Confined with rheumatism since Christmas. Account of his tour of Scotland with his son last July: went at invitation of Duke of Gordon, it was his first time north of the Tweed river and they travelled 900 miles visiting Edinburgh, Sterling, Crieff, Perth, Brechin, Alexander Brodie's at the Burn purchased of Lord Adam Gordon, Aberdeen, Inverurie and Huntly to Gordon Castle, James Brodie's "bad old house", Inverness, the Highland Road, on which without servant and carriage they would have been "lost in difficulties", and Glasgow, before returning home via Carlisle, Keswick, Ambleside, and Lord Lonsdale's [William Lowther, 1st Earl Lonsdale (1757-1844)] new home at Lowther, "a gothic palace, & tho' only begun 2 years since is already inhabited by all the family", by architect [Robert] Smirke [(1780-1867)]. Intention of tour was "to gain new ideas of country & inhabitants, and refused all opportunity of sporting" and did not search for plants as his son is not a botanist. Brodie has botanic garden for British plants and went salmon fishing with him: where they are most plentiful is the worst for angling as "they are harrassed with nets night & day, & have no time to feed". The Duke [of Gordon's] fishery, on river Spey, is let for 6000 guineas per annum and is said make a fortune with 2000 fish taken in one day, saw the icehouses which are entirely above ground so the melted ice sinks into sand. Largest fish ever caught was at Aberdeen May 1762, weighing 63lb Dutch weight.

Smith's 'Glaucium fubrum' thriving with him. Amused to find that [Dawson] Turner's figure of '[Fucus] siliquosus' was copied from his own. [Thomas] Marsham has recovered his credit and sent Colonel Tindall of Scarborough, [Yorkshire], the microscopic objects he promised. Recently took a drop of mercury for an ailment, hopes to never have to again. Details of a new heating system installed for his workshops, which are extremely cold in winter. Treated lumbago and pain in his legs with calomel and opium, having received no benefit from his own nostrum and James's pills. When Smith goes to London requests him to bring the plants he asked Smith to name two years ago.

Collected 'Satyrium repens' and 'Pyrola secunda' in woods at Gordon Castle and Brodie gave him 'Eriocaulon'.

Thanks for moss specimens; his 'Hypnum myosuroides' is 'H. curvatum'. If Smith and Mrs Smith ever travel north invites them to visit his "excellent house", built by himself and provides details of coaches.

Confirms that a 'Hieracium' found last August by Travis in Scarborough not like any in "English Botany" appears to be 'Hieracium prenanthoides' in "English Botany", will bring specimen to London. His son returned from five weeks hunting in Leicestershire. Visited Sir Joseph Banks at Revesby Abbey, Lincolnshire, last October, where there was uncommonly good hunting but he hurt his leg. The 'Glaucium fulvum' grown from Smith's seeds "the most desireable plant" of its kind he knows and has distributed the seed as an acquisition to every garden. Banks "particularly well" though everyone alarmed about the gout medicine he has started taking; Duke of Gordon informed it is 'Gratida' which a medical friend of his gives with success, and having looked at Lewis' "Materia medica" the effects of 'Gratida' agree exactly with those of "Can medicinale".

Fears recent keen frost has injured apricot crop and hurt vines but successful with kale having had pots made with covers as proposed in note in "Hort. Trans", the convenience in examining plants very great. Frustrated that [Lewis Weston] Dillwyn [(1778-1855)] still has his 'Conferva' drawings two years after requesting their return.

Visited his childhood home in Berkshire whilst staying with Mr C Dundas. Raw weather [at Thirkleby] but crops are forward and hay making is already underway and a good crop of backward grapes under glass, though there are no apples and hardly any pears, peaches, or nectarines compared to usual. Discusses strawberries: plans to raise them from seed; wrote to Dundas for some "fine hautboys" which he plans to alternate with pines, "as recommended by the French", though he has failed in the past with hautboys. His fruit trees showing symptoms of age not only for themselves "but my Scotch gardener".

He and Mr [Hugh] Davies identify same plant for [William] Hudson's 'C. nigra'. Has not heard of Mr Di in London. Smith's 'Glaucium fulvum' still in flower and some plants from last year's seed have yellow petals, it is a very hardy plant easily raised and transplanted, "a very desireable acquisition". Last autumn received seeds of a "green fleshed melon from Egypt" from Archbishop of York [Edward Venables-Vernon-Harcourt (1757-1847)] but it has not successfully cropped yet, though at Bishopthorpe [Palace, near York,]"they are considered as superior to all others" with a very rind thin and a green coloured transparent flesh, bears no comparison to the orange cantalope. Received 'Nuphar minima' seeds from [James] Brodie which he will sow "properly sunk, in some pool".

Suffered more "perspirations and fatigue" this shooting season than in any other. Sir Stephen [8th Baronet (1780-1815)] and Lady [Mary] Glynne visited recently. His brother quartered at Brighton, [Sussex]. Received haunch of buck venison from [Alexander Gordon, 4th] Duke of Gordon [(1743-1827)], his stag venison not good but [John Murray, 4th] Duke of Atholl's [(1755-1830)] "said to be often excellent".

Experienced a mild winter with primroses in full flower on 30 January, though March was severe. His apricot trees which he protected with copper plate printers' canvas, recommended by Sir Joseph Banks, [Thomas] A[ndew] Knight [(1759-1838)], and [James] Dickson as being superior to Buntine, have many flowers.

Unconvinced by some authors claims that ivy is injurious to trees as it dies if separated from the root; plants of his cut three months ago are showing no sign of decay and neglect of ivy in his gardens has caused much injury but they are now attacking it on trees and transferring it to walls. Mr Knight's peas are not worth cultivating, they produced inferior quantity of seed over two seasons which is now all saved for a third crop. Knight's method for obtaining large onions failed twice as they always run to seed in second year.

Smith's 'Conferva urceolata' is [William] Hudson's 'nigrescens' but could not find it in his drawings as [Lewis Weston] Dillwyn [(1778-1855)] still has them, complains he has had them too long and requests Smith's assistance in recovering them.

Encloses note [extant] from Mr [James] Hoy dated Gordon Castle, [Scotland], 18 Dec 1811, thanking Frankland for specimen of 'Scheuzeria' and detailing the extent of the [Alexander Gordon, 4th] Duke of Gordon's [(1743-1827)] estates.

Recently "whip grafted" 'Ilex' on common oak, having been unsuccessful in the common way, and has one 14 feet high plant cleft-grafted on common oak in uncommon health. They were taken from 100 year old wild trees which are much more hardy than his native trees of beech, lime, sycamore, and horse chestnut, which have graudually died since an unmerciful thinning in 1785, though the 'Ilex' seems uninjured.

Smith's 'Glaucium' was in flower last November, and some raised from seed had yellow flowers. Packed 'Nuphar' seeds received from [James] Brodie in earth, paper, and matting, and sunk with stone in a hard water stewpond secreted by planatation.

Illustrates "lamentable colouring" of 'Ulva plumosa' in "English Botany", which should have been "sap green", as in small coloured sketch [extant]; forgot to send one of the late flowering Gordon Castle, [Scotland], specimens. The late "tormenting" wife of [Alexander Gordon, 4th] Duke of Gordon [(1743-1827)] is now on road to be buried in Scotland and he has never been so happy.

Grafting: in [Thomas] Martyn's edition of [Philip] Miller's "The gardener's and botanist's dictionary" root grafting described as "a newer invention" but has succeeded in whip grafting 'Ilex' onto common oak, and surprised to find root grafting accurately described and extolled in Lowthorp's "Abridgement" vol 2 p.654. Delayed in coming to London by son's illness.

'Salix caprea' "Flora Britannica" is abundant in his woods but called 'sauve', reference to Marshall's "Yorkshire Glossary" "Saus - 'Salix caprea'". Found "host of holly natural layers, & shall layer some hundreds".

Discussion of apple trees: received "Downton pippin, Golden Harvey, Grange apple, & Foxley" from Hereford. Canker developed on his south wall Newton pippin which had fine crops for two years, observed with a lens the destruction of the eggs and insects under the diseased bark with turpentine. Forsyth says train oil is used in Kent, Forsyth himself prefers Torp seeds with terrie, thinks turpentine is as efficacious, plus more fluid and searching and its evaporation does not clog pores. Recommends Indian ink for nurserymens labels as it does not wash out.

Sketch of 'Ulex plumosa'.

Concerned by Smith's illness and abscence from London. [Lewis Weston] Dillwyn [(1778-1855)] apologised for detaining his 'Conferva' drawings. Sir Joseph Banks well and last October increased dose of his gout medicine from 12 to 15 drops daily; it is not proven if it has undermined his constitution. Banks has entire management of the Royal Mint and "pays great attention to it"; Marchant has executed dies for a new 3s & 1/6 pieces; has recommended a coinage of good sixpences to Banks. Drury Lane Theatre proceeding "magically, & will certainly be open early in Oct[obe]r next"; only regret is that the avenues around it "will remain blocked up precisely as they are now".

Smith's letter and enclosure for [Richard Griffin, 2nd Baron] Braybrooke [(1750-1825)] delayed; hopes Smith has not lost anything which Braybrooke "could do in the case". His son on a tour of Ireland; young men of this day cut off from continental tours and "perhaps do well to see the more of their own country". Experiencing a cold summer; fruit all backward but they have more grapes than they can eat from vinery and has not eaten "such invaribly good melons as in this year - orange cantaloupe, & green fleshed Egyptian", credits Mr Knight's frames which "give equal depth from the glass to the plants throughout", two rough sketches in ink of new and old beds. Has only been shooting three times but gratified by accomplishment of his fancy for gun with vertical barrels instead of horizontal, explains previous difficulties making this work and the solution made by Forsyth.

[Richard Griffin, 2nd Baron] Braybrooke's [(1750-1825)] second son, George Neville, convinced to return to his intended path of the Church and ultimately head of Magdalen College, Oxford, after being offered Sir Stephen Glynne's [8th baronet, (1780-1815)] vacant living at Flawarden, Flintshire, £3-4,000 per annum.

Amused with a 'Ranunculus' being taken for Fiorin grass; does not trust Dr Richardson's account of 'Agrostis stolonifera' which he has always taken as indicator of barren soil, Dary's report of this grass in his Lectures does not give a better opinion. Received seed of Guinea grass from [James] Brodie; grew under glass but did not flower.

Discusses apples: Siberian crab a most beautiful variety, delicious made into tarts; of his Herefordshire patent apples of golden pippins and Ribston pippins only two Grange are forthcoming; and a Ribston is in good health a year after being treated for canker with turpentine. Figs in pots not worth their room in vinery and following Mr Knight's experience will try mulberries.

Saw willow bonnets in York whiter and finer than the straw ones. Encloses specimen of willow sent by Mr Nicholas from Wiltshire. Just read of death of Dr [William] Gretton [(1736-1813), master of Magdalen College], the mastership will probably be held for George Neville. Summarises letter from [Alexander Gordon, 4th] Duke of Gordon [(1743-1827)] stating he shot a one horned, one testicled stag, and as deer castrated with or without their horns either never shed them or never produce them this deer must have been wounded in velvet for the defficient horn was a small hump, illustrated with small ink sketch. Davy has been shooting and fishing at Gordon Castle and he is to go "vulcano hunting" in Europe, Berthollet has insured his favourable reception in France.

A fruit basket brought from Vicenza, [Italy], by Mr Dawnay has frustrated several local basket makers, but he and his son managed to succeed in replicating it. Expects his son [on tour of Ireland] to arrive at Holyhead, [Anglesey] soon, he has been away for 8 weeks.

Having spent last 17 of 18 springs in London he "received high gratification" from spending the last one in the country. His son has developed an interest in botany. Intercedes for [William] Travis [(1771-1851)] of Scarborough, who regrets no longer being a FLS and claims to have been struck out by a friend's blunder and is prepared to pay his arrears, vouches for him as "indefatigable in seeking improvement in his medical profession [...] and attends to every branch of natural history" and [James] Sowerby knows him as "a zealous naturalist".

His son bought a book on mineralogy by Aiken, dislikes it much and wishes there was a good manual on it. The Downton and Grange pippins of his new Herefordshire apple trees bore fruit this year; some fruit cracked, as did many of his pears. Foxley crab and Golden Harvey had fine blossom but no fruit. Siberian crab "took beautifully" on espaliers. Has started wearing flannel next to his skin as his son has done so for several years and he does not remember when he last had a cold.

Congratulates Smith on his knighthood, which his "state of long rustication" had left him ignorant of. Does not agree with rewarding men for personal achievements with hereditary baronetcies, which "should evidently exclude a Richmond Apothecary, & many others". Conveyed [Alexander] Macleay's letter on [William] Travis' [(1771-1851)] case [request to be readmitted to Linnean Society] directly to him to prevent further doubts, having already told him that from the circumstances he had no chance. Questioned his son on his marriage intentions following a letter from Smith.

Does not know 'Chrysanthemum indium'. [James] Lee did not sent the mulberries he requested for pots, he had two on a south wall which bore nothing. His Ribston and Newtown pippins keeping well, as well as his Carlisle codlings raised from cuttings there is no better baking apple.

Complains that a shooting pony he originally paid £10 for has so far cost about £100 in taxes, with an additional £40 should it live another four years.

Smith's letter from Dorset on his son's marriage intentions more accurate than his own information; he is to marry Miss Murray, daughter to [John Murray, 4th] Duke of Atholl's [(1755–1830)] late brother, Lord George, she is 24 and he 31. Nerves broken by alarming accounts of his brother in Cheltenham, [Gloucestershire], son's marriage, and Lady Frankland's declining health.

Received Smith's letter and "curious melon seed"; currently his preferred variety is the green fleshed Egyptian melon. His family: son at Brussels, Lady Frankland confined by paralytic stroke since 20 October, and his brother become incurably blind.

Received Smith's letter from Woburn [Abbey, Bedfordshire]. His health good but Lady Frankland weakened by summer weather, gave up London trip to care for her. His son in Geneva avoiding the 400 English there, but returning to act as his uncle's executor and so Lady Frankland can meet her new daughter-in-law for first time. Grew successful crop of Great Mogul melons from the seeds Smith sent from Lord [Thomas, 1st Viscount] Anson's [(1769-1818)] and will compare with the green Egyptian and scarlet-fleshed melons, though thinks melons too troublesome to be worth raising.

Strawberry propagation: laid straw in two beds of alpine and pine strawberries, in the latter half of ripe fruit was daily found scooped out, the gardeners think it was slugs but he suspects beetles concealed in the straw during the day, encloses specimen. Strawberry plants given him by [Edward Lascelles, 1st Earl of] Harewood's [(1740-1820)] gardener in January 1815 not pines; they have a uniform shape, a higher colour, blood red inside, and firmer than pines, detailed ink sketch of fruit. Unable to succeed with hautboys even when raising from seed of very fine fruit of Mr [Christopher] Dundas' in Berkshire.

Two beetles in small blue envelope labelled "Beetles 'Carabus striatus' Kirby mss. near 'vulgaris'".

Gave "5 lights" to the Great Mogul melon Smith sent seeds of from Shuckburgh, [Warwickshire], and thinks that those who admire this fruit do not know the small orange cantaloupe or Green Egyptian melons.

His garden: abundant mushrooms from mushroom house he built last spring; like most others has no peaches or nectarines on open walls this year so is now building a 43 feet long peach house; began mowing 8 July but much of the hay still out and is as black as the corn is green.

Undertook tour of England in June, travelling 654 miles: London, where the temperature was 84°F, to Wincanton, [Somerset]; Stourhead and Longleat, [Wiltshire]; Bath, [Somerset]; Rodborough, [Gloucestershire]; Cheltenham, [Gloucestershire]; Warwick and its Castle, [Warwickshire]; and Northampton, [Northamptonshire], before joining north road at Wansford, [Cambridgeshire]. Encloses plant specimen collected between Andover, [Hampshire], and Amesbury, [Wiltshire]; Smith has annotated "'Sonchus oleraceus' the prickly var[iet]y". His son failed to find local 'Burbaumia' in Tunbridge Wells, [Kent], but [James] Dickson has sent both kinds though he only requested 'B. foliosa'.

Garden developments: success of his recently constructed mushroom house, adapted from [Isaac] Oldacre's [(fl 1810s-1852), Lady Banks' gardener at Spring Grove, Isleworth, Middlesex] engraved plan but with flue above ground; explains benefits with small ink sketch. New peach house: Oldacre recommends "noblesse" and "Galande" as those which force best, but [James] Lee prefers the "Buckingham mignon"; details of the building.

Regrets missing the recent show of fruits at the Horticultural Society. Intends to try Lee's recommendation of Verdeltro grapes; reported to be very hardy and one of the grapes Madeira wine is made from. His daughter and Lady George Murray prefer the green Egyptian melon to any other. One of [Erik] Pontoppidan's [(1698-1764), Danish bishop] sea serpents "seems to have got down the American coast - to gobble up herrings!". Recently received 'Linnaea' specimen from [James] Brodie. Praises botanical zeal of Miss Murray, Lady George's unmarried daughter; she began with mosses and would walk five miles to find a 'Phuscum' and brought many mosses from Isle of Man; compares her beginning and Joseph Dalton's with 'Carex' to beginning music with thoroughbass.

Has an ear of 'Talavera' wheat from near Cirencester, [Gloucestershire], and two from Gordon Castle, [Moray]. Ate last green melon yesterday, small but excellent. Prices of apples: abundance of French apples at York imported to Hull, [Yorkshire], at 16/ per bushel; recently given 20/ for natives and 24/ at Thirsk, [Yorkshire], his gardener thinks the French "most like cur Hawthorn Dean".

Discussion of melons: should not have dismissed Great Mogul before Smith tried it, and read of a fine variety brought from Persia by Sir Gore Ouseley [1st baronet (1770-1844)] but till he tastes it will stick with the Green Egyptian. Will determine whether the plant he sent Smith is 'Sonchus arvensis var' with seeds he saved. Low barometer readings during recent storm: 28.17 on Wedneday at Thirkleby and 27.95 at Gordon Castle, [Moray], their wind "trifling compared to its fury in the South" and no damage to his house built on hill but skylight and tiles on his son's house in Curzon Street, [London], were damaged and trees uprooted in Chesterfield Gardens.

Trying to find plants unattractive to rabbits and hares after having to cradle 'Pyrus japonica' sent by [James] Lee: has not ascertained whether it is true that they only interfere with transplants and not those sown directly; 'Rhododendron ponticum' grown in the wood, box and privet safe but American bird cherry, 'Hippophae', 'Aucuba japonica' and juniper destroyed. Convinced a neighbouring nurseryman to write his labels in the more durable Indian ink. Surprised to receive letter of thanks from Horticultural Society for the Newton pippin apples he sent to [James] Dickson. Intends to search for ferns and mosses by side of Hambleton, [Yorkshire], believes no botanist has been there before.

Gathering evidence on power of crossbills to kill young rooks; Norfolk Eton boys used to speak of them being shot with bolts. Mentions his son's growing interest in natural history, especially geology, and encloses specimen as example [undisclosed]. His health good but Lady Frankland gradually failing from complaint of several years standing from which none have ever recovered, she is frequently attended by Sir Everard Home and Atkinson of York.

Small sketch in ink of plant detail "'Aspidium thelypteris (from Mr Teesdale) confirms you descrip[tio]ns in "English Botany" by the length of lower leaves, very ill figured by [James] Sowerby".

Received Smith's letter of 30 [August] enclosing his son's sketch of 'Lepas anatifera'; was not aware of such an accumulation of shells but should have known at first sight and happy to hear of his son's short interview with Smith. His son and daughter-in-law have a 9 month old daughter, latter "makes herself mistress of whatever subject she undertakes by reading & retaining all"; she makes out botany genera "with great acuteness" and his son shapes his pursuits to hers and the garden benefiting from their attention to it.

Pest control: plagued with wasps this summer and they tried destroying every nest and also hung 100 opodeldoe phials baited with treacle, but the most effective solution were small Scotch gauze landing nets with an iron wire bow held under attacked fruit and gently shaken, sketch in ink of trap. Flies now attacking semi-ripe nectarines. 'Hoya' and yew berries do not attract wasps. Scotch gauze bags do not protect grapes but foundation muslin bags do, and saved many large moonpark apricots by covering each with tow which in addition equalises heat and ripens the fruit more perfectly.

Exotic seeds and plants: his recent exchange of correspondence with [Sir Joseph] Banks after sending Banks seeds from Lima, [Peru], sent by his nephew, Commodore Bowles, including 'Araucaria imbricata' which is described "as growing as high as St Paul's". Sowed seeds received from his vicar's married sister in Bombay: 'Poinciana pulcherrima' (Geal Mohr), 'Ipomoea quamoclit' (Chinese creeper), 'Annona squamosa' (custard apple), Blue convoloulus his gardener thinks 'Dolichos', and 'Abrus precatorius' as scarlet pea. Also sent from Lima: many air plants but only one is alive, at Southampton Botanical Garden, and it is just flowering; received five seeds of 'Annona tripetala' and raised three, gave other two to Banks who intends to send them to Malta; Circassian beads ('Adenanthera pavonia') and both 'Ipomoea' came in last parcel, Banks ascertained species in difficult cases; the seeds were collected by [Aimé Jacques Alexandre] Bonpland [(1773-1858)]; raised amongst the Lima plants 'Apocynum androsaemifolium'.

Too late to suggest examination of his theory that the first flight of woodcocks consists only of males and the second flight of hens and young. Thirkleby has few in any season and the thirty he examined last year were all males, and that from the mildness of the winter thinks no second flight came over. Has only seen four this year so far and they were all males.

Sir Joseph Banks in good health and has only missed dining at the Club two days in the season. Some of the chili seeds sent [from Lima, Peru] by Commodore Bowles [his nephew] are 'Araucaria imbricata'; [James] Lee has raised several. His son called away by Parliament. An unknown bird shot in Wiltshire stubble identified by Nicholas as a "Jamaica quail" from stuffed specimen at Leadbeaters after Banks and [William Elford] Leach erroneously named it as a red-legged partridge, thinks it escaped from a collection.