Sorry to hear of Smith's indifferent health in the "severe" winter. Botanical queries: asks if there are any species of 'Malaxia' other than 'M. paludosa'; what is "peat-moss"; is 'Brassica muralis' to remain or be reclassified a 'Sisymbrium'; what is the species of 'Geoffraea', now 'Hopea', Smith saw in his hothouse; which seeds of syngenes flowers to make trial of; are there plants called 'Aristolochia nigra' or 'A. hyeanalis'; what is new name for 'Osmunda crispa' and 'O. struthiopteris', is it now 'Davallia canariensis'. Found 'Hesperis inodosa' near Falmouth, [Cornwall].

Correction of his previous letter: wishes to know all species of both 'Malaxia paludosa' and 'M. exacum'.

Recalls the botanical assistance he once received from Smith. Encloses copies of his pamphlet ["Account of the Management of the Poor in Hamburg since the year 1788", not extant, see RelatedMaterial below]. Hopes Smith found something worthwhile in the "Suriname 'Papillions'". Asks for introductions in towns on his route back to London.

Glad Smith liked his sermon; has received many compliments on it. Accepts Smith's change to wording in his paper '[Observations on the British] Fucus' and explains he decided to indefinitely express the notion that 'Fucus' are nourished solely by the surface. Does not agree with Smith over terminology used to describe capsules of '[Carex] pseudocyperus', refers to Linnaeus. Has sown the Rose of Jericho sent by Smith. Offers to have drawn the 'Dentaria bulbifera' which is about to flower in his garden. Sorry that Smith is leaving Great Marlborough Street, largely on account of its turning the Linnean Society adrift. Will enquire about a house on the Mall in Hammersmith. Remarks on formation of Greek words. Does not like [François] Borone's epitaph as there is "too much play on Flora" and fears the phrase "and art thou gone?" without proper cause for its introduction will be ridiculed by wits. Thinks Smith's family epitaph "beautiful" but points out several errors. Sorry that Smith's "Flora" is interrupted ["English Botany"?]. Copies out Smith's family epitaph and marks his alterations.

Writes in reference to 'Pyrola uniflora', specimens of which he once sent to [James] Hoy of Gordon Castle and which has since been included in a work of [James] Sowerby's, but believes Sowerby has not succeeded in correctly documenting it and will send more specimens for further attention. Relates that John Mackay [(1772-1802) employed at Dickson nursery, Edinburgh] has discovered many plants in north and west Scotland overlooked by [John] Lightfoot, list sent to Sowerby along with specimens of 'Eriocaulon decangulare', Mackay to send seeds of same shortly. Recommends Mackay as a collector. Has received from Dominica seeds and drawing of plant sent as the true 'Iecacuanha' but believes it to be 'Asclepias curassavica' as does [Daniel] Rutherford, will send specimen if desired.

Sends specimens of 'Dentaria bulbifera' should Smith wish for [James] Sowerby to draw them. The parcel Smith sent on was from [William] Withering, not [Thomas] Woodward, concerned Woodward's parcel containing rare seaweeds may be lost. Charmed with Smith's "Syllabuys [of a course of lectures in botany]" but advises him not to expand on the contents at full length otherwise it would be "another "Phil[osophia] Botanica" in a fashionable dress". His sermon heavily criticised by in a review ["A sermon [on Psal xvii 13] preached before the Hon house of Commons Feb 25, 1795"]. Asks if Smith thinks he and Woodward are justified in thinking the root of 'Fucus' has something to do with its nourishment; conjectures that it may be where all the nerves of the plant meet.

Informs Smith of a house available in Kensington Square. Asks Smith to enquire after a missing parcel of his sent by [Thomas] Woodward to Norwich for Smith to take care of. Received letter from [William] Withering containing specimens and asking about 'Carices', one specimen was labelled as "definitely 'Carex caespitosa'" and the other as Goodenough's 'Carex stricta'; thinks them both 'Carex recurva'. Withering also sent specimen of 'Carex pauicea' with an account of its habitat in Cornwall and asked whether it is [Nikolaus Joseph von] Jacquin's 'Carex praecox'; he "always thought his blunders with 'Carices' inexplicable". Fears that if Smith does leave London it will interrupt his presidency of the Linnean Society "to the sickness if not the death of it"; asks Smith to think how to secure the Society.

Condolences [on death of Smith's father], and hopes Smith's health will be restored. He has broken his knee-cap and is confined to his room. Asks the date on which he was admitted to the Linnean Society [as an Honorary Member, 1794], believes it was in place of the Duc de Noailles. Hugh Davies is visiting.

Asks Smith to look over the fasciculus of ["Nereis Britannica"] as far as it is finished and to show it to the Linnean Society. Notes on his intentions and other matters, including: apprehension that no sexual office has been attributed to the "air bladders" [of seaweed], and perplexed by the urn-shaped vessels in fronds of '[Fucus] serratus vesiculosus'.

Thanks for Smith's "Syllabus [of a course of lectures on botany]". Sorry to be missing Smith in Norwich previous to his going into Wales. His poor health: constant swelling of his foot and ankle and shrinkage of his person. [William] Withering would like Smith to visit him in Birmingham, [Warwickshire]. Glad Smith likes [John] Stackhouse, though does not have a personal acquaintance with him. Concern at Smith's move from London to Hammersmith, [Middlesex].

Discussion of Linnaeus' definiton of reproductive organs of plants and [Thomas] Velley's criticism of his remarks on same in the preface of ["Nereis Britannica"]. Quotes from a letter by Velley to himself discussing this further and the absence of floresence in seaweed, gives his own botanical opinion of the matter.

Concern for health of Smith and Smith's father's. [François] Borone's "melancholy and premature" death. Thanks Smith, Sir Joseph Banks, [Thomas] Marsham and Mr Forster for resupplying him following the French attack on Free Town.

Has written to Mr Edwards of Pall Mall about taking his [second volume of] translations from "Amoenitates Academicae"'. Informed by [Thomas] Marsham of his election into Linnean Society [as an Associate].

Sends his compliments to Smith's family, looking forward to seeing Smith when he is next in London. Positive about the [unstated] news from Portugal.

Has reminded [John] Mackay [(1772-1802), employed at Dickson nursery, Edinburgh] to send specimens of 'Eriocaulon decangulare'. Thinks [James] Hoy an excellent botanist. Behaviour of 'Pyrola uniflora' on island of Harris leads him to believe that [Richard] Gotobed's account is wrong. His woods plentiful with 'Satyrium repens' and 'Ophrys cordata', sending specimens of both to [James] Sowerby. Has been unable to find 'Satyrium albidum'. 'Linnaea borealis' flowering well in his botanical garden but has never found it wild, will ask [James] Beat[t]ie about it.

Forgetting his native language. His gardening work: destroyed a vineyard to make a garden, building walls, and levelling ground, had to closely supervise workmen to control costs. Large part of new ground will be for a kitchen garden to feed his family and hopes to add a greenhouse but needs plans more specific than [James] Dickson's sent as the few greenhouses in Switzerland are "hardly better than cellars". Misses Smith and reminded of him daily. Requests Dickson to reserve "Hortus Siccus Britannicus" for him. Impatient for "English Botany" and "New Holland Botany", suggests sending them via a perfumers on Haymarket.

Prevented from immediately accepting Smith's proposal of a botanical excursion as he is waiting the arrival of his nephew Colonel Cockburn [Sir George Cockburn (1763–1847) army officer], to chaperone his female companions and has some business to conclude with Lord Bessborough [Frederick Ponsonby (1758-1844) 3rd Earl of Bessborough]. Turns down Smith's offer of accommodation, not wishing to intrude "in the first moments of so interesting an occasion as a marriage", will stay at an inn instead and shall travel by coach so as to be accompanied by [Nicholas] Gwyn. Trying to procure a tin box for plants.

Three small sketches of plants in ink and pencil on recto of second folio.

Invites Smith to accompany him with his nephew, Colonel Cockburn [Sir George Cockburn (1763–1847) army officer], to Jersey and Guernsey.

Comments on Smith's class name 'Kuamos' ["Cyamus" transliterated from Greek alphabet, appropriated in English as "legumen"], its use by ancient botanists and how they distinguished 'Cyamus agyptius', which is '[Cyamus] nelumbo', from 'Cyamus hellenicus', which is "the common bean". Conjectures that the Ancient Greeks used it in a similar way to the English word "bean" and compares this with other languages and cultures including the Ancient Egyptians. Discusses the etymology of the Greek words and approves of the name. Botanical publication news: [Carl Peter] Thunberg's "Monographia of the Hermannia" and [Thomas] Velley and [John] Stackhouse's works on 'Fucus', critiques them for their obscure and vague physiological sections, which has inspired him to write his own memoir on the fecundation of submersed plants. At [James] Lee's with [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert experimented with success on the phenomenon of the irritable flowers of 'Verbascum', asks Smith to do the same at Norwich, gives instructions. Observed the same behaviour in Portugal with 'Verbascum thapsi', 'Verbascum sinuatum' and 'Verbascum blattaria', intends to write a paper on it for the Linnean Society. Bower is about to publish the "Digitales". [Archibald] Menzies has written to Sir Joseph [Banks] from Valparaiso, Chile, and is returning to England in a few months. Wishes to become acquainted with [Casper von] Voght after reading his "benevolent" pamphlet.

Asks for Smith's assistance in verifying the truth of a report in the "Historical Magazine" May 1792, p.167, of a 16-year-old boy in Eye, Suffolk, being cured of hydrophobia [rabies] by a blood transfusion with two lambs, administered by a Mr Russel. [Casper von] Voght and M. Schmeisser send their regards.

On the reverse of this letter Smith has noted: "no ans[we]r yet from Eye".