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.

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".

Extract from "Letters upon Italy, chiefly concerning the present state of medicine and natural history [...]", by W Jansen, physician of Düsseldorf, [Germany], sent by Aufrere following a comment in Smith's "Tour upon the Continent" that he had not seen the book written by Prof Michael Rosa to invalidate the Harverian system. The extract relates Rosa's theory of the circulatory system, in which the arteries of men and large beasts "contain only a small quantity of blood but are filled with a spirit or spiritous essence".

Second volume finished but cannot be sent owing to war; working on manuscript of his travels.

Comments on plants named by Smith; sale of his books in London.

Visit of Broussonet, a victim of the Revolution.

Proposes a system of English scientific nomenclature in which the genus is Linnaean and the species English, with the benefit of encouraging more people to use such names. Sets out how the method would be adopted, with examples of the Linnaean name, scientific name, and common name, prescribing that the common English name be mentioned in any work on English plants as in [William] Withering's "Botanical Arrangement".

Dedicated his "Phytographia" to Smith, apologises for its deficiencies. Desirous to establish a correspondence and exchange of plants, as few plants grow in Germany in the fields or gardens.

Sends works for Smith and others; sale of his works in England.

Sending cryptogamic specimens of plants described in Rohmer's "Botanical Diary" ["Botanical Magazine", part 1, June 1794] and two other commentaries. Asks permission to send paper for Linnean Society on new cryptogams. Engaged in researching synonyms of fungi; requests specimens of fungi described by Linnaeus, including: 'Agaricus betulinus', 'Boletus favus', 'B. tuberosus', 'B. fomentarius', 'B. igniarius', and 'B. subsquamosus', 'Hydrum parasiticum', 'H. imbricatum', 'Clavaria digitata', 'Helvella pineti', 'Clathrus delicatus', 'Lycoperdon truncatum', 'L. variolosum', 'L. radiatum', 'L. aurantium', 'Mucor sphaerocephalus', 'M. embolus', 'M. fulvus', 'M. furfuraceus', and 'M. clavatus'.

In a "kind of torpor" and waiting for letter from Smith to reanimate his existence. Aware that Smith's "Sketch of a Tour on the Continent" now published. His last remaining aunt died 31 January of a sudden serious apoplexy at age of 74 and 8 months, having previously been in perfect health. Depressed by his own and his wife's illnesses and threat of invasion by French to his wife and son, and library and herbarium formed at expense of more than a third his patrimony. Asks for Smith's assistance in drawing up plans for a heated greenhouse as no mason or carpenter in his area has an idea of the matter; specifications. Requests copies of Smith's "Tour", volume two of "Linnean Transactions" (1794), and continuation of "English Botany", directions for them to be sent.

Note on left-hand margin of recto of first folio detailing most recent letters received from and sent to Smith.

Requests translation of [Dietrich Heinrich] Stoever's "Life of Linnaeus". Responds to Smith's letter of 14 March: suffering from "wretchedly weak" stomach and "violent windy colic"; will send further information on Haller's library; will dry 'Orchis abortiva' and 'Satyrium hircinum' for [Thomas] Woodward; offers to send Smith ripe seed of his 'Morina persica' which looks as though it will flower this year; observes that his 'Cerinthe perennis' he wanted to be figured in Smith's "Spicilegium botanicum" is Haller's 'Cerinthe' in his "Historia & Nomenel". Thrilled by Smith's Botany Bay specimens especially 'Epacris', 'Embothrium', new 'Octandria' genus with fruit-like acorn, and obscure 'Diadelphia'.

Transcription of part of letter from [Jacob] Wyttenbach relating his knowledge of sale of Haller's collections and a fireworks display held in Berne the same year costing as much as the collections were sold for, including anecdotes on dispersal of specimens, the younger Haller and Wyttenbach's abandoned proposal to publish new edition of [Albrecht von] Haller's "Historia stirpium indigenarum".

Sending smaller than anticipated parcel of plants via Mandrot. Collated on separate sheet all he knows from [Jacob] Wyttenbach on Haller and his collections [see RelatedMatieral below].

Responds to Smith's observations on plants received via Mandrot June 1793: 'Bromus arvensis' HL, 'Avena strigosa' Schreber, 'Avena strigosa' Retz, 'Triticum tenellum' HL, 'Minuartia campestris' HL, 'Geranium palustre' HL, 'Carex' species, 'Salix incubacea', 'Hieracium', and Lichens: 'Lichen ulmi' Swartz, "aurorae colore" Scopoli, '[Lichen] tumidulus', 'Saxifragus' Smith, and others unnamed [HL probably signifies Herbarium Linnaeus].

Repsonds to Smith's observations in his letter 14 March 1794 on parcel received 10 September 1793: 'Morina pesica', 'Melica ciliata', 'Orchis abortiva' extensive, 'Carex lerporina' L, 'Lichen perlatus', 'Saxifraga mutata'. Would like specimen of 'Ophrys loeselii' in flower to accompany his own in fruit, and 'Malaxis paludosa'.

Includes parcel of mosses, some for [James] Dickson. Asks that [James] Sowerby return plates and copper plates he commissioned.

Delighted by Smith's "Tour", were he ignorant of the author would say "he is the favour'd child of Nature" and enjoyed his remarks on painting. Sends specimens of what he thinks is the 'Carex' like coriander mentioned in "Tour" vol 3 p.142 and corrects errors viz. 'Lichen encaustus' gathered in Alps, of Smith's new lichens only 'exanthematicus' and 'saxifragus' grow near Orbe, Smith's vol 1 p.175 "like a fucus in miniature" [these have all been ticked in pencil]. Sending a few plants. Financial and legal troubles with his wife's eldest brother. Sending plants without numbering, offers to send seed of the 'Verbascum' and 'Digitalis'.

Finally received parcel of Smith's works, all of which find "great favour" here; disappointed no supplement to any has been published. Hopes to receive "Linnean Transactions" vol 2, Smith's "Tour", and the new work Smith mentioned. Requests second volume of "Asiatick Researches" and asks if third part of "Speculi Linnaei" has appeared yet. His recently published work ["Museum anatomicum"] expensive but demand keeping pace with supply. Still awaiting a letter from Sir Joseph Banks.

Thanks for parcel of books, just received, though disappointed it did not include two copies of third part of "Icones pictae"; requests that English and Latin versions be added with part 5 of "Botany and Zoology of New Holland". Will return spare copy of Smith's ["Sketch of a Tour on the Continent"]; so many copies have been imported into Holland there is no one to give it to. Received from Sir Joseph Banks not only a letter but also a human skull from New Holland. Requests second and third volumes of "Asiatick Researches".

Sent Smith specimen of 'Pancal bengalensium' preserved in spirits, encloses Latin description [extant], though when he sent specimen to [William] Roxburgh he returned a drawing of the same plant with the name 'Vallisneria alternifolia'. Sends his original description as believes it contradicts Linnaeus' theory of the fructification of Jungermannias and thinks Roxburgh's name not very correct. Sends seeds of 'Stratiotes alismoides' which belongs to the 'Enneandria enneagynia' with instructions for growing. Has started his duty at the General Hospital and studying the country languages, subsequently has had little opportunity for botanising.