Keeping Woodward's specimens of 'Ulva atomaria' and 'U. ligulata' to finish their descriptions, but not publishing them in "English botany" before "Linnean Transactions", 'U. diaphara' appearing in July. Returns Woodward's 'Chrysanthum', thinks it 'C. inodorom'. Received wild Hampshire 'Tamarix gallica' from Maton. Changes made to Woodward's 'Ulva' paper. Breakfasted with [John] Stackhouse yesterday; discusses Stackhouse's and [Thomas] Velley's quarrel over fructification of 'Fucus', thinks Stackhouse "most in the right"; his general dislike of disputes; he and Stackhouse have agreed to call 'Ulva/Fucus punctatus' 'Fucus maculatus'.

[David Elisha] Davy's "metamorphosis" into an "unfrocked state". Received another visit from Stackhouse, who is like Woodward in "face & speech", but taller, desiring him not to get involved in his dispute with Velley; his relief, as Velley is an "endless talker". Intends to leave for [Thomas] Johnes' in Wales morning after Linnean Society anniversary meeting.

Has amongst his Scotch plants a perforated 'Ulva', near 'Agarum'. Goodenough's and his paper on Fucus' will be read on 2 June. Has nearly engaged a house opposite Lee's garden in Hammersmith, [Middlesex], and the Society are also taking a house and employing a clerk. He has "many weighty matters" on his mind but "remarkably well, & too much occupied to be melancholy". Intends to publish new genus 'Boronia' in next number of "[Botany of] New Holland" [in honour of François Borone].

Thanks for Smith's "Syllabus [of a course of lectures on botany]". Sorry to be missing Smith in Norwich previous to his going into Wales. His poor health: constant swelling of his foot and ankle and shrinkage of his person. [William] Withering would like Smith to visit him in Birmingham, [Warwickshire]. Glad Smith likes [John] Stackhouse, though does not have a personal acquaintance with him. Concern at Smith's move from London to Hammersmith, [Middlesex].

Discussion of Linnaeus' definiton of reproductive organs of plants and [Thomas] Velley's criticism of his remarks on same in the preface of ["Nereis Britannica"]. Quotes from a letter by Velley to himself discussing this further and the absence of floresence in seaweed, gives his own botanical opinion of the matter.

Concern for health of Smith and Smith's father's. [François] Borone's "melancholy and premature" death. Thanks Smith, Sir Joseph Banks, [Thomas] Marsham and Mr Forster for resupplying him following the French attack on Free Town.

Has written to Mr Edwards of Pall Mall about taking his [second volume of] translations from "Amoenitates Academicae"'. Informed by [Thomas] Marsham of his election into Linnean Society [as an Associate].

No summary available.

Sends his compliments to Smith's family, looking forward to seeing Smith when he is next in London. Positive about the [unstated] news from Portugal.

Has reminded [John] Mackay [(1772-1802), employed at Dickson nursery, Edinburgh] to send specimens of 'Eriocaulon decangulare'. Thinks [James] Hoy an excellent botanist. Behaviour of 'Pyrola uniflora' on island of Harris leads him to believe that [Richard] Gotobed's account is wrong. His woods plentiful with 'Satyrium repens' and 'Ophrys cordata', sending specimens of both to [James] Sowerby. Has been unable to find 'Satyrium albidum'. 'Linnaea borealis' flowering well in his botanical garden but has never found it wild, will ask [James] Beat[t]ie about it.

Forgetting his native language. His gardening work: destroyed a vineyard to make a garden, building walls, and levelling ground, had to closely supervise workmen to control costs. Large part of new ground will be for a kitchen garden to feed his family and hopes to add a greenhouse but needs plans more specific than [James] Dickson's sent as the few greenhouses in Switzerland are "hardly better than cellars". Misses Smith and reminded of him daily. Requests Dickson to reserve "Hortus Siccus Britannicus" for him. Impatient for "English Botany" and "New Holland Botany", suggests sending them via a perfumers on Haymarket.

Prevented from immediately accepting Smith's proposal of a botanical excursion as he is waiting the arrival of his nephew Colonel Cockburn [Sir George Cockburn (1763–1847) army officer], to chaperone his female companions and has some business to conclude with Lord Bessborough [Frederick Ponsonby (1758-1844) 3rd Earl of Bessborough]. Turns down Smith's offer of accommodation, not wishing to intrude "in the first moments of so interesting an occasion as a marriage", will stay at an inn instead and shall travel by coach so as to be accompanied by [Nicholas] Gwyn. Trying to procure a tin box for plants.

Three small sketches of plants in ink and pencil on recto of second folio.

No summary available.

Invites Smith to accompany him with his nephew, Colonel Cockburn [Sir George Cockburn (1763–1847) army officer], to Jersey and Guernsey.

No summary available.

Comments on Smith's class name 'Kuamos' ["Cyamus" transliterated from Greek alphabet, appropriated in English as "legumen"], its use by ancient botanists and how they distinguished 'Cyamus agyptius', which is '[Cyamus] nelumbo', from 'Cyamus hellenicus', which is "the common bean". Conjectures that the Ancient Greeks used it in a similar way to the English word "bean" and compares this with other languages and cultures including the Ancient Egyptians. Discusses the etymology of the Greek words and approves of the name. Botanical publication news: [Carl Peter] Thunberg's "Monographia of the Hermannia" and [Thomas] Velley and [John] Stackhouse's works on 'Fucus', critiques them for their obscure and vague physiological sections, which has inspired him to write his own memoir on the fecundation of submersed plants. At [James] Lee's with [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert experimented with success on the phenomenon of the irritable flowers of 'Verbascum', asks Smith to do the same at Norwich, gives instructions. Observed the same behaviour in Portugal with 'Verbascum thapsi', 'Verbascum sinuatum' and 'Verbascum blattaria', intends to write a paper on it for the Linnean Society. Bower is about to publish the "Digitales". [Archibald] Menzies has written to Sir Joseph [Banks] from Valparaiso, Chile, and is returning to England in a few months. Wishes to become acquainted with [Casper von] Voght after reading his "benevolent" pamphlet.

Asks for Smith's assistance in verifying the truth of a report in the "Historical Magazine" May 1792, p.167, of a 16-year-old boy in Eye, Suffolk, being cured of hydrophobia [rabies] by a blood transfusion with two lambs, administered by a Mr Russel. [Casper von] Voght and M. Schmeisser send their regards.

On the reverse of this letter Smith has noted: "no ans[we]r yet from Eye".

The proposed visit to Guernsey suspended as the War Office has ordered Colonel Cockburn's [Sir George Cockburn (1763–1847) army officer] regiment from Guernsey into camp at Netley, Hampshire. Intends to visit Smith in Norwich instead, as soon as possible. [Caspar von] Voght did not call on him.

Writes on introduction of Mr Este, following request for introductions in Europe.

[Smith has noted his reply on recto of folio]: sent letters of introduction to Professor Hoffmann, Göttingen; Professor Oriani, Milan; and Dr Dana, Turin.

Still interested in medical news even though his medical studies long disrupted by his ill-health. His friends Dr Johnstone and son of Worcester wish to send their publications on nerves and poisons to European medical professors; asks for directions to Scarpa in Pavia.

Sends collection of English 'Mentha' species in state before flowering, offers to send specimens in flower. Numbered list of specimens, "according to Mr Sole's Flora Somersetensis", with some observations, in three orders: 'Mentha spicata', 'M. verticillata', and 'M. capitata', 40 specimens in total.

Trying to identify sources for prints of horses for his "regenerated m.s. of the Introduction [to the Arctic zoology]": asks from which book the annotated print of a male onager he received from Pallas was from; two other prints taken from "Neue Nordische Beyträge" [presumably a journal], believes one of them also from Gmelin's "Voyages" in Sir Joseph Banks' library, asks for an artist to copy it. Asks if Lord Macartney brought anything relative to zoology [presumably George Macartney, Earl Macartney (1737-1806) diplomatist and colonial governor in India].