Puzzled to understand how Smith has made Harriet [Drake, William Drake's wife] FLS. Her aunt [with whom she is staying] looking well; changes to the garden; saw ruined church at Covehill and another at Southwould in good repair; bought china, description and small sketch; local prices for agricultural produce, the present state is "ruinous", other agricultural distresses; her findings from researching the Sidney family.

Renews their acquaintance, first made under "most academic roof" of Sir Joseph Banks. Invites Smith to Chelsea for Garden Committee of the Apothecaries Company, of which he is Warden, also invites Smith to the Apothecaries Hall. Received visit from [Thomas] Purton, author of the "Midland Flora"; forgot to asks him about a 'Byssus septica' that occasionally appears in his cellar and leaves everything covered in "very fine soft red particles". His son-in-law, [John] Bowyer Nichols [(1779-1863), painter and antiquary], requested a review of Purton's "Appendix to the Midland Flora" in next "Gentleman's Magazine"; asks Smith's opinion of the work.

Uncertain whether received his letter on red viper or whether the extract he sent Smith has been read at Linnean Society. Recently read of subscription for statue of Sir Joseph Banks by [Francis Leggatt] Chantrey [(1781-1841)] but ignorant whether the statue he subscribed the maximum £10 for in August 1820 has been executed yet, and does not think a second should be undertaken till the first is completed. Expresses disapprobation at Horticultural Society's "gigantic scheme" for a 33 acre experimental garden.

He had applied to [Robert] Maughan [(1769-1844)] for specimens of his 'Salix livida' but found that his herbarium was about to be auctioned for a debt; intends to compare [Georg] Wahlenberg's [(1780-1851)] description to Maughan's herbarium on discovering the purchaser. Asks if Smith has seen [Nicolaus Tomas] Host's [(1761-1834)] "great work" on willows, published at Vienna.

Reiterates that if a new edition of "Flora Scotia" is published, as he expects, offensive references to Smith will be removed. Smith's progress on "English flora". Comments on worth of [Robert Kaye] Greville's work on fungi. Difficulties finding a publisher for his "Exotic flora". Visited [Francis] Hamilton at his home at Lenny; his ill-health and beauties of his lands. [Dawson] Turner averse to his proposed "Species Plantarum" in English.

Sending a species of 'Hyoscyamus' for Smith to examine. Makes observations of his own, believing it may be variety of 'Hyoscyamus niger' found by [John] Martyn [(1699-1768) botanist] in 1729 and not noticed since by any English writer. Comments on it being found outside Paris by Tournefort, abortive attempts to grow it in gardens, and location the specimen was collected from.

Sending fifth and sixth volumes of his "Systema vegetabilium" for Smith. Smith will become the "British botanical Socrates" with his "English Flora", extravagantly compliments Smith. His son has translated Smith's "Grammar of Botany" into German. Horror at the "deplorable confusion of philosophical & theological systems hovering now on the continent". [Franz Wilhelm] Sieber's travels and antiquarian and botanical collections. Count Sternberg has received remainder of [Thaddäus] Haenke's herbarium. [Carl Friedrich Philipp von] Martius publishing descriptions of species he collected in Brazil, starting with the palms. Forthcoming botanical publications by Lehman, Reichenbach, and [Augustin Pyramus] Decandolle's "Prodromus".

Error in his recently published third volume of "Midland Flora"; found that his 'Trichia rubiformis' is not the 'T. rubiformis' of Persoon's "Synopsis methodica fungorum"; difficulty of making correct references from descriptions alone, for which reason he has preserved every specimen he could; observations on Persoon's species, confirmed in another Persoon work ["Tentamen Disp. Meth. Fungorum"]. Wishes he had seen [Robert Kaye] Greville's "Monograph of the Genus 'Erineum'" before publishing his third volume.

Asks Smith's opinion of [Samuel Frederick] Gray's work ["A natural arrangement of British plants" (1821)].

Obliged to the Smiths for their condolences following the death of his daughter, Mrs Charlotte Lynn. She had nearly recovered from her long troubles with chest disorders and dangerous inflammations by taking extract of hemlock but was taken ill after drinking a glass of cold water following an exerting walk and never recovered. She has left twelve children between ages of sixteen years and six months. Two months ago he received and ignored a letter from Smith's sister, Mrs Lloyd, complaining of her husband's, Dr Lloyd, and Smith's confinement of her. Relieved that the King [George IV (1762-1830)] did not come via Carlisle on his way to or from Scotland. Thinks the current session of Parliament has gone on long enough and does not approve of the new principle of bringing every complaint, well or ill-founded, before it.

Thanks Smith for Hull Botanic Garden account, which he shall bind with [William] Roscoe's Liverpool and [William] Curtis' 1778 proposal for a subscription for a London botanic garden at Lambeth Marsh. His sister's health very precarious but he intends to tour Suffolk and Norfolk before end of summer. His daughter-in-law recovered a little from taking the waters at Barèges, [France], they intend to winter in Italy. Reports that Mr Grigby of Drinkston, Suffolk, was seized with a paralytic affection of his lower extremities whilst walking.

Thanks for Smith's letter of 20 [August 1822], happy to hear of his recovery from cholera attack. His summer plans disrupted, hopes to see Smith in London before he can go to Norwich. Sent Smith's letter for "Linnean Transactions" to the printer but uncertain what title to give it.

Fate of Lord Londonderry [Robert Stewart, 2nd Marquess of Londonderry (1769-1822), statesman, committed suicide] "has indeed been a sad one", feels he has lost a friend. Did not realise Mrs [Charlotte] Lynn's [daughter of Samuel Goodenough] death was sudden, Mrs Macleay's sister also died suddenly.

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.

Identified a 'Senecio lividus' in furze from figure in "English Botany", encloses specimen. Four line poem on himself entitled "The Ruling Passion", on love of sports in spite of ill health, dated 1821.

Thanks for Smith's letter, received via [Georg] Panzer. Shortly sending 'Aconite' and 'Delphinium' specimens for Smith's opinion, with one set intended for Smith's herbarium and the other to be returned. Introduces Dr Pradius, bearer of this letter.

Death of his sister after a "long & very painful illness". Thanks for partridges, sorry to hear Smith is unwell. [Adam] Afzelius publishing a "Life of Linnaeus"; details of the work; wishes to know value of an English translation. Ambassador from Peru and some Spaniards are coming to dine with him today; they are doing "great good" there and have liberated all the children of slaves. Correction of plants names in 'Linum' and 'Limosella aquatica'.