Agrees with Banks that a turkey's nest is known as a "rip". Comments on dispute between [William] Forsyth and [Thomas Andrew] Knight over Knight's insinuating pamphlets against Forsyth's paste for regenerating fruit trees. Smith says he can produce sections of Forsyth's trees "which tell their own story", will further enquire into the matter. Disgusted by the "backbiting" of authors and artists and London, and scornful of the effect of London society on minds. Thinks [Samuel] Goodenough will be a dignified and useful bishop. 'Buxbaumia aphylla' has been found at Roslin, [Midlothian], by Mr Maughan.

No summary available.

Satisfied that the toad Smith has encountered is the 'Bufo terrestus' of [August Johann] Rösel [von Rosenhof] and the natterjack of Banks' neighbourhood in Lincolnshire. Describes some of its habits and large population on Putney Common and at Wimbledon. [Thomas] Pennant hated toads so much that "he shrunk even from a picture of one". Would be glad if Mrs Smith continues supplying turkeys. Has received a letter from Nottingham, stating that the ['Grauis'?] on the banks of the Trent are only autumnal flowering because the cattle eat them down in the Spring, and that the true saffron crocus is abundundant in the same place.

Sends roots and runners of a grass called 'Fiorin' which [William] Richardson has written on with intention of making it a valuable animal foodstock, suspects it may be 'Agrostis stolonifera'. Has been bound to his bedroom since beginning of January. A vast fish, 55 feet [16.7m] long and 12 feet [3.7m] in circumference, that was washed up on the Orkney Islands is a cartilaginous fish and not a whale, as was supposed.

No summary available.

Has resigned management of the King's [George III (1738-1820)] merino flock due to ill health. Only way Banks knows of obtaining the sheep is at the King's sale.

Thanks Smith for turkeys. Grateful for assistance Smith has given to Mr Home. Postscript of a short Christmas poem by Thomas Tusser, taken from Tusser's "Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry", remarks that it was first printed in 1557.