Thanks for plants; sends works; Salisbury.

Thanks Smith for the present of rare plants. Concerned with the economic aspects of botany rather than scientific: attempting to find new plants for cultivation and improve yields and quality of plants already cultivated. Planning a series of experiments with Mr Schmeisser to verify the causes of the fertility of particular grounds for particular plants. Has made a herbarium pictum in the style of Lord Bute's [John Stuart, 1st Marquess of Bute (1744-1814)].

Success of his work with the poor of Hamburg, who now number less than 2500, subsequently asked to assist with establishment of similar instituions in Bern and Copenhagen. Account of his 500 acre model agricultural estate [at Flotbeck], he teaches his neighbours more efficient farming practices. Congratulates Smith on his marriage. Asks after progress of Smith's ["Botany of New Holland"] and "Flora Britannica". Will attempt to send Smith 'Lepidoptera' specimens from the Dutch colonies. Sympathises with Mr Patterson's loss, no longer needs the plough and other implements requested of him several months ago. Death of Dr Giesck. It is now fashionable for German botanists to study Cryptogamy. Thanks Smith for offer of a collection of English provincial half-pennys. Mr Schmeisser and Mr Wattenbach ask to remembered to Smith.

Her misfortunes: financial plights of herself and her children, emotional turmoil caused by death of her favourite daughter. Seeks employment to draw and colour plates for Smith's next "magnificent" work of natural history.

No summary available.

Has just seen the prospectus for [Robert] Thornton's "New Illustration of the Sexual System of Linnaeus" but it is too expensive for him to subscribe to, will inform Smith if he finds anyone willing to do so. A long time since he heard from Smith; eager to hear if he has published anything in meantime.

Apologises for delay in responding to Smith's letter of 15 October 1793 and informs Smith that the Royal Scientific Society [of Uppsala] intends to publish volume 6 of their "Transactions" this year, requests paper from Smith for it. [Johan] Acrel and [Carl] Thunberg send greetings.

Received Smith's letter of 1 February; congratulates him on his marriage and for giving up the "drudgery of medical practice" to devote himself to the "study of sciences". Urges Smith to undertake the production of a new "Genera and Species Plantarum" for the honour of Britain, as [Joseph Pitton de] Tournefort and Linnaeus did for France and Sweden.

Since his return from Burma has been botanising at Luckipore, India, on the east side of the Meghna River, and sending findings to [William] Roxburgh, arranging geographical papers, written a treatise on the religion of the Burmas, and is comfortable except for want of books and a wife. Concerned that the papers he sent for possible inclusion in "Linnean Transactions" have not been received, and that Smith is ignorant of the "Enumeration of Burma" plants, specimens and drawings that were probably offered to Sir Joseph Banks. If Banks is not interested in them he is confident that [William Fullerton] Elphinstone, director [of the East India Company], will assist Smith in procuring them for himself.

Makes some observations on his "Enumeratio", mostly corrections and clarifications in the naming of plants and new genera, with reference to Roxburgh and [Jonas] Dryander: his 'Asclepias tinctoria' is in fact 'Asclepias tingens'; his 'Sium ninsi' is '[Sium] sisarum' as stated by Dryander in "Linnean Transactions"; a new genus of 'Laurus' which Roxburgh names 'Buchania', believes the plant he sent which Smith named for him is a 'Valisneria'; does not agree that 'Oxalis corniculata' is two species as discussed in "Linnean Transactions"; his 'Rhizophora conjugata' Roxburgh has since named '[Rhizophora] decandra'; his 'Hibiscus strigosus' may just be variety of '[Hibiscus] cannabinus'; his 'Epidendrums' are all 'Limodorums'; believes his 'Bryonia saggitata' is the same as Roxburgh's '[Bryonia] umbellata'; his 'Pandanus pecten' is Roxburgh's '[Pandanus] foetidus'; and his 'Cissampelos pata' is Roxburgh's '[Cissampelos] hexandra'.

Does not collect insects but has sent a parcel of dried plants, will supply descriptions if desired. Dampness and insects currently make it impossible for him to preserve plants and form a collection. Notes on the plants he has sent to Smith: 'Gardenia bisperma' could differ from plant "barbarously" named by Roxburgh; he thought 'Asclepias reticulata' might be the 'Apocynum reticulatum' but now sure it is new to Linnaeus; his 'Polygonum sagittatum' may be the new species '[Polygonum] horridum'; 'Kirpa', a fine timber tree, is 'Decandria monogynia'; believes Roxburgh's 'Athulia aquatica' is a new genus; the 'Painlot' of the natives may be a 'Tannonia' although he has called it a 'Bryonia', has not found the female plant; the plant he called 'Urtica' may not belong to that genus, having only seen the female flowers; and the plant with six stamens inserted into a globular nectarium of which he formerly sent a drawing is 'Amur'. Literary pursuits frustrated by a lack of books.

Had expected to see Roxburgh taking a botanical excursion up the river by this time and recommends such a trip in the cold weather as being advantageous to his health; encloses account [extant] and specimens of a locust swarm, one of the "numberless natural curiosities" of this country, to encourage him to visit.

At [William] Roxburgh's request sends Smith box of insects collected in Calcutta, observations: 1. 'Meloë cichorii', comparison to 'Meloë visicatorius' and its use by European physicians in Calcutta, an account by Captain [Thomas] Hardwicke in "Asiatick Researches"; 2. an insect found in the Botanic Garden and preserved in spirit [Smith annotation: "'Acheta monstrosa' Fabr[icius] Syst[ema entomologiae?]"]; 3. an unnamed insect that emerges after October rainy season [Smith annotation: "'Gryllus monstrorus' Drury's Ins. v2 t43 f1 ["Illustrations of natural history"]"]

No summary available.

In Italy; the collections arrived in Paris; insects almost entirely destroyed but plants in good state; thanks to Smith and Banks for having procurred their return.

Difficulties of training and educating Smith's "young friend", Mr Johnes, in agriculture. Disinclined to send him to Edinburgh or Glasgow as knowledge in philosophy "is of no use in life [and] serves to make a man conceited and dogmatical". Criticises those teachers who speculate on agriculture from a distance and relates his own treatise on the proper education for a farmer. Requests Smith's help in locating a former correspondent from whom he once received a sample of "Peruvian wool". Concern for the health of Miss Johnes. Has just received from Dr [James] Anderson in India a sample of wool of a "bright golden yellow"; had it been found near Colchis it "might have been supposed to be the golden fleece".

Sending by Mr Falconer specimen and seeds of a grass from the Cape of Good Hope, believes it to be 'Holeus saccharatus' but seeks Smith's opinion. Poor weather has prevented him from pursuing botany.

Relinquished his intention to publish "an elementary treatise on botany" and is now working on a "Synopsis of British plants" modelled on the ["Enchiridion botanicum" (1782)] of [Arthur] Broughton [(c 1758-1796), botanist]. Requests Smith's advice: omitting the cryptogamic plants owing to the "inadequacy of the characters" to represent them; wishes to retain the ferns, had hoped to base them on Smith's still anticipated treatise ['On the Genus of Dorsiferous Ferns', published in "Tracts relating to natural history" (1798)], asks whether to present them according to the Linnaean arrangement or to leave them for an appendix with the other cryptogamic plants. Outlines the changes he has made to presentation of characters and synoptic tables.

Asks after announcement of publication of a new "Flora Britannica" and discovery of new British plants recently announced in "Gentlemen's Magazine".

[Smith has briefly annotated his reply]: his volume will appear this year ["Tracts relating to natural history"], thinks it unfortunate that Symons has disturbed natural arrangement of genera in "Species Plantarum" and recommends he studies the cryptogams and compile from his predecessors.

Pleased Smith received his letter of 9 October [1796]. Congratulates Smith on his marriage. Sending copy of his speech delievered at Royal Academy of Sciences, Stockholm, on history of medicine and its status at Uppsala University, including appendix with biographies of Rudbeck, Linnaeus, and others. Invites Smith to submit papers to "Proceedings of Royal Society of Uppsala".

An abscess on his right hand has delayed his reply to Smith's letter of 3 January. Has seen [Pierre Remi] Willemet's "Herbarium Mauritianum", agreeing with Smith that it is a "poor performance" and remarks that the Conway mentioned in the preface is the French commanding general in India, who may have obstructed Willemet from a political difference rather than a dislike of natural history. Attended meeting of the "Class of Natural Sciences" where it was reported that Willemet is in France and planning an expedition into the interior of Africa, and a eulogium of [John] Sibthorp by Mr de Guys was read. The only foreign botanical work of interest recently published is the "Museum Schtio-lithologicum-conense", a "splendid publication" and in English publications [Richard] Salisbury's "Prodromus", praising him as a "nebulous star". [Adam] Afzelius has brought "very extraordinary" and "truly paradoxical" plants from Africa, believes his "Flora Guineenss" will be a great step towards the improvement of botany. Has received a friendly letter from Rodrigo de Sousa [Countinho], advises Smith to write to him.

Has a diploma for Smith from the Lisbon Academy, who are also sending a gift of all their works. [John Theodore] Koster has written from Portugal asking if Smith thinks they are worth paying the high duty on books coming into England and adds that Sir Joseph Banks, who received a similar gift, is glad of having them all. Pleased to see from a letter sent to [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert that Smith has divided the 'Protea' family. He is currently in the middle of examining [Francis] Masson's [(1741-1805), Kew plant collector] collection of Cape [of Good Hope] 'Proteas'. Believes the flora of New Holland [Australia] and the Cape are "both fragments of a whole". Masson has two species of 'Styphelia' from the Cape. Makes observations on formation of 'Protea' flowers through comparison with 'Lambertia' and 'Tilia'.

No summary available.

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".