Thanks Smith for mention of him in his article on 'Salix russelliana'. Sends copy of his "Parochial Divinity" for Smith. Explains circumstances behind his sending specimen of 'Vicia bithynica' last summer: he had hoped to be proved its first discoverer, but found [James] Sowerby had received it a month before from a Sussex friend; gives its location anyway and urges Smith to mention receipt of it also; observations.

Sending specimens of the 'Vicia', a 'Gnaphalium', and an unknown plant like a 'Serapias' ['Epipactis purpurea']. Previously sent Sowerby fertile specimen of 'Bryum annotinum'.

[Camper's letter to Smith of 22 June 1788] Refuses invitation to become an Honorary Fellow of the Linnean Society as he looks upon Linnaeus "as a mere Catalogist, and the most superficial Naturalist" he ever knew. Further criticism of Linnaeus; suggests alternative names for the Society.

[Smith's reply to Camper, London, 21 July 1788] Disappointed by Camper's rejection of the Honorary Fellowship and his opinion of Linnaeus, especially as Camper edited some of Linnaeus' works. Explains reasons behind Linnean Society's name.

Long list of specimens with habitats sent to Smith [possibly two different letters].

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".

A title page of Volume 15: Correspondence of Sir James Edward Smith with Sir Thomas Frankland, 6th baronet and Mary Watson-Wentworth, marchioness of Rockingham

Offers Smith information on marine plants, having collected them in Scarborough 1782-1783 and communicated them with and received descriptions in return from [John] Lightfoot and [William] Hudson. Drew microscopic studies of 'Confervae'; intended to publish but deaths of Lightfoot and Hudson and building works prevented him. One of the Scarborough plants he sent Lightfoot was 'Fucus hypoglossum' the 'phyllitis' of Ellis, Hudson thought it a variety of 'alatus'. Hudson denied that the 'Saxifraga umbrosa' Frankland found growing in Thorp-arch woods, near Wetherby, Yorkshire, was indiginous and was reluctantant to allow new species as he had a list of plants commissioned by Dr [Richard] Richardson [(1663-1741), physician and botanist] to be propagated in unsuspected places so that afterwards he could find them "wild" and this list might explain many discoveries but not 'Corrigiola litteralis' found by Hudson in Clapham Sands, Devon.

His specimens of 'Fucus hypoglossum' the size of those figured by [Thomas] Woodward [in his "Linnean Transactions" paper 'Descriptions of two new British Fucus'] but disputes Woodward's figure of fructification and engraving.

The 'Veronica' he gathered on the way to the Giant's Hole [St Vincents Rock, near Bristol] was in a very dangerous spot and considerably larger than that figured in "English Botany", will send this specimen if he cannot find another at home. Briefly saw Sir Joseph Banks yesterday.

Looking forward to Smith and [Richard] Salisbury's visit on Monday from Bulstrode [Park, Buckinghamshire, home of Duke of Portland]. Hopes weather will be more settled after the "truly tremendous & extraordinary storm we had here from four o'clock till past six this morning". Fears lack of sunshine will have affeteced her hothouse plants. Asks Smith to bring his first volume of [Sir Hans] Sloane's [(1660-1753), physician and collector] "[Voyage to] Jamaica" for figure of "that little plant". Thanks for seeds and directions to plant figure in L'Héritier.

Returns and apologises for keeping Smith's copy of [Hans] Sloane's "[Voyage to] Jamaica" for so long and sends specimen of "provoking grass" for identification; it was grown from Jamaican seeds last year and is now almost taller than her pine hothouse. Her great 'Portlandia' is flowering again and has been doing so ten months out of twelve. Mrs [Elizabeth] Weddell admires Smith's ["Icones pictae plantarum rariorum..."]; requests the smaller sized one. Affected very much by the "variable uncommon weather". Her 'Moraea northiana' about to flower.

Sending flower and account of another [unspecified] via Grieg, her gardener. They have discovered that 'Datura aborea' does not fully open till 11 o'clock at night and is asking [James] Sowerby to stay all night to draw it; expects Smith has seen it at [Richard] Salisbury's or at Kew but invites him, too. Smith's 'Dombeya' has "a little delicate sort of flower" and 'Murraya' about to flower. Pleased by the looks of all her plants, "they are crowded to death".

Surprised to find sprig of thyme in Smith's tin box sent via Harrison after expecting 'Hortensia'.

Pleased Smith and [Richard] Salisbury are visiting tomorrow as plant recommended to Smith's attention by [Edmund] Davall is likely to be in flower. Thanks Salisbury for the plants he is bringing for her.

Postscript mentioning 'Datura aborea' [truncated due to corner of page being torn out].

Awkwardness of following up [Richard] Salisbury's recommendation of a servant by the Bishop of Bristol [Christopher Wilson]; his duties.

Asks after the "poor frightened puppy" Smith took with him and requests that Smith's servants do not tutor it "for they have seldom much feeling about living creatures, and none at all if they are troublesome, or dirty in the house".

Watson-Wentworth writes on 2 December: Still waiting for information from [Richard] Salisbury on the servant he recommended to take Crabb's place. Received box of Botany Bay seeds but did not let [Harvey] Spragg take any to show Smith as he should see the whole contents. Sorry to hear of Dr Pictairn' death , she only met him once.

Watson-Wentworth writes on 3 December: Received letter from Salisbury stating that sevrant he recommended does not wish to leave his current position. Found 'Passiflora suberosum' in flower for first time this morning and as she is uncertain whether this is common will send [James] Sowerby a specimen for painting; along with 'Corsiopsis' on vellum will compliment his drawing of 'Catesbaea'. Has not heard from Sowerby regarding dimensions of 'Datura' and fears he does too much at once.

Points out errors with the 'Pulmonaria' in "English botany" no.32, which he previously sent Smith specimens of; lists synonyms. Offers to write a paper on subject for "Linnean Transactions".

Sends letter for [John] White [(1757-1832), surgeon in New South Wales] to be forwarded by Mr Wilson. Nut drawn in Smith's letter is amongst the seeds she received from White in New South Wales; Smith has "a neat way of punishing stingy people by withholding the name" and if it is the same as that brought by Mr Hoye to his house thinks it is unknown.

Repeats questions whether 'Passiflora suberosa' commonly flowers and if it has been painted. Pities Smith and his "little Italian" [François Borone] on their missing dog; her own "little old favourite" has "a most dreadful cough like the distemper". Still looking for a servant to take Crabb's place and asks after Mr Smershall, an apothecary in Portman Street, [London], who has given her a recommendation. Hopes [Richard] Salisbury's sister will recover.

Invites Smith to see her 'Amaryllis capensis' in flower; Crabb brought it from Holland as a bulb and neither Smith nor any other botanist have any knowledge of it, urged [James] Sowerby to draw it. She is very unwell and in addition to losing her domestic servants her favourite dog has died. Grass also ready for inspection by Smith.

Sorry she could not see Smith and [Adam] Afzelius before latter departs [for Sierra Leone], "there is something in the countenance & manner of that little man that shews a Goodness which interests very much ones good wishes"; hopes he will find "both advantage & satisfaction in his botanical researches". Asks Smith to pay Afzelius for works by [Carl Peter] Thunberg and ask whether they will be completed, and to give him ten guineas to purchase botanical materials as "a remembrance of Hillingdon [her home in Middlesex]". Disappointed in her recent change of servants; hopes Smith and the [Harvey] Spraggs will visit to revive her spirits.

An 'Atamasco' lily in flower in her room; thinks the drawing is not correct. Congratulates Smith on "all the honours & glories surrounding him". Smith very good to give up his François [Borone, who travelled to Sierra Leone with Afzelius as his botanical assistant].

Sorry to receive account of Smith's ill health. Made herself ill after staying at her house in Stratton Street, [London], and visiting the ill Mrs [Elizabeth] Weddell, who was much better and more composed than she expected. Hopes Smith enjoys his trip to Matlock, [Derbyshire], and [Richard] Salisbury.

Wishes Smith had sent a name for her 'Geranium', the seeds came from Captain Rhio via [Harvey] Spragg. Received Botany Bay seeds from Lady [Amelia] Hume and additional seeds from Governor [Arthur] Phillip [(1738-1814), first governer of New South Wales] via John King and [Sir Joseph] Banks; they were packed very badly. Asks if [John] White [(1757-1832), surgeon in New South Wales] is returning to England. Asks Smith to look again for drawing of Lord Charlemont's Room and the Epitaph she sent him. Smith can keep the Voltaire volumes for longer and she will read the sermons Smith speaks of if he leaves them at her London house.

Received new "Linnean Transactions", criticises [Robert] Teesdale's paper [ 'A Supplement to the Plantae Eboracenses'] for being too long; doubts propriety of giving whole floras. An attempted robbery at Hall Place whilst he was in Exmouth, [Devon]. Has anonymously published a six penny pamphlet "Cautions to young sportsmen" in attempt to prevent gun accidents, inspired by Lord Andover's accident [Charles Nevinson Howard, Viscount Andover (1775-1800), eldest son of John Howard, 15th Earl of Suffolk, killed by accidental discharge of his fowling piece], and that there is no advice of this kind in print except single line in [Thomas] Page's "Art of Shooting"; two gunmakers have seen and find no fault with it.

There is an account of Lord Andover's death, written by Mr Coke's desire, in January's "Gentleman's Magazine".

Thanks in advance for plants Smith sent from [Adam] Afzelius [in Sierra Leone], pleased to be "the first & best supply'd". Invites Smith and [Richard] Salisbury for brief visit on Sunday before they leave for Norwich, [Norfolk].