Returned Smith's books except Linnaeus' "Scanian Journey". Has been travelling for 10 weeks with Sir George, keeping a journal and collecting, but now detained by Sir George's gout. Has possibly found new cryptogamical plants and has gathered many 'Fucus' with fruitifications.

Has arrived safely but owing to the confusion of the colony they do not have anywhere to dry plants or write observations, so prevented from collecting, which is disappointing. Has sent some bulbs and seeds, including 'Hamanthus mulliflorus' and 'Amaryllis ornata'. Happy to have [François] Borone as his travel companion. Requests to be sent [Joseph] Ga[e]rtner's "de Seminibus", Schreber's "Genera Plantarum", and the "Vegetable Kingdom" of Gmelin's System. If not for the efforts of John Clarkson [abolitionist and 1st Governor of Free Town] he would have tired of Sierra Leone. Comments on the effort Clarkson will have to make to achieve his "laudable intentions". Cannot send [Thomas] Marsham any insects for the same reasons he has not been able to collect plants.

Conditions for collecting still unfavourable and is doubtful of sending any dried plants this year. Has sent two large tubs of living plants, including many which are new or rare in Europe. [François] Borone and himself have both recovered from fevers. Unhappy to have not received any letters from their friends in London and elsewhere.

A house is being erected for use of Afzelius and [François] Borone, Smith should shortly expect something to be sent with every vessel sailing from Free Town. Condemnation of Gmelin and his knowledge of natural history.

Thanks for books. Sending a box of living plants and seeds. Praises Governor [John] Clarkson, who is returning to England, for his kindness to himself and [François] Borone in finding them "proper habitation". Will send dry plants, fruits, seeds and insects on the next sailing vessel for Smith and other friends.

Sending parcels of dried plants, fruits, seeds, roots, shells and remains of snakes and birds. The snakes and birds, if they survive, and some of the bulbs, plants and seeds to be passed to Professor [Carl Peter] Thunberg and a separate parcel to Dr [Olof] Swartz. By the same vessel has also sent plants, fruits and seeds to Sir Joseph Banks, [John] Sims and Mr Forster.

Has been prevented from sailing to Sierra Leone by unfavourable weather but hopes to depart soon. Pleased that Smith proposes to publish a new edition of Hudson's "Flora Anglica". Claims priority in botanical works as discoverer of plants he found first. Values Smith's letters and friendship and asks him to write to him in Sierra Leone.

The voyage from Torbay, Devon, to Sierra Leone. Fears that the collection of "natural productions" taken to England by William Dawes, [outgoing Governor of Sierra Leone], will moulder in Sierra Leone House. Has started collecting. Queries 'Camwood'.

Description of a raid by the French on 28 September 1794; plundered stocks and razed public buildings, houses belonging to white people, and ships. The French left on 10 October 1794, leaving no provisions, but only two people were killed and three or four wounded, and the huts of the settlers were left untouched. Neighbours have provided food but he is devastated by loss of his tools for writing and collecting, and his journal and manuscripts; his losses are between £1500 and £1600. Asks Smith to inform the Marchioness of Rockingham, and to send paper for pasting plants onto.

Concern for health of Smith and Smith's father's. [François] Borone's "melancholy and premature" death. Thanks Smith, Sir Joseph Banks, [Thomas] Marsham and Mr Forster for resupplying him following the French attack on Free Town.

Encloses generic description of 'Afzelia' [extant]. Studied the 'Brownea' and found they consitute a whole family; Linnaeus took the genus up from Jacquin, Jacquin's first plant different species from Loesling's, among his African plants there are 3 genera belonging to 'Brownea' family, [William] Roxburgh's 'Jonesia' and Aublet's 'Eperica' also belong to it; queries for Smith to follow up.

[Note in Smith's hand detailing his reply] will soon publish essential characters of 'Afzelia' with some other genera in a pamphlet.

Description of 'Afzelia' [in Latin, 4 pp]

Thanks Smith for hospitality during visit to Norwich in November. Sends list of queries on genus 'Brownea', for Smith to answer and return.

Sent [John] Davies at Cambridge a bank post bill for £45 of the money collected for [Richard] Relhan's herbarium. Printer of "Linnean Transctions" has no copy to proceed with unless Smith sends his paper on 'Mentha' or Persoon's; current volume about 160 pages; desireable but not necessary for future volumes to be of a similar size.

Asks whether Smith would not prefer to have his note on 'Mentha' printed in "Linnean Transactions" as a separate paper, or with the extracts from the minutes; asks Smith's opinion of his proposed list of books donated to the Library. Subscription for [Richard] Relhan's herbarium is now at £91 10s, including the 3 guineas mentioned in enclosed letter by [John] Symmons [extant]; asks Smith's opinion of the letter; he himself is against applying again to those who have already subscribed.

[Copy of letter from John Symmons to Alexander Macleay, dated Paddington-house, Lonndon, 5 December 1799] After being informed by Revd [John] Davies that the subscription for Relhan's herbarium was lacking £14 of the required £100 he applied to Lord Valentia [George] Annesley and Mr Alderman Hibbert, who have both added an extra guniea each, as he has himself.

Invites Smith and his wife to visit in October. Envies Smith his tour, asks if Downton [Castle, Herefordshire, home of Richard Payne Knight (1751-1824) art collector] was on the route. Sends a plant for determination which she raised from seed in a hothouse [Smith has noted on second folio "The plant is 'Antidesma alexiteria', but with 2 stamina? If we hear nothing will wait on them Oct 19"]. Disapproves of the Smiths' move to Norwich, Norfolk.

Plant queries for second edition of "Florae Scandinaviae prodromus", including: 'Carex uliginosa' identified as 'Schoenus compressus' or 'Scirpus caricis'. Offers to send specimen of [Jakob] Ehrhart's grass figured in Smith's "Icones pictae". Disappointed by natural history content of [James] Bruce's [of Kinnaird (1730-1794), traveller in Africa] "Travels"; errors with discussion of cereals. Requests copy of "Linnean Transactions" vol 1.

Thanks Smith for the introduction to botany. Trying to collect all of Smith's works. Asks whether there will be new editions of the Principal Works of Linnaeus, especially the "Systema Vegetabilium". Comments on the uncertain publication of [William] Curtis' lectures, which would have been useful for students, and the deficiencies of [James] Lee's "Introduction to Botany" [(1715-1795) nurseryman]. Seeks London edition of Smith's translation of Linnaeus's dissertation on the sexes of plants. Complains that Smith's "last number" [probably "English Botany"] should have been described how 'Ligusticum' differs from the many plants to which it bears a general resemblance.

Sends two dissertations: [Linnaeus'] "Reflections on the Study of Nature", the other is not named. Happy to hear that a new edition of Linnaeus' "Systema Vegetabilium" is to be published. Thanks for the copy of the "inaugural dissertation". Remarks that Botany is making little progress in Dublin, the only person well informed is [Walter] Wade who is giving lectures but is entirely self-taught. Parliamentary aid for establishing a Botanic Garden has been granted but progress is very slow.

Progress made in the establishment of a Botanic Garden, under the patronage of the Dublin Society and a Parliamentary committee headed by the Speaker of the [Irish] House of Commons, [John] Foster [(1740-1828) 1st Baron Oriel] , with a suitable ground for purchase being found. Description of the land, which once belonged to [Patrick] Delany [(1686-1768) writer] and was frequented by Jonathan Swift "and all the people of literature of that day". Uncertain about Foster's proposal that it should also be a garden for "agricultural experiments", relates a similar, unhappy, experience of the Dublin Society's several years ago in which Wynne Baker almost bankrupted the Society with additional costs. Has found 'Parnassia', 'Hypericum elodes', 'Pinguicula', and 'Gentiana amarella' with [Walter] Wade, praises accuracy and clarity of figures in "English Botany". Has not seen "Doctor Martin's Botanic Dictionary" but bemoans the fact that botanic dictionaries are "generally loaded compilations", and gives his opinions on how they could be truly useful, including clarifying ambiguous terminology. States reasons why he is dissatisfied by the described difference between 'Ranunculus flamula' and 'Ranunculus lingua'. Believes 'Salvia' in the "Systema Vegetabilium" may be incorrectly described, possibly due to a printing error. Complains that [William] Curtis procrastinates with the publication of his "Flora Londinensis". Observes a possible error in "Curtis's Botanical Magazine no. 77".

Disappointed not to see Smith in London. Enjoyed reading Smith's "Tour on the Continent". Has not yet received third number of "Icones pictae" or the "New Holland work". Was in Matlock, Derbyshire, but too late to see the 'Geranium lucidum'. Found an abundance of 'Echium vulgare' in the south of England, comments on beauty of the plate in "English Botany" and rarity of it in Ireland. Frequently saw ['Cichorium'] but believes it is now cultivated as a crop. Was unable to see 'Hollonia' or 'Menyanthes'. Asks if [Walter] Wade has sent him his catalogue, comments on lack of "numerous or interesting plants" in Ireland but notes the relative rarity of 'Smyrnium olusatrum' in England. Purchase of land for Dublin Botanic Garden hindered by a bad title on the intended ground, Wade is attempting to find an alternative location but land in Dublin is expensive. Remarks that Matlock is a "charming place" but the "curious machinery and opulent manufacturers [...] destroy the solitary beautiful wilderness". Scornful of Buxton, Derbyshire, "a more disagreeable country can scarcely be seen".