Pleased to hear of Smith's new work, "for to promote any study the greatest facilities should be given", believes that Valpy's and Jones' modern English-Greek Grammars would have saved him much time in his youth. His opinion on sexing of woodcocks changed, having considered opinions of Irish sportsmen and dissections made by Duke of Gordon.

Unconvinced by Horticultural Society's proposal for 33 acre experimental garden near Chiswick, [Middlesex], as the institution at present is already expensive, keeping up the garden could only be done through repeated calls for funds from members, and it will only be useful for publishing, for if the produce is sold then the nursery gardeners will be injured. Smith has not noticed his hedgehog anecdote.

Postscript on "Charms of fox-hunting", large portion of text missing from removal of address label on opposing side.

Returns Smith the curious Nepalese plant as he does not preserve exotics. Smith and he agree on use of "shall" and "will" and encloses copy of home instruction for use [not extant]. Encloses copy of letter he sent to [Thomas] Rackett [extant] describing his childhood sighting of red viper near Newbury, [Berkshire], and suggests name 'Coluber chersea', to be read as response to Rackett's "Linnean Transactions" paper.

Received seeds of Bergamont mint from Peru from his son. They have great prospect of fruit; used oiled paper frames to save from cold on open wall. Attempting to have green melons for 4 June anniversary but fears will be too late. Gave away cucumbers yesterday.

[On separate folio] "On the Red Viper - in a letter &c Feb. 1822", response to Rackett's paper on the red viper [2 pp]

Uncertain whether received his letter on red viper or whether the extract he sent Smith has been read at Linnean Society. Recently read of subscription for statue of Sir Joseph Banks by [Francis Leggatt] Chantrey [(1781-1841)] but ignorant whether the statue he subscribed the maximum £10 for in August 1820 has been executed yet, and does not think a second should be undertaken till the first is completed. Expresses disapprobation at Horticultural Society's "gigantic scheme" for a 33 acre experimental garden.

His pamphlet in great demand; encloses copy titled "Percussion Locks" which includes three engravings of woodcocks by [Thomas] Bewick [(1753-1828), ornithologist] but drawn by himself and son [extant]. Glad his red viper "has at last bitten somebody's fancy".

Pamphlet entitled "Percussion Locks", by Frankland.

Admires Smith's dedication to Mrs Corrie [in "A grammar of botany"]. Relieved [Thomas] Rackett received his letter on red viper. Superiority of percussion-locks. His recent health: after failing in strength for several months had a nervous seizure in July and felt low until thoroughly engaging himself in Buxton, has been assured it is not palsy and is all nervous; Buxton apothecary attributes it to neglected costiveness, Buxton doctors.

Encloses note [not extant] on corn measures. Has a profusion of peaches and nectarines; they were secured in the spring with oiled paper frames. [John] Crewe [1st Baron Crewe (1742-1829)] and party are visiting and brought green Egyptian melons for which the Horticultural Society awarded him [Frankland] the Banksian medal, but which Lord Crewe's gardener calls the Litchfield prize; supposes it has won a prize and that Lord Crewe obtained his seed from that which he [Frankland] sent the Horticultural Society in 1820 when it was new. Frankland has grown the same melon for some years so there is no contamination and the variety is kept pure.

Identified a 'Senecio lividus' in furze from figure in "English Botany", encloses specimen. Four line poem on himself entitled "The Ruling Passion", on love of sports in spite of ill health, dated 1821.

Encloses newspaper clipping [extant] blaming unusually high number of dead grouse on moors near Thirsk, [Yorkshire], on tapeworm. Was at Buxton at beginning of moor shooting and heard no similar complaint so it must be localised. [Edward Lascelles, 1st Earl of] Harewood [(1740-1820)], who has his moor, gave up shooting early on second day after finding many dead, and Dr Wollaston opened up a bird and found it full of tapeworms. In the past has seen the worm hanging down several inches from grouse on a bird rising. Thirsk surgeon thinks the cause is last summer's heat and drought killing some plant which is usually an antidote.

Newspaper clipping, see above.