Up to four hundred visitors from England and the continent a day visiting Fonthill Abbey, Wiltshire, [home of William Beckford (1760-1844)]. When he visited Fonthill with Sir Richard Hoare and [Daniel] Lysons [(1762-1834)] there were four hundred carriages and horses. Duke of Wellington [Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852)], Sir Abraham Hume and Mr Cust have also visited Fonthill. Received plants from [William] Jack [(1795-1822)] described in his "Malay[an] Miscellanies" including three new species of 'Nepenthes'. Received Brazilian plants Dr [John] Sims [(1749-1831)]. Received a 'Arbutus laurifolia' from Mexico. Purchased [Franz Wilhelm] Sieber's [(1789-1844)] Cretan, Egyptian, and Holy Land plants, requests Smith to send specimen of each species of "'Arb.'" for comparison. Also asks Smith to send [Franciscus] Cupani's [(1657-1710) Italian botanist] works.

Since the death his daughter, Mrs Charlotte Lynn, Mr Lynn has not tried for pupils nor attempted to find a matron to superintend the management and education of his children. Praises character of the King [George IV (1762-1830)], who "has only to shew himself & everyone must admire him", and blames his previous foolish practices on his tutors the Bishop of Worcester and Dr Arnold. Dislikes the "idle rumours" about the attempt or design to assassinate the Duke of Wellington [Arthur Wellesley (1769-1852), soldier and statesman]. Wonders the true reason for [Thomas William] Coke giving up his agicultural meetings; [John Christian] Curwen [(1756-1828)], a great agiculturist in Cumberland, has given up his political agricultural meetings after being elected for the county, his chief aim.

Goodenough's observations on insects and birds: there have been no wasps this year compared to the multitudes last year which ate all their fruit; the last swifts left at the beginning of August, and last week during violent storms no swallows or martins were seen but with calmer skies they have returned, in fewer numbers, having already arrived late and less numerous than usual.

Greetings. Celebration of the anniversary of Linnaeus.

Requests Smith's "English Botany", which includes almost all native German plants, at a reduced price. Sturm has only just begun his "Deutschlands Flora". Offers to send G D Ehret's "hinc ad centesimam usque produxit B.C. Vogel. In aes incidit et vivis coloribus reprae-sentavit Haid 1750-73" and Schreber's Beschreibung der Gräser".

His pamphlet in great demand; encloses copy titled "Percussion Locks" which includes three engravings of woodcocks by [Thomas] Bewick [(1753-1828), ornithologist] but drawn by himself and son [extant]. Glad his red viper "has at last bitten somebody's fancy".

Pamphlet entitled "Percussion Locks", by Frankland.

Admires Smith's dedication to Mrs Corrie [in "A grammar of botany"]. Relieved [Thomas] Rackett received his letter on red viper. Superiority of percussion-locks. His recent health: after failing in strength for several months had a nervous seizure in July and felt low until thoroughly engaging himself in Buxton, has been assured it is not palsy and is all nervous; Buxton apothecary attributes it to neglected costiveness, Buxton doctors.

Encloses note [not extant] on corn measures. Has a profusion of peaches and nectarines; they were secured in the spring with oiled paper frames. [John] Crewe [1st Baron Crewe (1742-1829)] and party are visiting and brought green Egyptian melons for which the Horticultural Society awarded him [Frankland] the Banksian medal, but which Lord Crewe's gardener calls the Litchfield prize; supposes it has won a prize and that Lord Crewe obtained his seed from that which he [Frankland] sent the Horticultural Society in 1820 when it was new. Frankland has grown the same melon for some years so there is no contamination and the variety is kept pure.

Sends greetings, as when he intends to be in Norwich Smith will be away on a tour. Sends coins.