Offers her Westminster Hospital proxy to Smith's preferred candidate; her first consideration is to give it "for a person thoroughly qualified for the office". Her stomach complaints have been bad since visit by Smith and the [Harvey] Spraggs' but she is now taking a draught prescribed by Dr Freeman and hopes it will clear the "billious sort of obstruction". Sorry to hear that [Adam] Afzelius is returning to Africa but hopes it will advantageous for him, will send him dimensions of the matts she wanted made.

Apologises for the trouble he has caused in trying to preempt the punctuation corrections of the typesetters [for his paper 'Observations on the British Species of Carex']. Thanks Smith for naming the genus 'Goodenia' in his honour; asks for as many specimens of species as possible. Has no "violent objection" to Smith's use of the term "Tetrathica" aside from Linnaeus' own condemnation of it; believes it and Jussieu's 'Myriothica' are innocent uses but suggests the alternatives 'Excavaria', 'Cellularia', or 'Valvaria'.

Discussion of the "defect of Louis XVI" [an apparent infertility, from his marriage to Marie Antoinette in 1770 till their first child was born in 1778, presumably for inclusion in Smith's "Sketch of a Tour on the Continent"]. Goodenough believes it was caused by an "incurvation of the penis [...] owing to an uncommon shortness & rigidity of the fraenum" according to a commonly believed report from his brother-in-law who was in Paris at the time. Suggests wording for Smith's opinion of the defect, in Latin. The tooth-ache which left him "half dead" has been cured.

Hopes his last letter reached Smith, in which he requested Smith send parcel of his books through Holstein, the Rotterdam booksellers; still has not received them. Asks that the book he sent [Sir Joseph] Banks be mentioned in the English journals ["Museum anatomicum"].

Requests copy of [Peter] Collinson's "History and Antiquities of Somerset" (1792) and to be informed of any similar works.

Filled in her Westminster Hospital proxy for Smith's candidate just before Mrs [Elizabeth] Weddell and [William Fitzwilliam, 4th Earl] Fitzwilliam [(1748-1833)] both solicited it for Mr Moore. Sent Smith flower of 'Malpighia'.

Congratulates Smith on his lessons at Windsor [teaching the Queen and Princesses botany], which are exalting his "Fame & Honour". Thanks for Botany Bay plants, though he is becoming a "feeble amatuer in botany". Does not expect any publications from [Adam] Afzelius until he reaches Sweden. Asks after Cavanilles and L'Héritier. Pleased to hear that [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert has become Smith's neighbour and has recovered his health and spirits. [Thomas] Rackett's conchology work on his 1000 species collection.

Received Smith's letter, seeds, and parcel from [Carl Peter] Thunberg. Discovery of new genus of absorbent earth called "Strontites" [strontium] by [Thomas Charles] Hope, who read a paper at the Royal Society of Edinburgh on it. Details of its properties and characteristics. Offers to send a specimen.

The 234 dried plants he sent Smith are still in Philadelphia after missing ships and a "dreadfull sickness" in the city that stopped communications. Sending seventy-eight 'Cryptogamic' plants additional to those already sent. His "Index florae Lancastriensis" now published in Transactions of Philadelphia Philosophical Society, offers to send any plants Smith wants from it. Limited usefulness of [Johann Christian] Schaeffer's "Fungi". Queries: asks if 'Hypericum setosum' and 'Sarothra gentianoides' are really different plants; if 'Cassia ligustrina' and 'Cassia marilandica', 'Asclepias tuberosa' and 'Asclepias decumbens', 'Ambrosia elatior' and 'Ambrosia artemisiifolia', 'Urtica capitata' and 'Urtica cylindrica', and 'Rumex britannica' and 'Rumex persicaria', are different and how; if there is a book on North American plants containing figures, and if Plukenet in particular is one. Smith has annotated some of these queries with brief responses, in pencil.

Sends small specimen of new East India plant in flower, from seed, not like any 'Monandria' plant that Grieg, her gardener, has seen.

[Smith annotation: "'Lopezia'"]

Asks which Sierra Leone seeds and plants are most worth sending for, having a contact offering to acquire any.

Hopes Smith received parcel sent on 13 October via Mr Sympson containing two letters for Smith and three parcels of seed including 'Minuartia campestris', 'Androsace lactea', and 'Lavatera punctata'.

Transcribes, in French, conversation with and letter from [Jacob] Wyttenbach about a Berne fireworks display which cost more than Haller's collections which the Berne authorities had refused to buy; laments that Haller's herbarium is not available for consultation in Berne. Unable to forward Smith's parcel to [Jacques] Dorthes in Montpellier as communications between there and Geneva have ceased.

Lists reasons for delays with his book: ill-health, lack of space, greater temptation of the "delightful verdure of the country", bad winter light, expanding his herbarium, caring for his garden, his wife's ill health , death of their first child, and family matters. As foreseen by Smith he was too communicative about his plans and Haller's son has taken advantage: after sending him specimens and observations received a manuscript titled "Tentamen additament" or "ad Hist. Stirp. Helv." to be printed in a German magazine in Berne containing articles Haller had no idea of before their "imprudent communications". Infant son in good health.

"Men of science never need apologize for the revival of trouble respecting information, nor do any delay it unless the little fat curator of the British Museum". Questions on North American plants: asks which plants generally cover ridges and rocks as there is no 'Erica', 'Ulex', or ['Spartium']; where the "the universal mosses" are; and what the "palmatters" and palm of [William] Bartram's "Travels" on pages 69 and 113 are. Marriage of David [Pennant] and Smith's "fair countrywoman" this week, anxious to meet her.

Thanks for parcel and "Icones [pictae]"; spirit of the work "seems well kept up". Discusses Linnaeus' classification of 'Fucus foeniculaceus' and 'F. abrotanifolius' in his publications; his and [Samuel] Goodenough's paper on the subject; requests to see the Linnaean specimens. Received message and packet of grass seeds from [Edmund] Davall via Mr Forster, brother of the master of Norwich school. Requests a Sierra Leone penny for Mrs Woodward's collection. Requests Smith's to bring his "Tour" and "Linnean Transactions" vol 2.

List of queries for Smith to resolve if he cannot bring the Linnaean 'Fucus' specimens [annotated "sic in HL" by Smith].

Asks after the parcel of Smith's works, which has still not arrived, as the friend he ordered them for is constantly asking after them. Still awaiting a letter from Sir Joseph Banks. Books sent and wanted.

[Smith has briefly noted his reply] details of manner in which he sent the parcel; hopes to soon send "Linnean Transactions" vol 2; [Sir Joseph Banks] will write soon; has asked a friend to notice Sandifort's work ["Museum anatomicum"] in the "Monthly Review", which he never writes in himself, to avoid quarrels.

Thanks for specimens; Cryptogams; list of species of 'Bryum' and 'Hypnum'.

Sorry Smith will not be visiting during his stay in Norfolk, but consoled by promise of summer visit. Laments death of Smith's brother, Richard, "a strong proof, how little great abilities & splendid genius avail, when not under the guidance of judgement, & how dangerous it is for a young man to give away to habits of indolence & inactivity". Admires Smith's "Tour", especially the preface, and thinks they must be "highly entertaining to a general reader", and of special interest to naturalists; problems with the copy; intends to order it in for his book club. Asks after separation of the "Natural History of New Holland" into botany and zoology volumes.

Received letter from [Samuel] Goodenough, who is in "great distress" over a fever at his school which has killed Mr Egereton, only son of Lord [Thomas] Grey de Wilton [1st Earl of Wilton (1749-1814)]; Smith had previously pronounced the boy "short lived". Sends sample of his and Goodenough's paper on 'Fucus'; their plan and comments. Notes on 'Ulva diaphara' of [William] Hudson's he has found.

[In Smith's hand at top of verso of first folio] Notes on 'Fucus capreolatus' Banks Herbarium being 'F. pinnatus' of Hudson.