Account of his time in London: breakfasted with [Sir Abraham and Lady Amelia] Hume; Lord Dartmouth [George Legge, 3rd Earl of Dartmouth (1755-1810)] has promised a ticket for the "Antient Music"; came from Wormleybury, [Hertfordshire, home of the Humes], on Saturday, gave a lecture, and attended Royal Academy dinner, where William Smith introduced him to William Wilberforce [(1759-1833), abolitionist] and Duke of Bedford [John Russell, 6th Duke], sat next to [Samuel] Rogers [(1763-1855)] the poet; the exhibition poor; felt feverish the next day.

Requests copy of extracts from Fuseli's "Aphorisms". Resolved to not go further than reptiles in his lectures now, and will leave fish, insects, and worms for another year; course ends 16 May. Offered to make Lord Darmouth an Honorary Member of the Linnean Society, he deferred. Court party uneasy about the city agitations and dread Sir Fra[...]s's liberation. [Richard] Westall [(1765-1836), painter] exhibiting his pictures at his house; he is "very kind, as usual".

[Letter incomplete: small cropped section pasted over second folio, missing text presumed destroyed. Comparison of the paper of the two folios suggests this may have once been two separate letters]

Thanks for Smith's letters of 24 April and 3 May, his daughter [Mariamne Johnes] thanks Smith for the seeds. Has had a severe cold and fever and sprained his ankle in a fall. Asks Smith's brother the best place and persons to buy crimson serges from. Flattered by Smith's dedication [in his "Tour to Hafod" (1810)]; crossed out a few words in the preface for displaying "far too much vanity on my part, and alas this place has gained me enemies enough". Supposes it comes out the same time as his [Enguerrand de] Monstrelet [(1400-1453), French chronicler] translation, of which the entire edition has sold before publication. Impatient to go home but it will not be complete till the end of the month. Surprised by number of books he has saved from the fire or from being thieved; Smith's "Insects [of Georgia]" amongst them, and once all arranged expects to have a finer collection than before.

[In postscript] thanks Smith for wheat, which he sowed into the garden straight away.

Introduces himself. Has brought his collections of 'Fucus' and 'Conferva' to London, gathered from north Devon coast over the last 4 years; [John] Stackhouse considers many to be new species; invites Smith to inspect them at Sir Joseph Banks' house. Offers Smith specimens of each of the 'Fucus'.

[Spec 16 in pencil at top of verso of folio]

Thanks for parcel of seeds. Numbered observations on enclosed plants, locally found: 1. 'Ribes'; 2. 'Orthotrichum affine'; 3. 'Polytrichum'; 4. 'Hypnum'; 5. 'Bryum' like 'B. caespititium', 'B. capillare', and 'B. bicolor'; 6. 'Equisetum' like 'E. variegatum'.

Will look for the new 'Saxifraga', which Smith intends to name 'S. pedunculodes'. Observations on 'Fassilago hybrida'. Asks if Smith received specimen of 'Urceolorea diamarta'. Observations on 'Primula denticulata' in Smith's "Exotic botany" and other exotic plants, lists those in his possession; asks if Smith can facilitate an exchange with [John] Shepherd [(c 1764-1836, curator Liverpool Botanic Garden] when next in Liverpool, lists his desiderata.

No summary available.

Anticipating Smith's visit to Hall Place on 6 June. Comments on the dry weather but hopes the woods will be productive for Smith with"all kinds of 'Orchis'". Admonishes Smith for being so "naughty as to talk of flagellation". Postscript by Sir William East requesting Smith to ask Mr Darcy, lecturer at the Royal Institution on electricity, about the new discovery of "gabrenism", including on construction of the necessary apparatus and any worthwhile books on the subject, apparently medicinal in application.