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Just returned from Matlock, [Derbyshire], in much better health. Details of Linnean Society fellowship and constitution. Transcribes manuscript note on 'Lycoperdon epiphyllum' from Linnaeus' "Flora Suecica", and his own notes on 'L. pedunculatum'; advises Woodward write only on the English 'Lycoperdon'.

Goodenough received Woodward's 'Fucus' specimens but they have been unable to examine them. Corrects mistakes Woodward made about 'Fucus' in his last letter [30 July 1788, see RelatedMaterial below] and regrets being unable to help with specimens of 'Equisetum sylvaticum' and 'Mentha villosa' at present. Linnean Society has begun to make a library and herbarium of English plants and would be grateful for Woodward's specimens of 'Bromus arvensis', 'Carex limosa', 'C. strigosa', and 'Orobanche ramosa', and he would like 'C. strigosa'.

Saw 'Ophrys loeselii' in [William] Curtis' garden. At Matlock found plants not usually known there, including: 'Thlaspi alpestre', 'Lichen laetevirens', 'L. saccatus', 'L. immersus', and 'Hypnum intricatum' Schreber. Comments that [Richard] Relhan's "vile figure" of 'Thesium alpinum' seems same plant as Gerard's "beautiful & accurate one".

Congratulates Smith on his return to London from Matlock, [Derbyshire]; hopes his health improved by the waters; other recommendations. Mrs [Sarah] Siddon's [(1755-1831), actress] performing for 9 nights at Norwich; he "never was so charm'd with acting"; other Norwich entertainments. Has reread [Jean-Jacques] Rousseau's [(1712-1778), philosopher] "Confessions" and "Heloise"; his opinion of the man and his work.

Still awaiting the works Smith sent, in addition requests transcription of [Johan Christian] Fabricius' 1783 memoir on the hearing of insects and tracings of the plates for his own work. Congratulations on establishment of Linnean Society, gratified by invitation to join. Highlights errors in [Lazzaro] Spallanzani's [(1729-1799), Italian physiologist] work on digestion by comparing it with [John] Hunter's [(1728-1793), surgeon] memoir on same. Chair of Chemistry and Botany at University of Pavia still vacant since death of [Giovanni Antonio] Scopoli.

[On separate folio] List of plant names, possibly in a different hand, no reference to this in the rest of the letter.

Davall; congratulations on founding Linnean Society; minerals collected in the Alps; list of plants found; future places.

[William] Coyte mistaken in informing Smith that Velley wished to sell his recently acquired "curious uncut copy" of [Johan Jacob] Dillenius' "Historia Muscorum", of which only fifty copies were printed, apologises to Smith for the misunderstanding.