Sending Smith a parcel containing specimens of the Indian breadroot and first two numbers of [Stephen] Elliott's "Sketch of the botany of South Carolina and Georgia". During his journey from east Florida he met Dr [William] Baldwin, "a very intelligent botanist & indefatigable traveller", who has given him a letter and parcel of specimens to forward to Smith on his return.

Is sending CB all his letters dealing with functional equations. Comments on E. F. Bromhead's paper. Taylor's theorem. Is getting on well with his essay on exponential functions.

On JG's ignorance of mathematics.

Not as ill as he was this time last year. The plant of "lady botanist" [Arabella Rowden], 'Brusenia', should have been 'Brasenia', a genus of Schreber's in "Genera Plantarum" p.372, does not know the plant himself. Cannot find anything on Cullum's herb "scathery" and frustrated by lack of index to [Henry] Lyte's [(1529-1607), botanist] "Herbal", but thinks they may find something at Sir Joseph Banks' in [Thomas] Tusser [(1524-1580)], a favourite book of Banks' ["Five hundred pointes of good Husbandrie" (1580)], and thinks it must be parsley. Holds a great regard for Sir Christopher Pegge [(1765-1822), Oxford professor of anatomy]. Dr and Mrs Ward live too far away for them to call.

His trip to London delayed by an influenza attack but hopes to be there by 5 May [1817]. Proposes Sir Christopher Pegge [(1764-1822), physician] as a Council member. Essential for [Thomas] Marsham to repay more of his debt before Linnean Society anniversary meeting.

[René Louiche] Desfontaines and himself trying to establish the difference between 'Agrostis alba' and 'Agrostis stolonifera'; Smith's description in "Flora Britannica" is the only one that is not confusing. Requests specimens of both, verified by Smith, to determine which grows near Paris.

No summary available.

Ship delayed in sailing [for USA]. Mrs [Lucy] Hardcastle delayed in preparing the drawings she was to send Smith; the parcel will contain dried specimen of a 'Rhizomenpha', on which Dr Forster will write in greater detail. Observations on Cornish plants: 'Ulex europans', 'Viola canina', 'Scalo pendiam', 'Statice arvensis', 'Anthyllis', 'Silene maritima'. Has the parcels for [Jacob] Bigelow and [David] Hosack.

Is returning E. F. Bromhead's paper. Matters are arising from this paper. Encloses one of his own dealing with the notation of functions. When should he set off to Cambridge to vote for William Clarke?

Reports problem publishing JW's music. Relates adventures of churchmen and students at Cambridge.

No summary available.

Introduces Theodore Lyman, of Boston, [Massachusetts], who sends small parcel of local indigenous plants and is about to embark on a tour of Europe before studying at Oxford. Often thinks of his visit to Norfolk and to [James] Crowe's Salicetum and observing 'Verbascum pulverulentum', asks after Smith's Norfolk friends. Correspondence with [William] Kirby, will send Kirby, [Alexander] Macleay and [Thomas] Marsham insects. Sends some local plants, including a 'Hypnum'. Peck's authority incorrectly quoted in [Frederick] Pursh's "Flora of North America": 'Diapensia cuneifolia' is a southern plant and not found in the White Mountains, received a a specimen of it from [Henry] Muhlenberg. His local Botanic Garden struggling for lack of funds, local merchants have contributed to grow exotic plants but it is has few North American plants, a young man has been engaged to gather plants from the US interior.

Forced to again delay his journey to London but intends to arrive in time for Linnean Society anniversary meeting. Anxious that Sir Christopher Pegge [(1764-1822), physician] be made part of Council, also suggests [Thomas Thynne, 2nd] Marquess of Bath [(1765-1837)]. Proposes Baron Alexander [von] Humboldt for FMLS, and either [Jean] Cuvier or [Augustin] de Candolle if there is another vacancy. Mortified to miss the dinner at Somerset Place [House, home of the Royal Society]. Necessary for [Thomas] Marsham to have repaid all his debt to the Society by the anniversary, or a considerable part with sufficient apology.

Leaving for London tomorrow and will attend Horticultural Society anniversary meeting and Linnean Society monthly meeting. Satisfied with Smith's explanation that [Arabella] Rowland's 'Brusenia' should have been Schreber's 'Brasenia'. Determined that the herb "scathery" is the winter or summer savory, in English called "saverye or saveraye", and in Dutch "saturey", and said by Gerard to be good eaten with "Beanes and Peason and other windie pulses" Ger.Em.p.577; this confirms Professor [Thomas] Martyn's observation in [Philip] Miller's "[Gardener's and botanist's] Dictionary" that winter and summer savory and other pot herbs must have been cultivated a long time before spices from the East Indies were in common use.

Glad none of Smith's relations were involved in the "dreadful catastrophe" of the exploding steam engine on the boat. Sorry for his friend Mr Davies' credit that he has not done anything generous for friends or relations in his will. Looking forward to seeing Smith in London.

All disappointed Smith is not to attend Linnean Society next Tuesday but pleased he is recovering well. Agrees with Smith's nominations of Sir Christopher Pegge [(1764-1822), physician] and [Thomas Thynne, 2nd] Marquess of Bath [(1765-1837)] for Council. Only one FMLS vacancy but too late for it to be filled this season, anxious for [Alexander von] Humboldt to be the first elected.

No longer receives letters free of expense since abolition of the Transport Office. [Thomas] Marsham "so exceedingly ill" doubts the Society ever receiving anymore money from him. Does not expect to suffer from abolition of Transport Office.