Encloses specimen of undetermined 'Serapias' found at Stanford, [Worcestershire].

Received Smith's letter of 14 [September]. Yet to hear satisfactory answer about his bottles of wine: he used to import all his French wines and finds it strange that wines from Hamburg should be excepted, though the duty of 4 shillings per dozen is a prohibition except to "very extravagant fellows like myself". His daughter [Mariamne Johnes] thanks Smith for the biscuits; her health is the same but Mr Jones thinks her tumour is much reduced, though she cannot walk. Visits by Mr Galton, [Richard Payne] Knight [(1750-1824), classicist] and [Charles Howard, 11th] Duke of Norfolk [(1746-1815)] prove "that assessed taxes and all the associations armed or unarmed do not keep people at home".

Asks if Smith has seen article in the "Philosophical Magazine" on germination of old seeds with oxygenated muriatic acid; [Nikolaus] Jacquin of Vienna has made germ seeds of 100 and 120 years old. Intends to try it himself this spring and asks Smith to inquire of his chemical friends about making it cheap enough for "us common farmers to besprinkle our turnip seeds" as he believes it would prevent fly and slug. Ponders on the possibility of it being applied to humans in conjunction with article in another magazine in which a French man states he can make people live to the age of the patriarchs.

Thanks for Smith's letter; account of their recent movements. [Johann Georg Adam] Forster's [(1754-1794), botanist] herbarium has now arrived in London for him, the original herbarium of "Florulae Insularum Australium Prodromus", details of arrangement; some of the New Zealand plants could be similar to their New South Wales plants, useful for Smith's "New Holland Prodromus".

Received [William] Sole's book on mints, and fresh specimens of all his species, anxious to hear Smith's opinion on them. Received confirmation that Sole's 'Mentha pratensis' is a garden escape. Asks if Smith received two copies of Jacquin's "Hortus Schoembrunensis". Requests specimens of all Smith's new genera in "Linnean Transactions" vol 4. Asks after [William] Roxburgh. Sent [James] Sowerby 'Polypodium oreopteris' of [James] Dickson.

Relates events of [Edmund] Davall's death, which occured 26 September 1798. Davall had been confined to his bed for the last three weeks, describes his health in the run up to his death. Died as the apothecary was applying sinasims [mustard plasters] to his feet. Mrs Davall very miserable at her loss. Shocked by Swiss custom to dress and bury the dead in their best clothes, believes it is strongly insisted on by the lower classes. Davall has left Smith his Herbarium. Clark concerned that Davall's "splendid collection" of books shall be a heavy burden to the family in the current distressed condition of Switzerland and Europe. As he has no prospect of getting to France he shall shortly to return to England, having been away 14 months. Hubert sending his paper on bees soon.

Preparing a "Hindoostan" supplement [to volumes one and two of "Outlines of the Globe"] for publication in spring. Asks for an account of the Norwich shawl industry including materials and wools used.

Sends West Indies plants and Swedish 'Musci'. Longs to see Smith's new genera recently published in "Linnean Transactions". Hopes to finish his "Flora Indiae occidentalis" next year. Hopes Smith received the papers he sent including one by him on ['Epidendrum'] L. Praises [Archibald] Menzies' new arrangement of 'Polytrichum'. Preparing a paper on 'Ehrharta' for "Linnean Transactions".

Death of Edmund Davall, encloses his last unfinished letter to Smith.

Thanks Smith and [John] Harvey, [of Norwich, presumably for information on shawl industry]. Received news from the Lieutenant of [HMS] Canada of the victory at Lough Swilly, [Ireland, British defeat of a French fleet carrying members of the United Irishmen, plus troops, to assist in 1798 Irish rebellion against British rule]. Taking treatment of broom infused in gin for his anascara, description of its effect. Encloses extract from his intended "Hindoostan" supplement [to volumes one and two of "Outlines of the Globe"], "Of the shawl wool" [folio number 8.59].

Received letter from [William] Curtis as if taking leave; Frankland wrote him a local case of angina pectoris being cured by following Dr Fothergill's advice in the "Medical Observations" but Curtis thinks his disorder is not that.

Unable to find Curtis' misquotation of Morrison in 'Lobelia ursens' article from having copied [William] Hudson and note he does not quote Hudson at all for that plant. Agrees that Curtis wrong to criticise Smith's use of terminology useage for 'Sageria corastoides'. Pleased with Smith's progress on the "Flora" and thinks the size and number of volumes does not matter, finding no description objectionable for its length except [Adam Afzelius' paper on] "3 certain 'Trifolia' in "Linnean Transactions", highlights [Richard] Relhan's as being particularly gratifying.

Would prefer a Botany Bay genus to be named after himself though admits he has contributed nothing to the botanical world though he has many drawings of 'Confervae' which he has not published. Gathered 'Viola canina' in full flower this week; proof of mildness of weather. Unsatisfied with his understanding of elms and confused by the different English, Dutch, and Cornish names for the same species. Encloses elm leaves [not extant]: large leaf of English elm, also sent to him from Wiltshire as Dutch elm; a narrow leaf with smooth twigs corresponding with enclosed marked as "common English Elm" from Circencester, [Gloucestershire]; obervations on elm bark.

Relates facts and circumstances in case of a void legacy concerning Mr Norton, [Nathaniel] Kindersley, and Mr Harpur. Account of his tour through the north of England. [Adam] Afzelius to visit Smith in Norwich, [Norfolk]. Lack of papers at the Linnean Society; a motion passed not to publish "Linnean Transactions" until the first meeting after the summer recess.

A discharge from his leg has relieved his discomfort [from anascara]. Comments and questions on wool-bearing animals with references to his "History of quadrupeds" and "Arctic zoology", including: musk-ox; argali; broad tailed sheep; bearded sheep; caramanick sheep; Angora goat; shawl goat of Tibet, heard that Lord Egremont sells them [George O'Brien Wyndham, 3rd Earl of Egremont (1751-1837)]; camel; llama; and vicunna [vicugna].

Informs Smith he is "not quite implacable" on account of Smith's critique in preface to seventh volume of "English botany", and that he is not "intemperately [...] friendly to reform"; wishes Smith had kept him a little more detached "from the furious reformers of Germany, whose zeal has carried them to adopt measures which can never be defended". His only statement on subject is that it renders "the business of investigation more easy", for sake of the ladies who "cannot fail to be shocked at the abominable & indelicate idea of the females riding the males".

Encloses specimen of "fungi parvi globosi" of "English botany"; observations. Asks that Smith delay figuring English 'Drosera' until he has sent specimens as he believes there are 5 species of that genus in the country. Encloses two Portugeuse species of 'Trifolium'; one may be 'T. angustifolium' [Smith annotation: "HL"] and the other belongs to subdivision of 'T. venicaria', if new suggests name 'T. umbellatum' [Smith annotation: "'resupinatum' HL"]; observations. In great hopes that 'Bromus diandrus' will prove valuable addition to agriculture, providing a much needed pasture in late March, though uncertain of expense of tillage; will send seed to any farming friend of Smith's.

Thanks for Smith's praise of his "Botanical Arranagement" and for the "many corrections which it owes to [Smith's] superior knowledge". Thanks for invitation to Norwich, but his health complaints do not allow him to travel, hopes Smith will visit him instead. "The very flourishing state of the Linn[ean] Soc[iety] must be highly flattering to its Founder".

His principle studies and enjoyments are of divinity, natural history, and music. Requests specimens of 'Crocus neediflorus', 'Crocus sativus' the saffron crocus, new specimens from "English Botany", and cryptogamics. A report circulating that [Thomas] Pennant "is at last dead". Asks if Smith has 'Bromus' specimens, particularly of the affinities to 'B. mollis', 'B. secalinus', 'B. arvensis', and 'B. erectus'. Will send Smith the 'Scirpus' found on the Welsh hills, at present thinks it 'Scirpus capitatus' of Linnaeus. In going over [John] Lightfoot's herbarium surprised to find there is no 'Ulva', he has named some of the 'Fucus' from his paper and asks why they do not appear in "English Botany". Looking forward to peace and a renewed exchange of the arts and sciences in Europe following "our great and repeated victories" which are exposing "the folly of French principles".

Hopes Smith's health is as good as the last time she saw him. Sends gift of two Mortlock china tea-cups with Vatican borders, similar to those he admired of hers. Thanks for packet of seeds and box of biscuits. Her health varying but stomach complaints less severe.

Congratulates Smith that Admiral [Horatio] Nelson [(1758-1805)] is his countryman. Requests another box of biscuits.

Has received a letter from [Pierre Marie Auguste] Broussonet in Tangier, [Morocco], and forwarded to Smith a parcel of specimens collected in Barbary by Broussonet. Is sending a collector to New South Wales, asks for any papers from "Linnean Transactions" on plants of the area. Has received letters from [Friedrich Conrad] Hornemann, who was intending to set out for the interior of Africa on 12 September, following difficulties with the French. Thanks Mrs Smith for turkeys.

Read Smith's paper at last Linnean Society meeting to a "numerous audience", and never meets with less than 30 on a general night now, still short of papers for next meeting. Asks Smith's intentions for coming to London. Death of [Thomas] Pennant; thinks it a "shame" that none of his works were presented to the Society. Recently afflicted with "a severe fit of the stone". Requests description of 'Scarabaeus conspurcatus' if in Linnaean collections to clear confusion over it, and a magnified sketch by Mrs [Pleasance] Smith or one of his sisters. Criticises preface of Paykull's "Fauna Suecica", intends to attack both him and Fabricius in his own [for "Entomologia Britannica" (1802)].

Thanks for Smith's letter and wishes him success in his application to Mr Gurney. His daughter [Mariamne Johnes] "vastly well" and improving daily. Severe south-westerley wind has blown the tiles off part of roof but has succeeded in making his library and other parts of the house warmer. His daughter seems improved in mind as well as body.

After discussion with [William] Withering, prior to publication of third edition of his ["Botanical arrangement"], believes that the two varieties of 'Ulex' are distinct species on account of the lengths of calyx. Reports his own observations and agrees with Withering, and that a repeated blunder with 'Ulex' has been passed down in every "Flora" since [John] Ray. Has submitted a paper on this [see RelatedMaterial below]. Character of 'Ulex elatior' and 'Ulex europaeus'. Delaying his remarks on the "curious animal" 'Medusa' until after more observations next summer.

Thanks for Smith's description of 'Scarabaeus conspurcatus', also requests its measurements. Sorry to hear Smith suffers so much with his health, and thanks Smith for recommendation of "Mephitie water" [for his kidney stones], which he took with some success in 1794, but is now suffering from them again. Confirms death of [Thomas] Pennant.

Sends description of a peculiar variety of beech for "Linnean Transactions". In anticipation of being made a FMLS has already described himself as such in his recent publications.