Asks after Sir Joseph [Banks'] rules in regard to a Latin quotation, having disfavourably compared the [Christian Gottlob] Heyne's edition of Tibullus recommended to him with Broukhuyse. Wishes to borrow third volume of [Linnaeus'] "Amoenitates", requests seeds of 'Hesperis verna'. Has [René Antoine Ferchault de] Réaumur's [(1683-1757) French scientist] "Methode d'éclore des oeufs" ["Method of hatching eggs"]. Wishes to see [Carl Alexander] Clerck's [(1709-1765)] work on insects ["Svenska spindlar"]. Would like Smith's translation of Linnaeus on the sexes of plants and Smith's translation and notes of [Lazzaro] Spallanzani [(1729-1799) Italian biologist]. Asks Smith to look at aphorisms in Linneaus' manuscript notes he might have occasion to quote. Reminds Smith of talk of producing a new edition of "Philosophia botanica". Numbered extracts on plants, in Latin. States importance of natural history artists representing nature "justly", in reference to [George] Edwards' [(1694-1773) artist and ornithologist] "[Gleanings of] Natural History". Recommends using balloons to observe the nests and eggs of tropical birds considering Sir Issac Newton's observations on visually distorting effects of the atmosphere when using telescopes.

Presumes Smith has left for Holland from Yarmouth, Norfolk. The 'Sisymbrium murale' Smith sent is growing, shall compare the plant with the descriptions of Linnaeus, [William] Curtis, and [William] Hudson. Asks if the difference between 'Sisymbrium murale' and 'Sisymbrium murens' comes from soil and culture. Compliments Smith's translation [of Linnaeus dissertation], many have ordered copies of it. Hopes Smith will be able to revise and correct the defects in Linnaeus' system although has gained much from [Johan Anders] Murray's editions. Warns Smith against current taste of publishing numerous vapid volumes. Wishes Smith enquire in Leyden, Holland, what 'Alyssum siculum' now there is an 'Alyssum maritimum'. Asks Smith to purchase for him the works of [Hieronymus David] Gaubius [(1705-1780) German physician and chemist]. Received seeds of 'Trifolium alpestre', 'Hesperis [verna]', '[Hesperis] obovata' from Mr Dixon.

Received Smith's of 13 June, congratulations on becoming MD. Thanks for purchasing works of [Hieronymus David] Gaubius [(1705-1780) German physician and chemist]. The '[Pancratium maritimum]' Smith sent is growing well but the 'Mantis. alt.' is not. Requests "Traité de la Versification Latine" by Pere [Noël-Etienne] Sanadon and "Tacite" by l'Abbé Brotier. Thanks for remarks on 'Conium royenii' and 'Alyssum minimum', discusses latter mentioning 'Clypeola maritima' and 'Alyssum siculum'. Smith's 'Sisymbrium murale' is flourishing, takes it to be 'Brassica erucastrum' of Linnaeus, believes Linnaeus never saw 'Brassica muralis' and made 'Sisymbrium murale' a French rather than British plant, would like Smith to confirm. Lists plants recently found in Norfolk: 'Stellaria dichotoma', 'Pinguicula', 'Drosera', 'Anagallis tenella' and 'Melampyrum arvense'. A 'Verbascum pulverulentum' they take to be a variety of 'Verbascum lychnitis', so variable that he doubts the number of actual species. In Paris asks Smith to examine 'Coffea arabica' and 'Coffea occidentalis'. Presumes [David] van Royen [(1727-1799)] is pursuing the system of his uncle [Adriaan van Royen (1704-1779) Dutch botanist]. Requests any non-entomological works by [René Antoine Ferchault de] Réaumur, [Charles] Plumier [(1646-1704) French botanist] and [Sébastien] Vaillant [(1669-1722) French botanist]. Asks whether 'Eryngium campestre' and 'Menyanthes nymphoides' are common in England.

Requests specific works of [Louis Éconches] Feuillée [(1660-1732) French botanist] and foreign plants and seeds not found in Britain, makes specific requests from Pisa [contracted and abbreviated to illegibility]. Asks if 'Thea' trees are plentiful in Genoa. List of desiderata at end of letter. Specifically asks for seeds of 'Stellaria [dichotoma]' from Switzerland and Siberia to convince him of his error in thinking it can be British as well as Swiss considering that 'Fritillaria meleagris' and 'Epilobium [alpinum]' grow wild in England. Thanks for books, happy that Gaubius escaped flames. Advises Smith to thoroughly edit and correct his thesis before publishing it and admonishes him for blindly accepting all of Linnaeus' tenets from his writings alone, complains this is all that is needed for a first degree from Oxford or Cambridge. Pleased Smith can access the collections of [Joseph de] Jussieu, [Sébastien] Vaillant and others. General wish for an enlarged edition of the "Systema Vegetibilum". Clarification of statement on 'Coffea occidentalis'.

Asks Smith to consult Cupani's "Hortus Catholicus" and the "Supplemen alterum" in Naples; lists plants and other authors [heavily abbreviated and contracted]. Smith's 'Sisymbrium tenuifolium' "continues as a 'Brassica'", asks if it is the Betel of the Medes and Persians. Relates that [William] Curtis is learning botany at [Norwich] under "R. P." and others, believes the value of the "Flora Londinensis" will rise. A pupil of [Richard] Relhan's states that most British plants are to be found in Cambridgeshire so we may expect a "Flora Cantabrigiensis" soon. Has seen the "aurelian" Clara Reeve's [(1729-1807) novelist and poet] collection of shells, and has sent her Linnaeus' "Venus". Two of the plants in the desiderata are for Reeve.