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Pleased to hear of good prospect for health of his sister, Fanny, being treated by Dr Lubbock, would have preferred similar account for Mrs Fred Smith. [William] Withering has sent a parcel of specimens to Smith in London, including possible new species of 'Drosera'; notes. Hopes Smith examined the 'Fucus capensis' he sent; observations on discharge of seeds and capsules. Requests specimens of [Archibald] Menzies' North American 'Fucus' species; [Dawson] Turner has acquired some. Heavy snow.

Sending first part of second volume of his "Species plantarum", asks if Smith received the first volume and diploma of Society of Natural Scientists. Was unaware that Smith had named a genus 'Persoonia', in honour of [Christiaan Hendrik] Persoon; he also named a genus after Persoon in his "Species plantarum", proposes alternative 'Marshallia' for his, in honour of L B Marshall of Biberstein. Sending article from "Transactions of the Natural Scientists".

Four sided list of queries and notes on the numbered plants he has sent Smith over the previous six years.

Postpones their meeting; surprised Smith is already thinking of returning to London. Glad Smith is named editor of [John] Sibthorp's "Flora Graeca"; it will give Sibthorp more credit; Smith has the notes from his examination of Tournefort's herbarium at Paris; and will add an "additional leaf" to Smith's "wreath, already sufficiently full". Poor health of Smith's sister, Fanny, and sister-in-law, [Mrs Frederick Smith]. Thanks for parcel from [William] Withering, which contained seed of 'Bromus diandrus', which could become a valuable grass to sow for sheep pasture; 'Anthoxanthum verna' has similar properties; asks if Smith knows anyone willing to experiment with 'Poa annua' for same end.

Has left instructions for his 'Fucus' paper for next "Linnean Transactions" to be delivered to Smith, and has included a drawing of the "singular and curious 'Conferva'" to be engraved and coloured by [James] Sowerby. Thinks it unfortunate that the plates for the "Transactions" are not well executed, and suggests charging Fellows 5 shillings on receipt of their copies.

The "calamitous state of the times" will oblige them to carry out any further correspondence "across the ocean".

Replies to Smith's letter of 9 August 1798. Working on long delayed paper [on cattle]. Spent time in Fifeshire, Perthshire, and Roxburghshire last year, found no new acquisitions but saw 'Oenanthe fistulosa', 'Sison inundatum', 'Pilularia globulifera', 'Convallaria polygonatum', 'Euonymus europaeus', 'Utricularia', roots of 'Serapies longifolia', 'Valeriana diocia'.

"Flora Britannica" much anticipated. Recently received specimens from Lady Ashburton, in Devon, of 'Scilla autumnalis', 'Convolvulus soldanella', 'Colyledon umbil.', 'Crithmum maritimum', and species of 'Geranium'. Natural History Society of Edinburgh recovering from late treasurer, Mr Cunningham's, insolvency and loss of their funds; they have committed all funds and secretaryship to himself. His solitary mode of life. Smith's labours on British grasses will be much appreciated. Thanks for specimens from Smith.

Received Smith's letter of 19 [April]; sorry to hear the indifferent accounts of Smith's sister. Determined not to quit this house though this winter has been severe: lost many sheep and has already sold 330 skins, thinks corn will be scarce and bad, and has not sown his oats due to the wet. His daughter [Mariamne Johnes] sending in another letter Conchium flower that Smith requested some time ago. Asks Smith to acquire for him from Bristol "this famous oxygenated muriatic acid that gives such a powerful stimulus to seeds".

Sees that Dr [Robert John] Thornton [(c 1768-1837), physician and writer on botany] has "done wonders" with Dr [Thomas] Beddoes' [(1760-1808), chemist and physician] airs [Beddoes founded the Pneumatic Institute, which advocated the inhalation of "factitious airs" as a medical treatment]; "they will make a new & grand epocha in medicine" and "surely he deserves more thanks than this ungrateful nation will give him". Wonders if they would do any good for his daughter in reducing the tumours she has near the chin and on some of her glands; her back is now almost flat.

Davies still wants Croft though he is "a poor devil & not deserving of it" but has a proposal for another estate which if it succeeds will make him comfortable.

Epitaph on death of Emma Smith, wife of his brother, Frederick Smith.

Gladly accepts Smith's proposal to have [Thomas] Beddoes' [(1760-1808), chemist and physician] call on him, as since hearing of Beddoes giving himself a dangerous disorder to try the effect of medicine "for the benefit of mankind" would be proud to know him. Read Beddoes' "[History of] Isaac Jenkins" [story exhibiting the evils of drunkeness] with great pleasure and requests copies for distribution amongst English readers here, and with Beddoes' permission will ask his parson to try and translate it into Welsh as he believes it will do much good.

Mrs Johnes thanks Smith for ordering plants. Hoping for this year to put an end to his "money distresses". Mrs Johnes very unwell and they cannot get a change of air on account of their "little invalid" [his daughter, Mariamne Johnes]. Mr Williams thinks Mariamne's back is well and that one of the lower vertebrae is prominent, and she has outgrown her machine; describes her other symptoms, which alarm him. He is unwell, too, and asks if Beddoes could be compelled to hasten his tour and visit early for the good of his house. Sorry Smith's sister-in-law continues "so ill".

Encloses authority [extant, as copy] for Smith to take possession of [John Sibthorp's] collections; refers Smith to Lady Sewell and Professor Williams for the journals and other papers.

[Letter to Dr Marlow, President of St John's College, Oxford, and Vice-Chancellor of University of Oxford, from John Hawkins and Thomas Platt (d 1842), one of John Sibthorp's executors, supervised the publication of "Flora Graeca", copy in Smith's hand]: requests that Smith be given all materials required for completion and publication of Sibthorp's "Flora Graeca".

[John] Sibthorp's "Flora Graeca" materials are ready for Smith to collect from Oxford.

Thanks for Australian plants; difficulties of communication in war time; death of Johann Hedwig; his collections to be sold; grasses; tabular chart of species collected.

Pleased by Smith's intention to visit her on his way to Oxford. She has been so ill with a painful arm that she recently cancelled a visit from [William Fitzwilliam, 4th Earl] Fitzwilliam [(1748-1833)] and Lady Fitzwilliam.

A long time since he heard from Smith, though kept informed by their mutual friend, [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert, who is his only contact with those who share his pursuits. Pleased to hear of L'Héritier's safety. Asks Smith to procure Cavanilles' most recently published volume of "Icones" for him.

Believes that 'Myosotis scorpioides', 'Myosotis palustris', and 'Myosotis arvensis' are distinct species rather than varieties, his observations.

Missed [James] Sowerby's call at Tredrea, although the poor health of his father prevents it from being a station for long journeys. Pleased that Smith is to finish [John] Sibthorp's work on "Flora Graeca". Pleased with progress of "Flora Britannica", wishes that Cornwall had been previously visited and studied, believes some Cornish plants are at least varities of "those considered as English species".

Sorry for the loss Smith had at Clifton, though her disorder was such that Smith must have been prepared. Sold Croft for £10,000 less than he expected so must make large sacrifices at Hafod; determined to be free from uncertainty and is to make a "sinking fund" in larch plantations, about which he is "even more wild" than [James] Anderson and intends to plant a million annually for as long as he has room. Todd [his gardener] has been very fortunate year in raising them from seed.

His daughter's [Mariamne Johnes] health improved since Jones came with an improved machine and she can now walk without crutches. She drinks three half pints of the Llanwated waters every day, which are sulpherous and have "done miracles" in several cases, and Jones is confident of her perferct recovery as long as she keeps away from surgeons. Weather uncommonly hot; hawthorns and crabs in "high beauty" and woods are like flower gardens.

Discussion of [John] Sibthorp's collections and materials for "Flora Graeca". Hopes Smith has received it all, especially large collection of seeds made in his last tour and named by Sibthorp on the spot, names on specimens are otherwise absent due to Sibthorp's "perfect knowledge" of them. Explains Sibthorp's subdivision of "Flora Graeca" into provincial floras including: "Flora Lacynthia" prepared by Consul Foresti; small collection from Maina; sub-alpine plants collected by himself in Crete. Happy to assist in deciphering the vulgar Greek plant names. [John] Flaxman [(1755-1826)] is executing a monument to Sibthorp. Sending specimens of several rock plants, left about 200 with a large collection of seeds in Patras, Greece.

Requests letters of introduction and recommendations of interesting places his eldest son's solo excursion to Scotland. Has heard [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert is suffering from a bladder complaint. His legs are better since last time Smith saw him and shortly intends a trip into Yorkshire as far as Wakefield, and will include a visit to [Richard] Salisbury.