His eldest son, aged 20, has developed consumption and they are about to embark for either Lisbon or Madeira subject to Dr Ritcairn's opinion. Received Smith's letter on 'Chelone barbata'.

Dr Ritcairn has written him with encouraging account of Madeira so is determined to set out as soon as possible with his son [suffering from consumption].

Dr Belcombe advises staying in England until end of September [Frankland's eldest son suffering from consumption]; frustrated that both Lisbon and Madeira are currently inaccessible, with the latter being in possession of English troops. Assured by the Thirkleby apothecary that his son has no bad symptoms, a usual pulse and no heat to his skin, and that what he spat in the morning was only mucus. As Smith speaks of himself as consumptive requests outline of his complaint.

No summary available.

Sends drawing [not extant], by Mrs Dalton, and specimens of 'Saxifraga hirculus' from Knutsford Moor, Cheshire, apparently its only habitat in England.

[This is a double letter. Pulteney has written to Smith in between Lambert's lines of the recto and verso of the first folio]

Lambert staying with [Richard] Pulteney as his house in town is being rebuilt and enlarged, in particular the library. Obtained specimens of all the plants of the Chinese embassy, a "charming collection". Has [Andre] Michaux's [(1746-1802)] "Histoire des chenes de l'Amerique", a "Flora Americana" is to follow. Asks if Smith received the "account" in last month's "magazine of the Spanish botanists". Visited [William] Beckford [(1759-1844)] of Fonthill, [Wiltshire], saw the hothouses and greenhouses, "some of the largest in Europe" and "one of the finest private collections " he had ever seen, including many "Chinese plants in flower". Beckford's gardener Milne [(fl 1800s-1810s)], who lived with [Richard] Salisbury, is "one of the best [...] botanic gardeners in England". Milne is sending four men to collect plants for Beckford, currently in Jamaica, with letters of introduction to [Archibald] Menzies and [Robert] Brown. Requests that when Smith sends willow specimens to send Milne cuttings of all he and [James] Crowe can spare as he is making a "very large botanic garden".

Pulteney sends greetings, kept up to date in botanical matters by the monthly receipt of "English Botany". Wishes Smith success with "Flora Graeca", feels increasingly frail.

This is a manuscript copy of Pulteney's portion of a joint letter sent by Aylmer Bourke Lambert. It is not known when or by whom this copy was created.

Sends greetings, is kept up to date in botanical matters by the monthly receipt of "English Botany", wishes Smith success with "Flora Graeca", feels increasingly frail.

Thanks for £10 bank note and drawings. Suffering from headaches in the heat, expects relief at Lowestoft, [Suffolk]. Pleased Sowerby agrees with him about genus 'Phallus', "the old trivial names are unnecessarily indecent". His pupil, [William Fitt Drake], will look for anything curious at Lowestoft. Uncertain about Sowerby's 'Salix', which may be 'S. amygdalina'.

His sister Mrs Weston has had a girl, and his brother Francis' wife a boy. Expecting a visit from [Richard] Relhan. Wishes to know how to send a parcel to Sweden.

Preparing 'Salix' for the "The gardener's and botanist's dictionary", asks whether Smith agrees with [Georg Franz] Hoffmann's arrangement of the genus and for information on 'Salix hermaphroditica' and 'Salix pentandra'. Asks after various publications including: second volume of [Antonio José] Cavanilles' "Icones"; whether there are further [Jacques-Julien La] Billardiére fasciculi; whether [Peter Simon] Pallas published more of "Flora Rossica"; and if there will be anything further from [Charles Louis] L'Héritier [de Brutelle].

Grateful for Smith's account of his own consumptive condition which "confirms strongly how much we are often deceived by following a particular plan or medicine from the report of such a one having been relieved by it". Smith's condition is pulmonary and less serious than his son's as it does not tend to ulceration. Dr Pitcairn says his son has no symptoms of ulceration and strongly recommends undertaking the voyage to Madeira with anecdote of a debilitated neighbour who went last winter and recovered.

Details of his son's condition: he contracted a venereal complaint at Oxford last April and having always had a delicate constitution the treatment of it affected him so much that he was obliged to tell Lady Frankland the truth, and his stength had recovered his strength until he started spitting blood; he is now stronger and looks better than he did and is confident that a general and radical strengthening of his constitution will make him better. The concealment of his son's illness whilst he was in London caused himself two or three bilious attacks.

Describes habitat of 'Saxifraga hirculus' on Knutsford Moor, Cheshire, it grows with 'Vaccinium oxycoccos' and 'Menyanthes trifoliata'. Plans to plant it out on the larger bogs of Delamere Forest in case its current bog is drained. List of rarer plants of Cheshire, offers to send specimens or drawings of any Smith desires.

Printer lacks copy for current volume of "Linnean Transactions", and papers on humblebees and Correa's on 'Doryanthus' are missing. Will arrange for [Erik] Acharius and Dr Westring to be proposed as FMLS. [Thomas] Marsham just set off on tour through Wales, he desires Smith to solicit [James] Crowe for his subscription to the Linnean Society charter. The charter with currently with the Attorney and Solicitor General.

Relieved to hear of recovery in Smith's health. Encloses specimen of either Smith's 'Scirpus multicaulis' or 'S. viviparous', found Ampthill Bog. Previously sent it to [James] Sowerby with a Cyptogamous plant Sowerby named 'Blasia pusilla'.

["Spec. 3" annotated in pencil at top of verso of folio]

Sent plants to [James] Sowerby, listed, with details of habitats, including: 'Mentha gentilis', 'Hieracium umbellatum', 'Impatiens noli-tangere', 'Mentha arvensis', 'Poa distans'. Has found but not sending specimens of 'Bromus secalinus', 'Bromus multiflorus', 'Hypericum lubium'; has specimens in herbarium of 'Potentilla aurea', resisted persuasion to call it 'P. verna'. Asks if the fern he encloses is the 'Cyathea incisa' of "English botany" [Smith has annotated "'fragilis'"].