A thank you note for clothes, written at school [Mr. Bull's], and requesting that JH's cyphering and music books be sent.

Writes to parents to say that JH is well, his head has healed, and he is looking forward to his holidays.

Thanks Mrs Smith for turkey. Flattered by dedication of "Flora Anglica" [Britannica]. Remarks on severity of the winter, in which his steward has reported hearing "frost crack" in trees, apparently not observed in England since the "Hard Frost" of 1739-1740. Time has been taken up with Committee of Coinage so has done very little botany. [Jonas] Dryander printing catalogue.

Thinks it wise for Mr Nortcut to delay his candidature at Royal Society until communicating a paper to them, to preclude "all fear of an unfavourable decision by ballot". Comments on winter weather.

Gave his 'Confervae' drawings to [Wilson] Lowry [(1762-1824)] to be engraved but unaware of their progress as his London contact and brother-in-law is in Bristol with his ill wife, Frankland's sister, who is being treated with foxglove. Criticises [James] Sowerby's "English Botany" of July, "he is more slovenly in his engraving as he advances". Smith forgot his habitat for 'Carex digitata' of Thorp-arch woods near Wetherby, Yorkshire, gave some to Mr Peirson and Dr White. Knows nothing of [William] Curtis' affairs and whether his works will be continued [Curtis died 7 July 1799], though expects the "[Botanical] Magazine" will be as it is so profitable.

Sir Joseph Banks is marking his sheep with earrings and amused by Frankland's method of calculating cattle breed developed from a genealogy table he created for a litter of pigs, which he copies for Smith on recto of second folio.

The moors so wet this season that riding is impossible and game is scarcer. Encloses undisclosed package. Mr Peirson an unambitious man who will be gratified by Smith's insertion of any two of his habitats; his qualities. His sister's illness: since marrying at 18 she has had 11 children, is now 39 and breeding and anxious attendance of children have worn her out; Dr Fraser diagnosed tubercules on her lungs, she came to Bristol after lowering plan, hemlock and herbane failed; Dr Moncrieffe confirmed Fraser's opinion and at first gave fruit and cooling diet alone and since then foxglove; in letter of 12th her pulse varies but is sometimes 100 and when the fever is on her cough abates and vice versa, complains of difficulty of access to the wells from Clifton, a great evil considering bad season in which he does not see fruit or corn ripening.

In Exmouth on account of his daughter; she has been unwell for months and recently more so though believes her lungs are not affected and that the disorder is nervous. His sister has received great benefit from taking foxglove under Dr Moncrieffe though just received letter that a fresh tubercule is inflaming. Beddoes currently has five ladies under his care, each in a hammock in a close room with an Alderney cow.

Will send any marine plants he finds to [James] Sowerby though presently none are washed up and the rocks are barren except for 'Fucus vesiculorus' and 'Ulva compressa', 'Rubia' on cliffs, and '[Calystegia] soldanella', 'Crygium campestre', 'Cuphorbia' and he supposes [William] Hudson's 'Ononis repens' on sand banks between cliffs and beach. Complains that having expected to live on John Dory can get nothing but small whitings and herrings every two or three days.

Sent [James] Sowerby 'Fucus tomentosus' and will send other marine plants. Observations on local plant 'Eryngium campestre'. His daughter's symptoms: regular chills followed by slight heats since last August but nothing prevalent till the last week; Dr Hunter of York and Dr Downman of Exmouth both conclude the lungs not affected but an abscess in her throat; Hunter prescribed bark and port wine but the bark disagreed with her bowels but now absorption of matter has given way to regular expectoration of pus, loss of flesh and appetite and hair, uncertainty whether the pus is from the lungs, trachea or oesophagus but supposes a large quantity can only come from the lungs. Delightful climate. Lady East reads Sertularice and [John] Ellis [(1710-1776), botanist] daily.

Gave Smith's remembrances to Sir William and Lady East, she is a "most charming woman" who received great benefit from being in Exmouth. Sir William has recommended steaming, milk and figs or some softening effluvia for his daughter to promote suppuration and healing of the abscess which now certainly lies in the throat. His sister Mrs Nicholas has returned to London and Dr Moncrieffe prescribes continued use of foxglove though her stomach is destroyed. Bad weather destroyed 'Euphorbia paralias' he found though slowly sending 'Fucus' to [James] Sowerby. Has 'Fucus pulmatus' Lightfoot and is satisfied from his observations at Scarborough, [Yorkshire], that the species is distinct; observations on other varities including 'F. coriaceus', 'F. tureicus', and 'F. hepaticus'. Will save 'Lichen caliendrinus' to "ornament" Smith's head next anniversary. Encloses full sized specimen of Porteus 'Fucus ceranoides' of [William] Hudson and will collect all varieties for Sowerby; thinks he has seen the "Dyers Lichen" figured in "English Botany" but unable to get it off the rock.

Sir William asks what 'Laver' is, being convinced that it is "sea liverwort" and not 'Ulva lactua' of modern botanists.

Requests letters of introduction and recommendations of interesting places his eldest son's solo excursion to Scotland. Has heard [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert is suffering from a bladder complaint. His legs are better since last time Smith saw him and shortly intends a trip into Yorkshire as far as Wakefield, and will include a visit to [Richard] Salisbury.

Recently returned home from Yorkshire but his prevented him from making any botanical excursions. Saw [Richard] Salisbury at Fetherstone, near Pomfret [Pontefract], he intends to move to London within two years. Found 'Lythrum hyssopifolium' at Alconbury Hill and a 'Mentha' which he encloses for Smith's revision of that genus, thinks it closest to [William] Sole's 'Mentha pratensis' but without the strong smell of peppermint. Invites Smiths to visit them for the Bury Fair, saw Smith's brother at Wakefield.

Postscript note: "'Thlaspi campestre' an 'Thlaspi' vaccariae folio glabrum Raii [John Ray]".

Received visit from [Thomas] Marsham who says the 'Mentha' he sent Smith is 'Mentha sativa'; asks how figure in "English Botany" 448 resembles no.21 in [William] Sole's book ["Menthae Britannicae"]. Does not think Sole is a very skilled botanist, pointing out that Sole considers Dr [John] Hill [(c 1716-1775)] one of the first botanists. Hopes Smith received the parcel of Scottish plants sent by his son from Mr Bruce.

Hears "Flora Britannica" progresses well, recommends providing a reference for plants also appearing in "English Botany". Revd [Henry John] Wollaston has seen 'Senecio paludosus' growing abundantly in ditches near Brayford Water near Lincoln and at Nocton Fen on banks of River Witham leading to Boston, [Lincolnshire], proposes him as a FLS. Lately received letter from [Samuel] Goodenough. Dr [George] Shaw's 'Bradypus ursinus' was exhibited during the Bury Fair; agrees with [Thomas] Bewick's "Quadrupeds" that it is of the genus 'Ursus' and the animal in Bury is male whereas that shown in [Holborn] was a female, makes brief observations, in Latin.

Thanks Smith for his attention in identifying 'Anchusa officinalis', describes its habitat and opinion on whether it is indigenous. Has left instructions with a friend to send specimens to [James] Sowerby, as requested. Lord Valentia [George Annesley] hopes to soon see Smith in London.

Honoured to be mentioned in "English Botany" but uneasy lest he erroneously judged 'Anchusa officinalis' indigenous. Describes habitat of a 'Gnaphalium margaritaceum' he has found and believes is indigenous, offers to send specimens. Believes a 'Lonicera caprifolium' in Elsfield Wood, Oxford, is indigenous there, criticises [John] Randolph, Bishop of Oxford, for believing it is a variety of common honeysuckle. Long list of habitats of rare plants found this year [by Butt].

Pleased to hear of good prospect for health of his sister, Fanny, being treated by Dr Lubbock, would have preferred similar account for Mrs Fred Smith. [William] Withering has sent a parcel of specimens to Smith in London, including possible new species of 'Drosera'; notes. Hopes Smith examined the 'Fucus capensis' he sent; observations on discharge of seeds and capsules. Requests specimens of [Archibald] Menzies' North American 'Fucus' species; [Dawson] Turner has acquired some. Heavy snow.

Postpones their meeting; surprised Smith is already thinking of returning to London. Glad Smith is named editor of [John] Sibthorp's "Flora Graeca"; it will give Sibthorp more credit; Smith has the notes from his examination of Tournefort's herbarium at Paris; and will add an "additional leaf" to Smith's "wreath, already sufficiently full". Poor health of Smith's sister, Fanny, and sister-in-law, [Mrs Frederick Smith]. Thanks for parcel from [William] Withering, which contained seed of 'Bromus diandrus', which could become a valuable grass to sow for sheep pasture; 'Anthoxanthum verna' has similar properties; asks if Smith knows anyone willing to experiment with 'Poa annua' for same end.

Sends Smith specimen of 'Fucus subfuscus', which if placed in water will show it is full of fructification; certain the drawing of it in "Linnean Transactions" is accurate [see RelatedMaterial below], which means [James] Sowerby's for "English botany" is not, and if this is the case they may be able to ascertain 'F. subfuscus' and 'F. variabilis'.

Received Smith's letter of 19 [April]; sorry to hear the indifferent accounts of Smith's sister. Determined not to quit this house though this winter has been severe: lost many sheep and has already sold 330 skins, thinks corn will be scarce and bad, and has not sown his oats due to the wet. His daughter [Mariamne Johnes] sending in another letter Conchium flower that Smith requested some time ago. Asks Smith to acquire for him from Bristol "this famous oxygenated muriatic acid that gives such a powerful stimulus to seeds".

Sees that Dr [Robert John] Thornton [(c 1768-1837), physician and writer on botany] has "done wonders" with Dr [Thomas] Beddoes' [(1760-1808), chemist and physician] airs [Beddoes founded the Pneumatic Institute, which advocated the inhalation of "factitious airs" as a medical treatment]; "they will make a new & grand epocha in medicine" and "surely he deserves more thanks than this ungrateful nation will give him". Wonders if they would do any good for his daughter in reducing the tumours she has near the chin and on some of her glands; her back is now almost flat.

Davies still wants Croft though he is "a poor devil & not deserving of it" but has a proposal for another estate which if it succeeds will make him comfortable.

Gladly accepts Smith's proposal to have [Thomas] Beddoes' [(1760-1808), chemist and physician] call on him, as since hearing of Beddoes giving himself a dangerous disorder to try the effect of medicine "for the benefit of mankind" would be proud to know him. Read Beddoes' "[History of] Isaac Jenkins" [story exhibiting the evils of drunkeness] with great pleasure and requests copies for distribution amongst English readers here, and with Beddoes' permission will ask his parson to try and translate it into Welsh as he believes it will do much good.

Mrs Johnes thanks Smith for ordering plants. Hoping for this year to put an end to his "money distresses". Mrs Johnes very unwell and they cannot get a change of air on account of their "little invalid" [his daughter, Mariamne Johnes]. Mr Williams thinks Mariamne's back is well and that one of the lower vertebrae is prominent, and she has outgrown her machine; describes her other symptoms, which alarm him. He is unwell, too, and asks if Beddoes could be compelled to hasten his tour and visit early for the good of his house. Sorry Smith's sister-in-law continues "so ill".

Sorry for the loss Smith had at Clifton, though her disorder was such that Smith must have been prepared. Sold Croft for £10,000 less than he expected so must make large sacrifices at Hafod; determined to be free from uncertainty and is to make a "sinking fund" in larch plantations, about which he is "even more wild" than [James] Anderson and intends to plant a million annually for as long as he has room. Todd [his gardener] has been very fortunate year in raising them from seed.

His daughter's [Mariamne Johnes] health improved since Jones came with an improved machine and she can now walk without crutches. She drinks three half pints of the Llanwated waters every day, which are sulpherous and have "done miracles" in several cases, and Jones is confident of her perferct recovery as long as she keeps away from surgeons. Weather uncommonly hot; hawthorns and crabs in "high beauty" and woods are like flower gardens.