Her misfortunes: financial plights of herself and her children, emotional turmoil caused by death of her favourite daughter. Seeks employment to draw and colour plates for Smith's next "magnificent" work of natural history.

Thanks for Smith's reply. Would like to make Smith's acquaintance in London when he next comes for his annual visit, although she is compelled to leave the country in May. Took note of Smith's hint of introducing botany into a novel although believes modern tastes in fiction for "gigantic and impossible horrors" will not make it appear vapid enough to the "admirers of spectre novels and cavern adventures", nonetheless has included a little in her latest [presumably "The Young Philosopher" (1798)].

Unfortunate that in having two houses she cannot live in either of them; wishes she could have seen Smith but will be pleased to see Corrêa at Upper Baker Street, [London]. Asks if she can send the drawings of her sister's, Mrs Dorset, which she did as a beginning of her plan for "the 26 classes". An unexpected domestic occurance has made her "heart ache & hand tremble, but they are used to it, & both should by this time know better".

Her friend, Mr Geary, is desirous of an introduction to Sir Joseph Banks. Asks after [Andrew] Caldwell as the loss of the use of her limbs has prevented her from keeping in contact with her distant friends. A friend of hers has 'Oxalis corniculata' growing in his Sussex garden, contrary to habitats of the Devon and Exeter areas given in "Flora Britannica" .