Offers her Westminster Hospital proxy to Smith's preferred candidate; her first consideration is to give it "for a person thoroughly qualified for the office". Her stomach complaints have been bad since visit by Smith and the [Harvey] Spraggs' but she is now taking a draught prescribed by Dr Freeman and hopes it will clear the "billious sort of obstruction". Sorry to hear that [Adam] Afzelius is returning to Africa but hopes it will advantageous for him, will send him dimensions of the matts she wanted made.

Filled in her Westminster Hospital proxy for Smith's candidate just before Mrs [Elizabeth] Weddell and [William Fitzwilliam, 4th Earl] Fitzwilliam [(1748-1833)] both solicited it for Mr Moore. Sent Smith flower of 'Malpighia'.

Sends small specimen of new East India plant in flower, from seed, not like any 'Monandria' plant that Grieg, her gardener, has seen.

[Smith annotation: "'Lopezia'"]

Confirms that her health has been bad since Smith's last visit but implores him and his three friends to still visit. Grieg, her gardener, has been confined for five weeks after injuring his leg climbing over a gate but has escaped fever and mortification. Her botanical zeal low recently. Prefers eating 'Convolvulus batatas' [sweet potato] to potatoes.

Apologises but will be too ill to receive Smith and his two friends on Saturday, though they should still visit on their way to Bulstrode [Park, Buckinghamshire, home of Duke of Portland]. Warns Smith that her garden is not currently looking its best.

Acknowledges Smith's postponement of his visit on account of her ill-health and hopes the next time he visits the [Harvey] Spraggs will be of the party. Grieg, her gardener, disappointed Smith did not come as he had got the plants in best order possible. Will send seeds.

Her "very uncomfortable state of health" has caused her to neglect her friends but hopes to see Smith soon. Asked [John] White [(1757-1832), surgeon in New South Wales] to convey her regret at Smith's intention to move to Norwich, [Norfolk], and invites him to visit before he does so, though also accidently invited White when she would prefer Smith's conversation "without the company of a stranger". Belatedly congratulates Smith on his marriage.

Disappointed not to see Smith before he left, especially as was in Windsor, [Berkshire]. Thanks Mrs Smith for Norfolk cakes and requests the recipe. Returns copies of Smith's "Spicilegium [botanicum]" and "[Icones] pictae [plantarum rarorium]" and requests others, and sends a Sierra Leone 'Amarylis' to be drawn by [James] Sowerby, requests the name. An exchange of fasciculi with set of late [Harvey] Spragg's.

Enquires after [John] White [(1757-1832), surgeon in New South Wales], Mrs [Elizabeth] Weddell reports that he "had got what he wished" although not sure what that is other than it being "ten shillings a day". Imagines White saw a lamentable scene at Portsmouth, [Hampshire]; she fears "all things are growing worse & worse". Wishes to subscribe to the work Smith mentioned.

Thanks for Smith's "rich cargo" of Norwich biscuits; uses them medicinally when she has a dry mouth and throat in the night. Smith's visit to Wales must have been "truly gratifying" on account of "being the means of restoring health to a beloved Daughter of a beloved Friend" [Mariamne Johnes, daughter of Thomas Johnes]. Invites Smith to visit on his return journey and details of the roads from Bath, [Somerset].

Apologises for not being able to send recipe for "those little cream cheeses". Her health better recently and freer from "those billious pains & sensations that are so tormenting both to the body & the mind".

Asks Smith's opinion of [Nikolaus von] Jacquin's new book ["Plantarum rariorum Horti Caesarei Schoenbrunnensis"] as whilst she is tempted by "so many beautiful lillys [sic]", price of 30 guineas for two volumes is "enormous" and whether he thinks it will be Jacquin's last work, in which case she would purchase it. Requests fresh supply of Smith's Norfolk buns as they check the spasmodic wind in her chest. Suffering from the extreme hot weather but her eyelids and incessant tear in her eye are better after Mr Phipps' application.

[Smith annotation: "I have only seen some plates of Jacquin's work, but I think you sh'd have it"]

Hopes Smith's health is as good as the last time she saw him. Sends gift of two Mortlock china tea-cups with Vatican borders, similar to those he admired of hers. Thanks for packet of seeds and box of biscuits. Her health varying but stomach complaints less severe.

Congratulates Smith that Admiral [Horatio] Nelson [(1758-1805)] is his countryman. Requests another box of biscuits.

Pleased by Smith's intention to visit her on his way to Oxford. She has been so ill with a painful arm that she recently cancelled a visit from [William Fitzwilliam, 4th Earl] Fitzwilliam [(1748-1833)] and Lady Fitzwilliam.

Thanks for turkey and biscuits, which her ill-health prevented her from acknowledging sooner. Offers Smith a stuffed bird of paradise for his collection; she received it with a living parakeet from Bombay and its plumage is as though it died yesterday. Ashamed to put Smith's household to the expense and trouble of satisfying her demand for biscuits and ideally would like a box quarterly but her finances constrained "since Mr [William] Pitt [the Younger (1759-1806), prime minister] has been pleas'd to take £500 a year" from her income.

Comments that Smith's 'Agapanthus' which bore the winter and flourished in a border "must have been very pleasant", and wishes Smith could persuade Grieg, her gardener, to make similar experiments at Hillingdon. 'Amarylis radiata' in flower in her room which she thinks worthy of being drawn; [James] Sowerby does not recall her sending him a flower and leaf of it two years ago.

Curious to know whether Smith's sister is married to his young companion he brought to visit last year. Sending the bird in a box soon.

Invites Smith to visit her the next time he is in London. Apologises for long delay in correspondence, caused by her "nervous disaffection" and ill health, and had meant to respond to Smith's letter congratulating her on "the blessing of Peace". Sorry to hear Smith's old complaint has returned.

Proposes that a toast be made to her late husband, [Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd marquess of Rockingham (1730-1782), prime minister], at the Linnean Society Anniversary meeting on 24 May, as his birthday was also 24 May and he was a "rising botanist of great promise" and "a most attach'd disciple of Linnaeus". Thanks for present of dried fruit and biscuits, which have now regained their "peculiar taste & good quality" following "those cruel times of real, or pretended scarcity", though does not believe that any flour have yet or perhaps ever will return to same quality as before. Praises the sermon Smith sent her, which reminds her of something in [James] Saurin [(1677-1730), French preacher]; details of a sermon she will send in return. Apologises for legibility of letter as her eyelid complaint has returned.

Regrets the serious condition which prevented Smith from coming to Hillingdon. Recommends Dr James' powders for erruptive fevers, glad to hear Smith's lungs are not affected.

Enquires after Smith's recovery from his illness. Current "extraordinary weather" is very unfavourable to invalids; she has never known such "unabating high winds with violent storms of rain & sometimes hail, at this time of the year", she has been feeling very indifferent.

Uncertain whether Smith is in Norwich, [Norfolk], or in Paris. Sends the Smiths a "whimsical Christmas hommage" of gold Butterfly handkerchief and little fly pins for Mrs [Pleasance] Smith, and a pocket microscope for Smith. Intended to send them on New Year's Day.

Looking forward to Smith's visit but asks that he comes without his pupil as "a stranger is always a distressing restraint" upon her and would prevent her talking at her ease with Smith, who she has not seen for a long time.

Sends a sucking-pig to Smith for [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert's table tomorrow and recommends that it is roasted whole, including head and not with "the limbs cut off, as is the fashion of some cooks to send them up". Thanks for "the rich present of bulbs" and asks that Smith's "young man" provides a list. Her Sierra Leone white lily now has six flowers and "is a great height & has a noble appearance". Gratified by the possibility of peace, which she credits the "eloquent display of the wise & honest sentiments of my friend Mr Fox" for.

Smith was kind to her dogs and they have tried the vitriol but they still scratch. Her health indifferent from spasms. Hopes Smith's eye will not suffer on his journey.