Proposal by [Jonas] Dryander to procure for [Adam] Afzelius the late Richard Southgate's position at British Museum, but Afzelius unlikely to accept it, not least because of five other candidates being more skilled for the medal department.

Has directed the Mayor of Falmouth, Cornwall, to grant a passport to Joseph Porto [pseudonym of José Francisco Corrêa de Serra] so he can come to London. Has enclosed a letter from Corrêa.

Much obliged to Mrs Smith and the effort she goes to in supplying turkeys. Reports on an extremely fertile field near Norwich, apparently due to plague victims being buried in it.

Compiling an account of an earthquake felt at Norwich, unsure whether it was caused by "an explosion in the air or under the earth".

Details of [John] Sibthorp's will: provision for publishing his "Flora Graeca" in ten volumes each containing 100 plates, and when the work is finished the produce of the estate to be applied to the establishment of a professorship of Rural Economy at Oxford University when certain conditions are met. Discussion of candidates for professorship at Oxford. The "miraculous field" near Norwich.

Thanks for turkeys. [Jonas] Dryander is working on the botanic part of the "catalogue" ["Hortus Kewensis"], they have arrived at 'Diadelphia' in [Adam] Afzelius' plants.

Double geraniums given to Lady Banks by Lady Charlotte Murray [(1754–1808), sister of 4th Duke of Atholl], and discussion of who to credit the discovery to, to the best advantage of the "study of botany". Compliments Mrs Smith on turkeys.

Thanks Mrs Smith for turkeys. [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert "delighted" with 'Lambertia', named by Smith in his honour. Unable to confirm or disprove Smith's opinion on the fruits of 'B[anksia] pyriformis' and ['brebeinum'].

Thanks Mrs Smith for turkey. Unable to recommend Bracy Clarke to the directors [Executive Directory, body of five directors that held executive power in France, 1795-1799] for obtaining a passport, but nevertheless admires his acquirements as a veterinary surgeon.

Has specimens of 'Poa bulbosa' from France, Syria and Switzerland but not England. Has compared his specimen of the 'viviperous' variation against two texts. Not sending his 'Clumae' as his specimens are foreign. Comments on grasses.

Fears that the packages from India he has sent by waggon may be damaged in transit. Detained in London by experiments with alloys at the Mint.

Has received a letter from [Pierre Marie Auguste] Broussonet in Tangier, [Morocco], and forwarded to Smith a parcel of specimens collected in Barbary by Broussonet. Is sending a collector to New South Wales, asks for any papers from "Linnean Transactions" on plants of the area. Has received letters from [Friedrich Conrad] Hornemann, who was intending to set out for the interior of Africa on 12 September, following difficulties with the French. Thanks Mrs Smith for turkeys.

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.