Thanks for gift of seeds to Oxford Botanic Garden. Visitors to Oxford: missed Dr [Carl Franz Anton von] Schreiber, [Peter] Lathbury [(1760-1820), Church of England clergyman] has not repeated his visit, unsure if Mr Watts passed through. His plans for the garden hindered by his eye complaint. Informed by [Thomas] Garnier that Smith believes [Johann Jacob] Dillenius confused between 'Elatine alsinastrum' and 'Centunculus'. Asks the state of Smith's "Flora Graeca" labours; communications with the executors of [John Sibthorp's] will regarding money.

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Thanks for gift of books to Musée d'Histoire Naturelle. The letter is signed by [Antoine Laurent de] Jussieu, Lamarck [Jean-Baptiste de Monet], [Barthélemy] Faujas [de Saint-Fond], [René Louiche] Desfontaines, and [André] Thouin.

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Forwarded Mr Harriman's letter. Glad his 'Bromus' correct. Approves name 'Ulva alcicornis' and thinks Dawson Turner "very dextrous in his names" compared to those previously stating names. Will bring 'Ulva diaphara' and 'U. flavescens' to London for Smith to see what [William] Hudson named the latter.

Sorry Smith was an invalid this summer and hopes London was clear of its "detestable fogs" when he was there. His own health good since adopting rigid temperance plan of limiting himself to eight ounces of wine a day and no fermented liquor at supper, though cannot resist his own beer, brewed by itself 10 bushels to 3 hogsheads and matured for 12 to 18 months. Lady Frankland surprisingly well considering her anxiety over her three daughters. Recently made some "metallic tractors" for a Durham physician; in a recent number of the "Medical Journal" there is a complete "quizzing" of them by Dr Alderson of Hull, several patients in the infirmary received so much benefit that they returned their thanks in church for their cures, these tracters were made of wood and coated with sealing wax.

Previously sent [Dawson] Turner specimens of 'Phascum crispum' and 'Phascum multicapsulare', the latter drawn by [James] Sowerby who called it Hedwig's plant; understands Smith visited Turner and thinks the specimens "perfectly distinct". Recently sent Sowerby parcel containing 'Phascum stoloniferum', 'P. serratum', 'P. multicapsulare', 'P. muticum', 'P. acaulon', and 'P. curvicollum'; this last differs from figure in "English botany", which he has always considered 'Bryum lanceolatum' of [James] Dickson and "Flora Bedfordiensis"; further observations on this and other 'Phascum'.

Sonnet [by Abbot] "On the Condition of the Poor, written the last morning of the year 1800".