[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.

Sends Smith two flowers of 'Portlandia', one of which is for [Jonas] Dryander; not as fine or long as those which flowered at the end of August for a month. Hopes Smith will visit again to see plants in a more favourable season than his last visit.

Thanks Smith for the duplicate book from Linnaean Library which now completes her works of Linnaeus, and for taking the trouble to imitate her book binding. Thanks for "ingenious little Tract" and melon seeds; will accept the plant when it can be sent. If Smith has a stove or greenhouse offers any of her plants. Will view Smith's collections when next in London. Compliments to [Edmund] Davall, sorry to hear of death of his father and hopes to see him before he leaves England.

Thanks for Smith's letter and parcel of specimens, including 'Ophryis loeselii' and two other 'Orchideae'; sent it on to [John] Pitchford, who lectured him for making a joke about Lent; thanks for Retz and Bulliard works. Received Hedwig's work on mosses; his opinion. Requests Smith's opinion of variety of 'Carex panicea' in the parcel from Robinson's. Requests Smith's notes on 'Lycoperdon', particularly 'L. pistillace'; still thinks 'carpobolus' is distinct from 'Lycoperdon' and that [James] Dickson's 'Mucor urceolatus' and this should form new genus under 'Carpobolus'.

Anticipates Smith's "Introductory discourse" [to Linnean Society]; wonders whether to write on 'Lycoperdon' to correct [Charles] Bryant's [(d 1799)] mistakes. Mrs Woodward thanks Smith for the "holy chaplet". [James] Crowe has estranged himself over the election. Attempts to acquire 'Fucus' specimens.

[In postscript on recto of second folio] asks whether 'Astragalus arenarius' of [William] Hudson is 'A. epiglottis' of Linnaeus; observations.

Asks after Smith's "botanical institution" [Linnean Society]; understands they met at Smith's house and that Smith's introductory discourse was well received. Still waiting on Smith's 'Lycoperdon' notes so he can write paper on the genus; justifies his decision to focus on only British species. Sends parcel of a few marine plants for [Samuel] Goodenough, asks for his and Smith's opinion. [John] Pitchford has the true 'Fucus pinnatus' of [William] Hudson but convinced it is 'cartilagineus' of Hudson in fructification. Sends Goodenough specimens of common brown 'Fucus' of Yarmouth beach; observations on its "newness", specimen enclosed for Smith [envelope extant but specimen missing, labelled 'Fucus subsuscus', located 18.74].

Hopes Smith has recovered from his illness. Would prefer to be a Fellow rather than Associate of the Linnean Society; requests information and rules of the Society. Pleased by Smith's short paper on the irritability of plants. Postponing writing his 'Lycoperdon' paper until the winter; requests Smith's notes and transcript of Dillenius on 'Bovista'.

He and [John] Pitchford searched in vain for 'Ophrys loeselii' in St Faith's bogs, which have been improved and drained, but found new habitat for 'Carex limosa'; [Robert] Stone [(c 1751-1829), botanist] found 'Carex strigosa', a "capital addition" to the Norfolk flora. Received four specimens of 'Algae': 'foeniculaceus' of Gmelin and [William] Hudson; 'Abies marina' of Gmelin but erroneously labelled; a non-descript 'Fucus'; and a non-descript 'Conferva'; observations on all. A recently published figure of [Louis] Gerard's 'Thesium alpinum' does not resemble the Suffolk plant, asks for comparison with Linnaean herbarium. Requests specimens of 'Equisetum sylvaticum', 'Mentha villosa', and 'M. sylvestris'. Asks if 'Fucus pyriferus' Linnaeus is Sir Joseph Banks' 'Fucus giganteus'.

Confirms his intention to become a FLS and sends specimens for their herbarium, including 'Carex strigosa' for Smith and Goodenough, and 'Fucus', including: specimen resembling [William] Hudson's 'F. obtusus' and 'Ulva filiformis'; a 'Conferva'; and others. Discussion of 'Lycoperdon epiphyllum' and 'Serrhula arvenii', latter observed as parasitic in bean fields. Requests specimens of Smith's Matlock plants, including 'Lichens'. Discusses figures of 'Thesium alpinum'.

Asks after botanical publications, including Bulliard's "Champignons", Leers' "Flora", and Bolton's "Fungi", errors with the latter. Sends parcel of seeds of 'Carex strigosa' for [William] Curtis. Attended [Thomas William] Coke's "magnificent fête" at Holkham on 5 November; the newspaper reports were not exaggerated. All anxious for news of the King [George III (1738-1820)], whose illness has been "universally deplored".

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.

Will send plants Smith has requested through Mr Malanotte, plus any other plants desired from "Flora Pedemontana", for a stated price. Prevented from publishing fascicules by conditions in the "Clinica", but with [Carlo] Allioni's consent will publish "Nomenclatura Stirpium Pedemontana", and asks Smith to check new plants against Linnaeus's herbarium. Requests rules of Linnean Society following his election as a correspondening member. Asks for a selection of exotic seeds for two amateur botanist friends of his, a complete series of lichens and seeds of 'Rheum rhabarbarum', 'Rheum palmatum', 'Rheum ribes', 'Rheum tataricum' and 'Rheum hybridum'. The Agrarian Society he is a member of has been appointed a Royal Society by the King. Has received the specimen of 'Lichen cucullatus' Smith found at Mont Cenis, Savoy, but believes it may be 'Lichen rivularis'.

Address of the merchant Smith is to send seeds to Turin through and additional request for seeds of 'Hedysarum gyrans'. Publishing a refutation of an attack by Dr Dalguiri.

Thanks Smith for seeds, some of which have been planted along with seeds Smith intended for [Giovanni Antonio] Scopoli before his death. Scopoli's third fasciculus has been published. A dissertation by Linnaeus published by Smith is being translated into Italian. Enjoyed reading Smith's inaugural [Linnean] dissertation. Collecting the plants on Smith's list and enquires if there are any more. [Carlo] Allioni and [Rodrigo de] Sousa [Coutinho] send their respects. A minor disagreement with Daquin has required Bellardi to add some botanical observations to "Flora Pedemontana". Sending seeds of 'Phalaris savilianensis' which he believes to be different from 'Phalaris phleoides'.

Has sent plants requested by Smith, list attached [third page]. Unable to send required number of specimens of 'Potentilla valderia' so has substituted them for 'Aldrovanda vesiculosa', otherwise there are 55 specimens per individual plant bar 20 specimens of 'Juncus spicatus'. Financial details. Will send flowers of 'Dryas octopetala' in the summer. Also sending a box of plants from [Carlo] Allioni and a box of rare plants from Bellardi which he would like Smith to compare along with the 'Arenariae' mentioned in last letter. Sends specimen and seeds of 'Panicum dactylon' and 'Poa gerardi' of "Flora Pedemontana" he believes may belong to the genus 'Festuca'. [Fulgenzio] Vitman's ["Summa plantarum"]. Asks Smith to send seeds for a friend. Wishes to be informed on Linnean Society news and would be happy to meet [Edmund] Davall.

Concerned to hear of Smith's poor health from [Nicholas] Gwyn. Has toured North Wales collecting plants and preserved many from Snowdon and other mountains in Carnarvonshire, including: 'Saxifraga nivalis', 'S. stellaris', 'Anthericum serotinum', 'Aracium alpinum'. Also collected many species of cryptogamia which he will send to Smith, Sir Joseph Banks, or [John] Sibthorp.

Sending present of game to Smith and Sir Joseph Banks. Intends to deliver in person, after Christmas, the mosses collected in local woods. Thanks for Smith's letter and sketch of "beautiful" 'Fuschia' at Kew, and for admittance as Associate of the Linnean Society. Received letter from Banks in response to the Snowdon mosses he sent. Intends to go to the Lake District or Switzerland next summer. Requests cutting of 'Thymus cephalotos' and seeds of 'Digitalis sceptrum'.

[Jones, 4 pp] Observations on figures of 'Papilio' of Linnaeus and Fabricius, in case Smith attempts a new edition of "Systema Naturae".

[Smith, 6 pp] notes on drawings of various 'Papilio' and 'Phalaena' species.

Encloses copy of rules [of the Linnean Society], as settled at Smith's house; most members agree. Asks Smith for names of other possible members, including [William] Hudson, [John] Lightfoot, and [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert.

Thanks for plants, the unnamed one is 'Ophrys loselii'; asks if it is the same as 'O. paludosa' in "Flora Danica". [William] Hudson doubts if 'Aquilegia alpina' is different from 'A. vulgaris'. Declines Smith and [Samuel] Goodenough's invitation to join Linnean Society on basis that he has nothing to write about; he has no botanical pretensions, other than to know the British plants and specifically those intended by [John] Ray. Has the real 'Malva parviflora' of Linnaeus, found by Hudson in Devon. Remarks on prolific accenting errors in [William Withering's] "Botanical arrangement".

Discrepancies between 'Carex' listed in [John] Ray's "Historia plantarum" and "Synopsis"; surprised 'Carex caepitosa' is not in the "History", other 'Carex' anomalies. Asks Smith to remember 'Aconitum napellus' and 'Cammarum'. Disputes [Thomas] Woodward's statement that 'Arenaria verna' is probably not indigenous. Requests specimen of 'Conferva corallinoides' from [Samuel] Goodenough. Remarks on his 'Fucus multifidus'. Asks if Smith has seen Mr Rigby's treatise on sugar.

A connection made between himself and Mr Rigby, which will likely effect the rest of his life and a large portion of his son's. Hopes Smith likes his new house [on Great Marlborough Street, London]; its proximity to Sir Joseph Banks must render it agreeable; envies Smith his journey to Oxford with Banks and thinks Smith was "born under an auspicious planet" and deserves the many advantages he enjoys. Botany at a standstill in Norfolk. Expecting a 'Carex inflata' or 'C. montana' from [William] Hudson; received two 'Fucus' and an 'Ulva' from Mr Wigg. [James] Crowe ill with gout.

Believes it will be long time before marine plants are well known. Discussion of 'Aconitum napellus', 'Polypodium thelypteris', 'Carex caespitosa', 'Carex recurva', 'Arenaria verna', 'A. striata', asks what 'Veronica fruticulese' is now called.

[Robert] Stone [(c 1751-1829), botanist] has found 'Carex strigosa' near Bungay, [Suffolk]. Satisfaction he receives from [John] Ray's "little, accurate descriptions". Requests 'Dinathus glaucus' and 'Carex capillaris'. Fears he will not receive any further correspondence from [Samuel] Goodenough.