Smith's medical and botanical studies in Edinburgh, and lichens. Requests specimens of the 'Fucus' figured in [John] Lightfoot; notes on how to mount them. Requests all possible minerals and fossils, particularly the two kinds of asbestos known as "mountain flax" and "mountain leather"; hopes this task will inspire Smith to form his own collection. Takes up Smith's offer to purchase natural history books for him; happy to receive any book not already in his possession, list of he already own and those he would particularly like to. Seeds from Dr [John] Hope would be "highly acceptable".

Enjoyed his time in London with [Robert] Batty who now thinks of setting up as a surgeon and apothecary. Broussonet has been appointed professor of oeconomy at Paris and is working on a "Flora Monspeliaca". Returned [William] Withering's proofs, with comments.

His purchase of the Linnaean library and collections for 900 guineas; lists the contents, being everything owned by both Linnaeuses [Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778), and Carl Linnaeus the Younger (1741-1783)], excepting the fossils of the elder which are given to the University of Upsal. Describes his luck of being friends with the man who was employed to negotiate a sale to Sir Joseph Banks. Estimates its value and ability to return. Intends to return to Edinburgh next winter.

Congratulates Smith on acquisition of the Linnaean collections, "undoubtedly the most valuable that could come into the hands of any naturalist". Presumes Smith will part with some of the collection and retain the herbarium; comments on disposal of rare books, harnessing the value in the manuscripts, and selling off the shell, fish, and insect collections on account of their fragility. Discussed the purchase with Smith's father, who is happy with it and Smith's prudence that it will not interfere with his studies. Warns against Russian roubles.

Pleased Smith's purchase of the Linnaean collections will probably exceed his expectations and that he is keeping the greater part; understands that the Professor of Botany at Oxford [John Sibthorp] offered a large sum for the herbarium. Suggests Smith write a "Flora Britannica" by comparing Smith's specimens against Linnaeus'.

Recently moved house. Commissions Smith to purchase the Aberdeen merchant's fossils before leaving London, directions for sending.

Sends specimens of 'Lycoperdon coliforme', 'Pervia cyathoides', and 'Lycoperdon phalloides' for [John] Pitchford, 'Lobelia urens' for Dr [John] Hope, and 'Lichen vulpinus' and a grass; observations and habitats. Reminds Smith of various promises regarding acquisition of mineralogy specimens and books in London.

Thanks for catalogue of fossils and minerals [from the London "fossilist"]; queries and places orders for several items. Hopes the specimen of 'Lycoperdon coliforme' he sent was useful; will gather more information before Smith presents it to the "Edinburgh society". Fears a parcel of specimens he sent to Norwich is lost. Examined 'Liquidambar styraciflua' but found no gum. Details of Smith's payment for [Richard Relhan's] "Flora [Cantabrigiensis]".

Annotation at head of of recto of first folio on "mountain green" and "iron with arsenic" [presumably in reference to Woodward's mineralogy specimens]

Congratulates Smith on arrival of the Linnaean collections; considering visiting London to see them. Understands that the Linnaean mosses have thrown the British mosses into "entire confusion", and expects the same for the grasses, Umbelliferous, and Syngensious plants, and 'Salix'.

Received letter from [James] Dickson on 'Lycoperdon coliforme', which he is including in ["Fasciculus plantarum cryptogamicarum Britanniae"]; asks if Smith has seen [James] Sowerby's drawing of the specimen he sent. Asks how numerous 'Fucus' are in comparison to number in "Systema vegetibilium", and whether it is worth buying the new edition. If Smith disposes of any book duplicates requests [Peter] Artedi.

Linnaean collections still disordered but Woodward welcome to consult it. Elder Linnaeus' herbarium in "perfect order" but the younger's is unarranged [Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778), and Carl Linnaeus the Younger (1741-1783)]. Offers Woodward first refusal of the duplicate books. Discusses Murray's new edition [of "Systema vegetibilium"], which is a "faulty work", as is the "Supplementum plantarum". Has copy of Artedi for Woodward.

Details his preparations for visit to London to view the Linnaean collections; asks for a list of duplicate books. Discusses possible works that Smith could base on the collections, including a "Flora Britannica" and a selection of Linnaeus' correspondence. Supposes the new edition of "Systema vegetibilium" not as useful as the former, which is now scarce.

Details of his and [Robert] Stone's [(c 1751-1829), botanist] pending visit to London. Received [William] Hudson's specimen of 'Corrigiola' from [John] Pitchford; totally unlike 'Illecebrum verticillatum' of Vaillant's figure and "Flora dan[ica]".

Thanks for Smith's London hospitality and the valuable books. Notes on his specimens following comparison with Linnaean plants, including: 'Silene conica', 'Urtica baleanica', and 'Turritis hirsuta'. [John] Pitchford keen to compare Linnaeus' specimens with Ray's. [William] Withering does not expect information from the Linnaean collections and as Smith intends to publish offers to return the observations Smith previously sent. Smith's father wants Smith to finish his medical studies before doing anything with the collections; Woodward recommends publishing now so Smith's name as proprietor is known.

Recommends Smith leave the 3 herbarium cases at Norwich during his Edinburgh absence for security and so that he can compare the grasses for Smith; recommends not consulting [James] Crowe as he is unwilling to hear any difference of opinion. If he intends to recommends selling the fossils now; comments on fossils he wants from Jeans. [John] Lightfoot suggests that 'Saxifraga autumnalis' and 'S. aizoides' are the same. Requests specimen of 'Anthericum calyculatum', observations on 'Arenaria larcifolia' not being 'A. verna'.

Sends coloured drawing of 'Lycoperdon coliforme' [extant] from [William] Withering's "Botanical Arrangement", found near Bungay, [Suffolk]; observations with reference to [John] Ray's and [Joseph Pitton de] Tournefort [(1656-1708)] figures and descriptions; differences between 'L. fornicatum' and 'L. stellatum'. Dissatisfaction at [Charles] Bryant's [(d 1799)] forthcoming 'Lycoperdon' monograph [see RelatedMaterial below]. Discusses 'L. pedunculatum' of [William] Hudson with reference to Ray, Tournefort, and [Albrecht von] Haller [(1708-1777)], and 'L. fraxineum', 'L. pisiformis', 'L. nigram', 'L. varialossum', 'L. fuscum', and 'L. epidendum'.

Thanks for the books Smith acquired for him, particularly the "Plantae Capenses"; his own recent sales and acquisitions. Accepts offers of Scottish pebbles and marbles. Recommends [John] Latham's "History of Birds"; comments on vastness of modern discoveries in ornithology. Possible visitors to Smith in Edinburgh. Directions for sending books and specimens of lichens, 'Fucus', and 'Conferveae'.

Drawing of 'Lycoperdon coliforme' [on verso of first folio]

Thanks for Woodward's advice in his last letter; will guard his herbarium but give small displays. [William] Withering's polite behaviour in offering not to make use of the botanical information Smith gave him. [John] Lightfoot and Sir Joseph Banks have both offered Smith their herbariums and assistance for his intended "Flora Britannica". Keeping the fossils for the present and will not move the herbarium, but will bring the grasses to Norwich at the end of June with specimens of 'Orthoceras' and 'Anthericum calyculatum'. Jeans has none of Woodward's fossils. Going to Oxford to consult Dillenius' mosses and Rudbeck's "Campi Elysii" volume 1. Found [Robert] Stone's [(c 1751-1829), botanist] ticket to admit him, as Miss Taylor, into the British Museum.

Replied to Smith's letter of 19 May [1785]. Remarks on Smith's proposed "Flora Britannica"; can wait for Smith to finish his Edinburgh studies to ensure it is perfect; convinced many plants not in [John] Lightfoot will be found in Scotland; Smith may finish before [William] Withering's ["Botanical arrangement"]. Withering publishing a pamphlet on medicinal properties of 'Digitalis'. Received [James] Dickson's "Fasciculus", remarks on plants: 'Hypnum stellatum', 'Targionia hypophylla', 'Sphaeria maxima', 'Lycoperdon fraxinum'. Dickson and Smith's Oxford journey postponed. Fossils: commissions Smith to purchase books for him.

Finds that the 'Melampyrum sylsaticum' in woods near Bungay is 'M. pratense'; 'Scleranthus perrenis' plentiful here and near Norwich. Minerals. Discusses Linnaean collections; glad Smith is not disposing of the fossils yet. Commissions for White's [bookseller]. Account of a balloon ascent at Norwich, by Mr Decker, in stormy conditions. He and [Robert] Stone [(c 1751-1829), botanist] are to botanise on Suffolk coast in July.

Postscript at top of verso of first folio: has two young plants from seed of 'Rumex paludosus' from Dr [John] Hope's garden; observations.

[John] Pitchford sending Smith specimens of 'Orobanche ramosa'; observations and long character description. Received 'Oleum cajeput' from Pitchford. Ordered [Richard] Relhan's "Flora Cantabrigiensis" for Smith. Requests Schmidel's "de Buxkaumia" and Schreber's "de Phases" if he comes across them in Europe.

Confirms that Woodward's specimen of 'Orobanche' is Linnaeus' 'O. ramosa'. Cannot currently procure any of the plants Woodward requested and Leers' "Flora" not currently available in London. Returns the two 'Potamogeton' specimens with notes. 'Alopecurus ventricosus' of [William] Hudson is 'Milium lendigerum' Linnaeus; no specimen in Linnaean herbarium, but a specimen of same called 'Agrostis australis'; 'M. lendigerum' should be erased from Linnaeus' works. Comments on Woodward's specimens by comparison with Linnaeus, and other plants', including: 'Bromus secalinus', 'B. arvensis', 'B. erectus' of Hudson cannot be 'B. racemosus' of Linnaeus, has the specimen of 'Festuca avenacea' sent by Hudson to Linnaeus, 'Festuca repens', 'Carex limosa', 'Brassica muralis' is 'Sisymbrium catholicum', sends seeds of true 'Sisymbrium murale' from Chelsea [Physic] Garden.

Lately found history of his Chinese books and carved rhinoceros' horn in ["Amoenitates academicae"] vol 4. Glad Woodward likes the 'Oleum cajeput' but recommends camphor for cabinets. Not leaving for his tour of Europe until after seeing Sir Joseph Banks.

Replies to Smith's letter of 24 October [1785], having heard that Smith's Europe trip is postponed until spring. Further observations on 'Orobanche ramosa' he sent Smith and another parasitic plant in Huntingdonshire, 'Cuscuta'. Responds to remarks on plants in Smith's previous letter [see RelatedMaterial below], including: 'Milium lendigerum' being 'Agrostis australis', 'Bromus', 'Festuca repens', and [Charles] Bryant's [(d 1799)] 'Carex'. [Richard] Relhan to publish a Cryptogamic appendix to his "Flora [Cantabrigiensis]"; comments on 'Sphaeriae'. Comments on 'Sisymbrium murale' and 'S. catholicum'.

Encloses a pamphlet he has just printed [possibly "A dissertation on the sexes of plants" (1786)], requests Woodward's opinion. Requests accurate observations for Woodward's theory that 'Orobance [ramosa]' and 'Cuscuta' render barren the plants they parasitically attach to. Observations, from Linnaean herbarium, on 'Agrostis australis' and 'Milium lendigerum' being the same. Notes on 'Bromus erectus', 'Bromus racemosus', and 'Sisymbria murale' in Linnaeus' herbarium. Has learnt how to decipher most of Linnaeus' herbarium marks and has gone through the whole with Sir Joseph Banks.

[Botanical notes on address label on 'Cerastium latifolium', 'Sedum villosum', and 'Spergula pentandra', in Smith's hand]

Sends specimens for [Samuel] Goodenough, including: 'Orobance ramosa' near Bungay; 'Lobelia urens' Shute Common, Devon; 'Galium pusillum' Matlock, Derbyshire; 'Melampyrum arvense' near Norwich, Norfolk; 'Marchantia conica' Bungay; 'Lycopodium alpinum' Old Man of Coniston, Lancashire, the hill evidently a former volcano; and 'Astriplex pedunculata'. Sends 'Orobance ramosa' for Sir Joseph Banks, [James] Dickson, and [William] Curtis and will send Banks Norwich specimen of 'Bromus arvense' when found. Sends Smith possible variety of 'Ervum tetraspermum'.

Examined [Albrecht von] Haller's plates and descriptions according to [William] Hudson's reference; notes. List of his Hudson desiderata: 'Poa alpinia', 'Juncus filiformis', 'Elatine alsinastrum', 'Orchis corioptore', 'Salyrium hircitrum', 'Carex limosa', and 'Carex strigosa' are marked. Sends Smith specimens of 'Marchantia conica'. His bookseller, T Miller, reports from Portland sale that lots sold cheap, that Da Costa was a great buyer, and Royal Admiral shells sold for £1 6s 9d each.

He has taken all his examinations and taking his degree tomorrow; pleased with Leyden and friendliness of [David] van Royen [(1727-1799)] and [Frédérique Louis] Allamand [(1735-1803)], but the garden is inferior to many in England. Amsterdam garden neater, but [Nicolaas Laurens] Burman [(1734-1793)] is evasive and "shelters his ignorance under his professional dignity". Spends his mornings with Royen looking over his herbarium, his uncle's, Herman's, [Paolo] Boccone's [(1633-1704)], and Ranwolf's; 'Conium royeni' is 'Caucalis daucoides'. Royen recently resigned Leyden botanical chair, reserving use of the garden, and wanted [Carl Peter] Thunberg to succeed him, but a young man of inferior skill was appointed instead [Sebald Justinus Brugmans (1763-1819), physician and botanist].

'Eryngium campestre' and 'Menyanthes nymphioides' only worthwhile wild plants seen so far. Dismisses his dissertation "de generatione" as "an exercise & a sketch". Disappointed by Amsterdam booksellers; his opinion of that town and Leyden. His future movements. Difficulty of finding Leers' "Flora".