Thanks for Smith's "Tour". Sends a silver medallion for his paper on 'Sprengelia'.
Thanks for introduction to Dr Duncan, who has been visiting. Details of a business transaction. Notes that Smith will receive a letter from [Christiaan Hendrik] Persoon. Encloses a recently published pamphlet, ["De vi vitali sanguini..." (1795)]. The "enigmatical sea-animal of the class of worms" from Linnaean collections that Smith sent Blumenbach is a 'Sabella' as described in [Johann Samuel] Schröter, "Einleitung in die Conchylienkenntniss nach Linne" (1783-1786).
His son a victim of the Revolution; his work in Nat. Hist.; acquisition of books.
Writes on introduction of Mr Este, following request for introductions in Europe.
[Smith has noted his reply on recto of folio]: sent letters of introduction to Professor Hoffmann, Göttingen; Professor Oriani, Milan; and Dr Dana, Turin.
Desires admission to the Linnean Society as an Associate.
Has written to Mr Edwards of Pall Mall about taking his [second volume of] translations from "Amoenitates Academicae"'. Informed by [Thomas] Marsham of his election into Linnean Society [as an Associate].
Arrangements for visiting Smith. Parcel [from Dr Godfry Christian Reich of Germany] has arrived.
Sends books from Dr [Godfry Christian] Reich, explains discrepancies in contents.
Plans to accept [Thomas] Marsham's invitation to dine with Smith and others. Offered MD diploma by Dr [Godfry Christian] Reich as part of his membership of Imperialis Academia Naturae Curiosorum, [Erlang, Germany]; asks Smith and Dr Simmons to sign the certificate in his support.
Hopes to send Smith plates needed to make up his set of "[General] synopsis of birds", requests copy of Smith's "Tour of the continent" and "English botany". Does not dare venture beyond indigenous plants. Offers to forward letters for Smith to Dr Reich, Willdenow, and [Johann Christian Daniel von] Schreber [(1739-1810), physician and botanist].
Sending Smith the remaining five volumes of his "[General] synopsis [of birds]", will charge Smith at bookseller to bookseller rate. Requests copy of each number of "English botany" as it is published.
Received letter from [Johann Christian Daniel von] Schreber [(1739-1810), physician and botanist] informing him of progress for his diploma for doctor in medicine and surgery. Transcribes section relating to Smith, in Latin: thanks Latham and his colleagues for offer to be admitted to the Royal Society; asks to subscribe to "Linnean Transactions".
Received his diploma of medicine from Hamburg. Will inform [Johann Christian Daniel von] Schreber [(1739-1810), physician and botanist] of progress of his FMLS application. Smith's honour at being made a member of Imperialis Academia Naturae Curiosorum, [Erlang, Germany]. Requests numbers of "English botany" as per their exchange.
Arrangements for [Charles] Bryant [(d 1799)] to be paid for the collection of grasses Bryant is sending [Samuel] Goodenough. He has corresponded with Goodenough on Linnaeus' 'Carex actua', they have found it is his 'C. stricata'; observations. Condolences to Smith on death of François [Borone].
Returned to Oxford "with some affection of the lungs", bathed in tepid bath at Brighton and now nursing himself with asses' milk and gentle horseback exercise, considering a trip to Bristol. Details of journey from Greece: travelled from Zante, leaving [John] Hawkins there, to Otranto with excursion to Nicopolis, from Acona through the Tyrol. Visited [Johann Christian Daniel von] Schreber [(1739-1810)] in Erlang, Germany, who has monograph on 'Carex' ready, will adopt [Samuel] Goodenough's names if he receives a list, also ready with fasiculus of 'Gramina', intends to send Schreber 'Carex strigosa' and 'Carex indica' if Smith has duplicate of latter. Visited [Georg Franz] Hoffmann in Göttingen who has greatly improved the garden and is compiling a pocketbook synopsis on German Cryptogamia.
Told by [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert of "great treasures brought by [Francis] Masson [(1741-1805), Kew plant collector], [John] White and [Archibald] Menzies". Would like Smith to send "Icones picta" of Jacquin. Grief at death of François Borone, does not believe any of the other servants took any of his belongings. Last heard that Hawkins had gone to visit Ali Pashaw [Ali Pasha of Tepelena (1740-1822) Ottoman Albanian ruler of western part of Rumelia, Ottoman Empire's European territory] in Thessaly, Greece, in good health but "under alarm from robbers".
As requested via [Thomas] Woodward, sends Smith description of the new 'Ulva' or 'Fucus' found by him at Weymouth, [Dorset], and will arrange for Woodward to send the specimen. Thanks Linnean Society for honour of being elected FLS.
Sorry to hear there is no chance of his being presented to Smith next month in London, on account of Smith's being absent in Norfolk. Thanks for Smith's attentions to his paper, [Thomas] Woodward will forward Smith the specimen. Has submitted to Woodward a fasciculus of his marine plants, and if well received intends to describe and delineate the 3 genera, or at least those not recently described and drawn in England; expects to receive accurate observations in Woodward and [Samuel] Goodenough's paper in forthcoming "Linnean Transactions".
Asks Smith to look over the fasciculus of ["Nereis Britannica"] as far as it is finished and to show it to the Linnean Society. Notes on his intentions and other matters, including: apprehension that no sexual office has been attributed to the "air bladders" [of seaweed], and perplexed by the urn-shaped vessels in fronds of '[Fucus] serratus vesiculosus'.
Discussion of Linnaeus' definiton of reproductive organs of plants and [Thomas] Velley's criticism of his remarks on same in the preface of ["Nereis Britannica"]. Quotes from a letter by Velley to himself discussing this further and the absence of floresence in seaweed, gives his own botanical opinion of the matter.
Informed by [Thomas] Woodward that Smith approves of his work ["Nereis Britannica"]. Inspired by his disupte with [Thomas] Velley [over floresence of plants and seaweed] to investigate seaweed fructification with a microscope, details some of his observations, particularly the production of seeds and air bladders, from examination of: '[Fucus] vesiculosus', 'F. spiralis', 'F.nodosus', 'F. carnaliculatus', 'F. siliquosus', 'F. digitatus, 'F. polyschides', 'F. palmatus', and 'Ulva umbilicalis'. Shall send samples of two or three sea plants. Sending his paper on 'Herniaria glabra' which rectifies other authors' previous errors, including sketch and specimen [see RelatedMaterial below]. Believes the lack of reviews for his book is due to his not having advertised it very widely.