His family "harrassed" by sickness. Regretted missing [William] Roscoe whilst he was in Norwich, and was unaware until Smith's letter of Roscoe's botany interests. Thinks that Dawson Turner would be "highly gratified" to examine Smith's two chests of "botanical treasures" from the East Indies. Looks forward to hope of visiting Smith in Norwich.

Disappointed in receiving visits from Smith and Bishop of Norwich [Henry Bathurst (1744-1837)]; latter's attendence at House of Lords did not produce the peace in Ireland anticipated. Received a box of Australian specimens, now with [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert; half are for Smith. Asks Smith not to trouble himself about the aquatics. His new pit proficient at raising seeds; expects to show Smith new things from Australia, Nepal, and Brazil.

Saw Mr Longman on his return through London yesterday, who expressed "great pleasure" in publishing the "Correspondence", and regretted that his house had formerly declined taking on the work. Offers his interest in this edition to Nichols for £100 and 150 copies, as it is the kind of book to make presents and exchanges with.

[Draft of Nichols' reply:] Declines Smith's offer.

A dinner with Correa, [Robert] Brown, [Charles] Konig, and Hare; Mr Forster thinks Correa's mental powers are failing. Correa's opinion of America. Walked to [Stoke] Newington and visited the Aikins, Mrs Barbauld, Mrs Lee, and Revd Mr Bransby. Unable to see [Nathaniel] Kindersley [Smith's cousin] before he goes to India. Visited Loddiges [plant nursery] where they have raised hundreds of 'Rhododendrum arboreum' from his seeds. His future activities. Has not heard anything yet about their journey to Southampton._x000D_

[Explanatory notes in pencil, by another hand, on first folio]_x000D_

[Letter incomplete: folio[s] presumed destroyed]

Satisfied with arrangements for publication, and leaves arrangements with Longman to Nichols. Returns proof of index.

Thanks for letter of 22 March and specimens, although latter have not yet arrived.

Apologises for delay in informing Smith of state of the subscription to purchase an annuity for [William] Roscoe; Smith's £50 transferred to the fund; about £3,000 already subscribed, exclusive of [Thomas William] Coke's £100 per annum. Roscoe appears pleased "at the manner in which this mark of the esteem and regards of his friends has been brought about". Roscoe has made himself unwell through overwork on several literary pursuits. The Martin family all well [Smith's sister and family].

Following Smith's statement that he would not object to the Linnean Society paying attention to the fungi, suggests that members be invited to bring drawings to the first autumn meeting.

Sends a piece of Arabic poetry for Lady Smith. Eulogises on the "pleasing associations" made by encounters with friends in the "noise and bustle" of London.

Sends specimen of 'Tulipa sylvestris'; the bulbs were taken from an island in the Derwent, near Derby; cultivation details. Sorry to miss opportunity of meeting Lady [Pleasance] Smith.

Account of Linnean Society anniversary meeting: 72 at the dinner, greatest number yet; lists attendees; details of his speech. Is to visit Lady Ramsay on the Isle of Wight with Harriet. There were 20 subscribers above the 120 wanted for Sir Joseph Banks' bust by [Francis Leggatt] Chantrey [(1781-1841), sculptor]. New Linnean Society house [in Soho Square] costs less than the old one [in Gerard Street]. His first [Royal Institution] lecture on 28 May and second on 31 May. Suffered a headache, now cleared. Prince Leopold did not attend [Linnean Society meeting] or send an answer, which they wonder at.

Thanks for plants and copy of "Selection of the correspondence of Linnaeus"; his admiration of [Peter] Collinson [(1694-1768)] and [John] Ellis [(1710-1776)] from reading their letters. Extremely cold spring. Joy at wild specimen of '[Hedysarum] gyrans' and majestic fruit of the "Dalichos". Will forward [David] Hosack's parcel to Smith.

Account of his [and Harriet's] journey from London to Cowes, including visit to Dr Hill and family in Southampton. Account of their reception by Lady Ramsay and her son, who is a keen botanist, and how they have spent their time. The "Linnaean Correspondence" much admired and likely to sell well; his "Grammar of Botany" ridiculously abused in the "Eclectic Review".

Account of his journey from Southampton to London, via Winchester, where he admired the cathedral and met [John] Latham. His London engagements. His future movements; intends to return to Norwich by end of June. Asks for directions regarding present of dress or ornament.

[Letter incomplete: folio[s] presumed destroyed]

Thanks for "A selection from the correspondence of Linnaeus"; hopes to have Smith to dinner next year when she has a house in London. Sending catalogue of her library at Eshton Hall, [Yorkshire]; found great part of the natural history books and classics at Bierly, and collected the rest herself.

Sending letter via Benson Rathbone. Forthcoming publications: publishing a 48 volume collection of the Italian poets with Mr Valpy, the London printer, discusses his ideas for the series; writing a life of [Alexander] Pope [(1688-1744), poet] and publishing a new edition of Pope's works with an association of London booksellers, a considerable labour considering the continuing debate as to his moral and poetical characters; adding an additional volume to his "Life of Lorenzo"; and his "Holkham Catalogue" [of manuscripts in library of Thomas William Coke].

'Hedychium excelsum' has flowered and a new species of 'Roscoea' sent as a species of 'Orchis' about to flower [at Liverpool Botanic Garden]; proposes name 'speciosa' or 'lucida', further remarks on the plant. Has made additions to genus 'Canna' and drawn up synoptical table of 20 species, and similar for 'Hedychium' and 'Curcuma' [for his "Monandrian plants of the order Scitamineae.."]. Thanks Smith for "Correspondence of Linnaeus & other Naturalists". Smith's anecdote about identity of the peach and nectarine reminds him of a similar confusion at Liverpool Botanic Garden where an unknown plant was distributed as 'Hedychium flavum' until it dramatically increased in size the following year and turned out to be 'H. coronarium'; [Roscoe has made a sketch of the flower, in ink].

Apologises to Lord Mountnorris [George Annesley] for detaining his 'Scitamineae' figures for so long; has made copies.

Received Smith's letter of 13 April. Thanks for the mistletoe berries. A severe drought in Scotland has killed many young trees, herbaceous plants and crops "so that famine is staring us in the face". Working on his index and has now reached 'Didynamia' and 1500 species and has completed his commentary on the first part of the "Herbarium Amboinense" intended for the Wernerian Society in Edinburgh but despairs at their tardiness. Will continue his work on the "Hortus Malabaricus".

Received Smith's letter of 23 April. Thanks for Smith's "Grammar of Botany", his son, Jules [Julius Hermann Schultes], plans to translate it into German. Has bought Palestinian, Cretan, and Egyptian plant collections from [Franz Wilhelm] Sieber.

Reliable account, from one of his labourers, of a hedgehog sucking udder of a cow, who 30 years ago whilst walking to work at 4 in the morning saw a cow stand up and a hedgehog fall from its udder. [Thomas] Bewick [(1753-1828), ornithologist] does not comment on this disposition whilst [Thomas] Pennant argues against it on account of smallness of the hedgehog's mouth; will ascertain this by measuring.

Feelings increasingly frail in mind and body, especially his legs, and has not been angling or worked in his workshop for sometime, and last year's shooting ended his sporting life. Received Banksian medal from Horticultural Society for his Green Egyptian melons. His son and daughter-in-law are creating a flower garden in the wood.

After an absence of twenty-six years and five months is soon to leave for Lisbon, Portugal, from Falmouth, Cornwall. His health is still frail.