unexpected hole whilst crossing a river at Old Windsor, Berkshire. Smith "deep in the willows": he thinks they should be described in the two states of fructification and leaf; agrees that 'Salix amygdalina' and 'S. triandra' are the same, having seen it in Bath and on Battersea fields with different leaves but the same bark; found 'Salix rubra fissa' Hoffmann in a holt on the north side of Ely, Cambridgeshire, and not on Prickwillow Bank; wanted to add the habitat of Walmer Castle and Deal, Kent, to 'S. arenaria' but not sure of Smith's plant; glad that Smith has thrown out 'S. hermaphroditica'. Does not follow Smith's 'Polypodium': thought they found 'P. thelypteris' near Bury but Smith has listed it as 'P. oreopteris'; asks how Smith has addressed 'P. aculeatum' and 'P. lobatum' on account of how different they appeared in [William] Sole's garden.

The 'Veronica' he gathered on the way to the Giant's Hole [St Vincents Rock, near Bristol] was in a very dangerous spot and considerably larger than that figured in "English Botany", will send this specimen if he cannot find another at home. Briefly saw Sir Joseph Banks yesterday.

Thanks for turkey and biscuits, which her ill-health prevented her from acknowledging sooner. Offers Smith a stuffed bird of paradise for his collection; she received it with a living parakeet from Bombay and its plumage is as though it died yesterday. Ashamed to put Smith's household to the expense and trouble of satisfying her demand for biscuits and ideally would like a box quarterly but her finances constrained "since Mr [William] Pitt [the Younger (1759-1806), prime minister] has been pleas'd to take £500 a year" from her income.

Comments that Smith's 'Agapanthus' which bore the winter and flourished in a border "must have been very pleasant", and wishes Smith could persuade Grieg, her gardener, to make similar experiments at Hillingdon. 'Amarylis radiata' in flower in her room which she thinks worthy of being drawn; [James] Sowerby does not recall her sending him a flower and leaf of it two years ago.

Curious to know whether Smith's sister is married to his young companion he brought to visit last year. Sending the bird in a box soon.

Pleased Smith is satisfied with new volume of "Linnean Transactions", though he thinks some of the papers might have been omitted without reducing its value; convinced that they must give up the idea of publishing every year; explains his and [Jonas] Dryander's decisions in listing books donated to the Library.

Asks when Smith will be in London and when "Flora Britannica" will appear. There were no new papers at last general meeting of the Linnean Society, so they were forced to read an entomological paper by [Samuel] Goodenough previously read before; they now have enough for the next two or three meetings. Persoon's fungi paper has been found.

No summary available.

No longer possible for him to visit Norwich, [Norfolk], as planned, due to an arbitration against him at Arley, [Worcestershire]. Requested biennial and perennial herbaceous seeds or plants from Cambridge, for his expanding botanic garden; high prices makes Lee the last resort. White [bookseller] has offered to supply first two volumes of Smith's "Flora Britannica", on account of his being so far from London. Surprised that Andrews is to draw and publish character of 'Pattersonia'. [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert's servants.