Introduces Mr Archer, their state surgeon and a "great lover of botany".
[Note at foot of letter by Archer, dated 12 October 1794] introduces himself; his regret at missing Smith when he called at Great Marlborough Street.
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Received Smith's letter of 15 September. Dr [James] Anderson not only delighted with Hafod's "romantick beauties, but says he never saw any country in its natural state so fertile, or that was capable of such very great improvements with so few obstacles", finds his enthusiasm contagious. Excited by prospect of seeing Smith.
Encloses letter [not extant] from [Johnes' sister, Charlotte] who is "wild to go to India"; all she requires is "the protection of any lady of character who is going out to that country".
Anderson asks to be remembered to Smith. Asks if he has seen Anderson's scheme for a "riding lockwork in canals", printed in his "Agriculture Survey of Aberdeenshire" for the Board. Anderson also working on a "most simple & portable water level" that promises to be of great utility. Afraid he shall soon lose him. He has been industriously employed at Hafod and if he had his whole income would make amends for what have been styled his follies, "some indeed properly enough", but defends his Hafod against that term. Very rainy and windy weather but his woods and cascades in high beauty.
Quotes motto of Harcourt family. Sees no end to the war and fears realisation of note by his friend, [Richard Payne] Knight [(1750-1824), classicist] , that all Europe will be "thrown into a state of Barbarism": peace will ruin the Convention [constitutional assembly in France after the revolution] as the "hordes in arms" have subsisted on plunder so long that they will quickly return to peaceable ways, and at home the "behaviour & insolence of the great towards the lower classes" have led the people to lose all confidence in any man and to believe they are motivated by "avarice or ambition". He would like to retire from public life.
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Disappointed not to see Smith in London. Enjoyed reading Smith's "Tour on the Continent". Has not yet received third number of "Icones pictae" or the "New Holland work". Was in Matlock, Derbyshire, but too late to see the 'Geranium lucidum'. Found an abundance of 'Echium vulgare' in the south of England, comments on beauty of the plate in "English Botany" and rarity of it in Ireland. Frequently saw ['Cichorium'] but believes it is now cultivated as a crop. Was unable to see 'Hollonia' or 'Menyanthes'. Asks if [Walter] Wade has sent him his catalogue, comments on lack of "numerous or interesting plants" in Ireland but notes the relative rarity of 'Smyrnium olusatrum' in England. Purchase of land for Dublin Botanic Garden hindered by a bad title on the intended ground, Wade is attempting to find an alternative location but land in Dublin is expensive. Remarks that Matlock is a "charming place" but the "curious machinery and opulent manufacturers [...] destroy the solitary beautiful wilderness". Scornful of Buxton, Derbyshire, "a more disagreeable country can scarcely be seen".
Visit of Broussonet, a victim of the Revolution.
Sends works for Smith and others; sale of his works in England.
Sending uncommon English plants for Linnean Society, hopes they will be useful for Smith's proposed "Flora Anglica". This summer toured Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, and Cornwall, describes habitats of plants found, including: 'Aster tripolium' at Portsmouth, Hampshire; 'Tamarix gallica' at St Michael's Mount, Cornwall; and 'Erica vagans' at Lizard, Cornwall, found with 'Ulex europaeus' and 'Erica cinerea'. Sends shells and paper on new species of 'Tellina'.
Thanks for use of Smith's house and library. He and Dr [William] Younge went to Drury Lane and saw "Ladoisha", "the most extraordinary piece of machinery" he ever saw on any stage. Visited [William] Withering in Birmingham; his house and its environs; Withering's precarious health, suffering violent attacks to this lungs and spitting blood; if he survives the winter interested by Dr [Thomas] Beddoes' [(1760-1808), chemist and physician] "aerial process"; coins.
Has left specimen of 'Bromus diandrus' and seeds and specimen of Portuguese grass, since found to be 'Andropogon hirtum', from Withering. Notes from his study of the Linnaean 'Fucus' specimens; made some pencil notes on the different species. Thanks Smith's servants.
On advice of [William] Withering is sending a specimen of the "creeping fig", with fruit. [Francis] Masson [(1741-1805), Kew plant collector] called it 'Ficus pumila' but Abbé Correa [José Corrêa de Serra] calls it 'Ficus repens', it grows abundantly in greenhouse of Royal Botanic Garden. Saw Correa and the "unfortunate [Pierre Marie Auguste] Broussonet" [who was forced to leave Paris and then Madrid], who disembarked in Lisbon after becoming concerned by reports of patrolling French cruisers. Has attempted to get Broussonet passage on the King's ship but Captain Rodney has strict orders against carrying French passengers. Broussonet agrees the fig is 'Ficus repens'. Sir Henry Vane, baronet, has taken charge of it on the "America".
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Queries on his 'Ulva' paper for Smith to resolve. Arrangements for visit by [James] Sowerby and commissions for drawing 'Fucus' species. Received [Samuel] Goodenough's articles for their paper on 'Fucus', which he generally praises, except that his Latin can run into the "oratorical style"; further notes on composition and contents of their paper. Can acquire coins for Smith. Asks if plan respecting Smith's brother, John, [to emigrate to America] is arranged, after seeing report that some people of large fortune who emigrated from Birmingham have been taken prisoner by a French frigate during their passage.