Received call from Lady Mary Ann Gage, widow of Sir Thomas Gage, who said that Gage wished for his friends and Smith to have any duplicates from his considerable natural history collections. Invites Smith to visit so he can look over the collections at Hengrave, [Suffolk].

His daughter-in-law, Mrs Cullum, dangerously ill with a rheumatic complaint, and having been treated with lancets and blisters she is now to take the waters at Barèges, [France], for a year. Attended Linnean Society meeting and dinner in February at the Thatched House Tavern with Bishop of Carlisle [Samuel Goodenough] and [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert; Mrs [Catherine] Lambert still ill and restless. Presumes Smith has heard of Horticultural Society's plans to establish a garden; they intend to fund it by increasing by a guinea the admission fee for new member, wishes the Linnean Society would adopt a similar plan. Sorry that Smith could not visit to view Sir Thomas Gage's collections, thinks the cryptogamia curious and valuable and encloses list of the 'Orchis' and 'Ophrys' [not extant]. Hopes to see Smith in London in May.

Thanks Smith for Hull Botanic Garden account, which he shall bind with [William] Roscoe's Liverpool and [William] Curtis' 1778 proposal for a subscription for a London botanic garden at Lambeth Marsh. His sister's health very precarious but he intends to tour Suffolk and Norfolk before end of summer. His daughter-in-law recovered a little from taking the waters at Barèges, [France], they intend to winter in Italy. Reports that Mr Grigby of Drinkston, Suffolk, was seized with a paralytic affection of his lower extremities whilst walking.

Cullum writes: augmented Dawson Turner's "amazing" collection of autographs with letters from [Thomas] Pennant, Gough, Granger, Huddersford, Percy, [John] Latham, and others, Turner is considering publishing them. [James] Sowerby's death "a loss to science". Recently suffered a severe attack of vertigo and faintness which has been treated with leeches to the temples, blood letting from his arm, and two blisters on his back, but now on laying down has a general sinking uneasiness in the thorax and abdomen.

Transcribes paragraph from letter dated 9 January 1809 sent to him by Charles Miller [(c 1739-1817)], only son of Philip Miller, of the positive effects he gained from "friction or rather what in the East is called shampooing" following a paralytic stroke. Transcribes paragraph from a letter dated 28 February 1785 sent to him by his brother [Sir John Cullum, 6th baronet (1733-1785)], recounting a meeting with Smith shortly after his purchase of the Linnaean collections. [Joseph] Sabine intending to publish an account of [James] Dickson; recalls his first meeting and early memories of Dickson. Had hoped [Thomas] Rackett would receive a considerable legacy from old Mrs Garrick [Eva Marie Veigel (1724-1822), wife of the actor David Garrick] but it will not exceed £100.

F H Bathwell writes: thanks Smith for his letter, and is gratified that Smith is pleased with what has been done on his part.