Encloses a specimen from the Cape of either 'Galanthus' or 'Leucojum', sent via Mr Rowley's brother, a sea captain. Is resuming his botanical studies with the assistance of "Flora Britannica". Longs for one or two distinct characteristics of grasses to be pointed out to him so as to avoid having to go into minute examination. [John] Underwood [(fl 1780s-1834)], gardener at Dublin Botanic Garden, is growing 'Anemone hortensis' in a greenhouse. Wishes that an "accurate and able" botanist would complete "Flora Londinensis". Glad that Smith's travels through Greece [writing of "Flora Graeca"] "are perform'd at the Desk" as "that climate don't seem to agree with English Constitutions", recalls the death in Greece of Mr Tweddale. Feels no alarm at the situation of Ireland but concern for the starving and situation of the poor. Obliged to Dawson Turner for remembering him. Remarks that if Smith ever quits botany he could look into Helen Maria Williams [(1762-1827) writer], "in the vast profusion of chaff there may be found a few good grains of fact". A friend just arrived from Paris was disappointed by the paucity of the Garden there.

The "Champion Potatoes" sent by Smith's mother from Norwich have been distributed and planted although have come up with both white and red blossoms, asks which is the true "Champion", Smith has annotated "the white is the right, orange stamina". Has been botanising with "Flora Britannica", approves that 'Cucubalus beken' is now 'Silene behen' but queries how it was determined. The only other plants he has seen are 'Draba verna' and either 'Fumaria capreolata' or 'Fumaria officinalis'. Believes the flower he sent previously was not 'Corolla supera' and therefore could not be either 'Galanthus' or 'Leucojum'. Suprised to find that 'Fumaria solida' and 'Fumaria lutea' are natives.