Sent Smith specimen of 'Pancal bengalensium' preserved in spirits, encloses Latin description [extant], though when he sent specimen to [William] Roxburgh he returned a drawing of the same plant with the name 'Vallisneria alternifolia'. Sends his original description as believes it contradicts Linnaeus' theory of the fructification of Jungermannias and thinks Roxburgh's name not very correct. Sends seeds of 'Stratiotes alismoides' which belongs to the 'Enneandria enneagynia' with instructions for growing. Has started his duty at the General Hospital and studying the country languages, subsequently has had little opportunity for botanising.

Remarks on the 'Carex laevigata' Smith gave him this morning: may be [William] Hudson's 'C. inflata', observations. Criticises [Samuel] Goodenough's quoting of Hudson's 'C. inflata' for his 'C. vescicaria'. Offers Smith specimens of 'C. axillaris'.

A wedding; bride and bridegroom send thanks for Smith's congratulations. Directions for Smith to send his present, including drawings and books. Instructions for Smith to obtain a copy of his "London" ["An account of London" (1790)]. The moss he meant is a 'Tillandria'.

Appointed [Robert] Kyd's successor as superintendent of Calcutta Botanic Garden . Sending seeds for Smith and thanks him for letters of 30 November 1792, 17 April 1793 and the three fasciculi. 'Swietenia' bark still successful in curing fevers, especially "Batavia fever". Has 400 plant drawings and descriptions, including 200 grasses, ready to send in addition to 500 already sent [to Sir Joseph Banks and East India Company], but currently deterred by previous batches being detained at Custom House and 20-30 being lost from the first parcel. Admits it was an error not to give a definition of each plant, gives Smith permission to use them. Few ferns in India but there are more in Calcutta than on the coast.

Asks Smith's advice on pricing the remaining copies of his "Amoenitates Academicae" translation and manuscript of a second volume, which a gentlemen in Norwich has offered to buy, and on insertion of [Benjamin] Stillingfleet's [(1702-1771)] essays to make it a good library book for English naturalists.

Read Smith's "Tour"; never met with a book of the kind "so interesting & entertaining"; agreed with all of Smith's politics and has never seen the liberal passage of vol 3 p.145 [on "power combined with cruelty"] exceeded by any author. Examined punctuation of "Hortus Kewensis" and compared it with "Philosophia botanica", with which it "accurately agrees", but cannot approve it as it is contrary to all other authors and rules of punctuation, and cannot understand for what reason Linnaeus would invert the order of the comma and colon. Requests Sierra Leone coins.

Compliments Smith's "Tour of the Continent". Received New Holland [Australian] plants from [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert, one has been named after him ['Pultenaea']. Noticed Smith's restoration of synonyms of 'Pinguicula'. If his paper is being printed in "Linnean Transactions"[presumably "History and description of a minute epiphyllous Lycoperdon"] asks to add [Christiaan Hendrik] Persoon's 'Aeidium anemones' of [Johann] Gmelin ["Systema naturae"] p.1473. Anxious for L'Héritier's safety. Has [Heinrich] Tode's "Fungi [Mecklenburgenses]".

Asks Smith to enquire after the bird-mounter he recommended her, as he has not returned her birds at the promised time, which include the Argos pheasant.

Second volume finished but cannot be sent owing to war; working on manuscript of his travels.

Wyatt [bird-mounter] has returned the birds but considers the charges too high; requests Smith's opinion.

Has been prevented from sailing to Sierra Leone by unfavourable weather but hopes to depart soon. Pleased that Smith proposes to publish a new edition of Hudson's "Flora Anglica". Claims priority in botanical works as discoverer of plants he found first. Values Smith's letters and friendship and asks him to write to him in Sierra Leone.

Finally received parcel of Smith's works, all of which find "great favour" here; disappointed no supplement to any has been published. Hopes to receive "Linnean Transactions" vol 2, Smith's "Tour", and the new work Smith mentioned. Requests second volume of "Asiatick Researches" and asks if third part of "Speculi Linnaei" has appeared yet. His recently published work ["Museum anatomicum"] expensive but demand keeping pace with supply. Still awaiting a letter from Sir Joseph Banks.

Proposes Dr [Marcus Elieser] Bloch [(1723-1799), physician and naturalist], of Berlin, with whom he has been in correspondence, as a FMLS. Recommends Bloch's work on fish [see RelatedMaterial below]. Bloch has invited him to become member of the Societé des Scrutateurs de la Nature at Berlin. Intends to send him "Linnean Transactions", requests copies of first and second volumes, so as to also send to Dr Walther of Erlang.

In a "kind of torpor" and waiting for letter from Smith to reanimate his existence. Aware that Smith's "Sketch of a Tour on the Continent" now published. His last remaining aunt died 31 January of a sudden serious apoplexy at age of 74 and 8 months, having previously been in perfect health. Depressed by his own and his wife's illnesses and threat of invasion by French to his wife and son, and library and herbarium formed at expense of more than a third his patrimony. Asks for Smith's assistance in drawing up plans for a heated greenhouse as no mason or carpenter in his area has an idea of the matter; specifications. Requests copies of Smith's "Tour", volume two of "Linnean Transactions" (1794), and continuation of "English Botany", directions for them to be sent.

Note on left-hand margin of recto of first folio detailing most recent letters received from and sent to Smith.

Reassures Smith that he reads all of his works. A "moderate person" could not find fault with politics of Smith's "Tour"; surprised at [Thomas] Marsham's violent criticism. Relieved to hear of [Samuel] Goodenough from Smith; their work together on 'Fucus'. Received a proposal for publishing a "Life of Linnaeus", to be dedicated to Linnean Society and written by [Joseph] Trapp; his concerns. Asks Smith to procure Sierra Leone coins from [Adam] Afzelius. Received call from Smith's brother, John.

Pleasure at reading Smith's "Tour of the Continent", agrees with Smith's disparaging comments on the French, comments that the French Revolution would be happy if "the proud waves of correction" could be controlled, "but the cruel inundation has made havoc indiscriminate". Sorrow at execution of the "merciful" Louis XVI but rejoices at executions of [Jacques Pierre] Brissot [(1754-1793)] and other regicides. Recommends Smith reads the "private life of Louis XV".

Prefers that if a plant is named for him that it is capable of being cultured in England ['Pultenaea', an Australian plant, was named]. Received Sierra Leone seeds from [François] Borone, unsure if he can grow them. Asks if the "oak leather" fungus in [John] Ray's "Synopsis" is known and investigated in London, offers to send specimen, believes it is the dry rot of house timbers.

Encloses a supplementary paper for "Linnean Transactions"explaining the plates to his paper 'Observations on the British Species of Carex', does not intend for it to reflect badly on [James] Sowerby. Fears the letter sent from Bulstrode in January giving his opinion on Smith's "Tour" has miscarried; reiterates his enjoyment of them but expresses his concern that three or four passages will not meet with royal approval as "Kings and Queens love to read the praises of Kings and Queens". Surprised by Smith's "multifarious" reading, took several pages to be in the style of Dr [Andrew] Kippis [(1725-1795), nonconformist and biographer].

Transcribes supporting statement made by Dr Godfry Christian Reich of Erlangen in support of his FMLS application, in which he offers to translate Smith's "Tour of the Continent" into German. Requests Smith's opinion and response. Recommends [Johan Christian] Fabricius' "Entomologia systematica emendata et aucta".

Has recommended Dr Godfry Christian Reich as a FMLS. Dr Meyer requested to publish a new [German] edition of his "Index [Ornithologicus]", which he declined; believes Reich will be a capable translator of Smith's "Tour of the continent". Will write for copy of [Johan Christian] Fabricius' last work for Smith from his German contact. Intends to send Recih copies of "Linnean Transactions" and Smith's "Tour".