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.

Confident success of Smith's studies, acquaintances, and friendship with Dr [John] Hope will prevent him from being led astray by "bounders" or the "blandishments of beauty". In terms of medicine he is a "Brownist" and believes in keeping the body "braced" by cold immersions to keep it in health. Warns Smith to be wary of "strict friendships". News of Smith's brothers Richard and Francis. Decided not to re-let the College Farm at end of present lease on account of sadness of Smith being absent from the place he used to cultivate and botanise. Norwich news, including Mrs Patterson. Smith's sister, Esther, has been violently ill with a fever but now slowly recovering. Politics: news of election for sheriff, despair at state of the country. Admires the Scottish for their "zeal for the Protestant Religion" but thinks two sermons at a time "rather too much".

Received Smith's letter [of 31 December 1781]. Presumes Smith is developing his own "manners & carriage" from association with the genteel of Edinburgh. Congratulates Smith on his acquitting himself so well in dancing; they are relieved to hear he is not exhausting himself with study. Glad of Smith's acquaintance with [John Henry] Engelhart and that his other acquaintance [Lubbock] has improved. Norwich news, including recovery of health of Smith's sisters, Esther and Fanny.

Account of his journey occasioned by Tolson's "infamous conduct" [Tolson was apparently James Smith's journeyman]; difficulties of trade. Responds to Smith's letters of 22 January [1782] and 12 February [1782]. Amusements are part of Smith's education. Pleased by Smith's enquiries of his grandfather's last illness; opinions. Mr Matineau recommends Smith become a member of the Medical Society. Usefulness of Latin to compliment Smith's French and Italian.

Requests specimens, presumably collected during Smith's northern tour, of 'Juncus spicatus', 'Juncus biglumis', 'Juncus triglumis', 'Gnaphalium supinum', 'Anthericum calyculatum', 'Salix lapponum', 'Polytrichum alpinum', 'Lichen polyphyllos', 'Polypodium rhoeticum', and a fructifying 'Lichen fasciularis', some are marked in pencil with a cross. Has sent a specimen of 'Lichen parellus' that may differ from Smith's. A list of plants he has found in the summer. Turnip crop in Norfolk devastated by black caterpillars, has been unable to find the fly that produces them, but [Eleazar] Albin's "A Natural History of the English Insects" relates how a similar blight in 1719 was caused by the 'Ichneumon' fly, which Bryant disputes. The only flies collected from the turnip fields are possibly the 'Tenthredo rosae', sends two specimens for Smith for information and asks which fly Albin's black caterpillar produces.

Thanks Smith for "the very agreeable" description of the genus 'Monachorum' and praises the purity of the language. The very harsh winter has prevented him from botanising. Concern for the misfortunes of [William] Hudson [his collections were lost in a fire in 1783]. Criticism of writing capabilities of [James] Dickson and his intention to "publishing something new in the Cryptogamian way".

Thanks for election as honorary member of the Natural History Society.

His botanising is limited to the "rude mountains" of his locale and mists have made the season unfavourable to Highland botanists. Will pass through London on his way to East Indies this summer. Studying Persian in Edinburgh in a month; intends to send Smith "some small fruit of [his] botanical labours". Hopes Smith has received a copy of his thesis. Smith's opinion of 'Lichen gelidus' well founded; hopes to send specimens but difficult to procure. The moss he thought to be a 'Splachnum' may be 'Bryum capsulis nutantibus' and the 'Lichen caeruleo-nigricans' appears doubtful, believes it may be a variety of 'Lichen calcarius'. Sending specimens of [William] Hudson's 'Helvella plana' and a similar fungus. Will give Smith the [Robert] Morison book before leaving for the Indies.

Will send a parcel once he receives instructions from Smith. Encloses '[Hypnum] proliferum' in fructification. Offers to send the 'verticillatum' of [John] Lightfoot; believes his attribution is wrong as it totally differs from those of Linnaeus and [William] Hudson. Similarly, Dr [John] Walker [(1731-1803) professor of natural history] showed that Lightfoot's 'Salix arenaria' is Linnaeus' 'Salix fusca', from specimens of [Daniel] Solander's. Offers to send Smith '[Ptilium] crista-castrensis'. Has found '[Sphagnum] palustre' and a 'Boletus' with a "delightful smell" he believes to be the 'suaveolens' of Linnaeus ['Trametes suaveolens'], Lightfoot describes one under the same name but with no odour. The society [Natural History Society, Edinburgh] "rather low" but has received a great addition in Mr Alexander. Hopes to submit a paper soon.

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.

Thanks Smith for parcel containing letters patent of Linnean Society and drawing of 'Smithia sensitiva'. Honoured to be accepted as an FMLS. Thanks Smith for his promise of helping to increase his herbarium and his garden. Asks again for advice on plants of an uncertain origin so he can finish work on a book of rare plants. Believes that Linnaeus has attributed the same kind of seed to 'Anthoscanthus' and 'Festuca', Bellardi convinced they belong to 'Festuca'. Explains doubts over Smith's claim that 'Phalaris savilianensis' of Linnaeus' herbarium will be identical to 'Phalaris bulbosa' with comparison of plates from [Jacques] Barrelier. [Dominique] Villars doubts his 'Arenaria saxatilis' is the same as described by Linnaeus. Has identified a 'Silene saxifraga' Smith sent as 'Cucubalus rupestris' of [Carlo] Allioni's "Auctarium ad Flora Pedemontana". Discussion of 'Saxifraga cespitosa', 'Saxifraga cotyledon', 'Saxifraga caesia', 'Saxifraga aizoon'. Has specimens of 'Agrostemma flos-jovis', 'Salix reticulata' and 'Dryas octopetala' to send to Smith when desired. Details of the publishing schedule for his fasciculi. Has received package from Mr Viborg of Copenhagen, asks Smith to send regards. Publication of Italian version of Smith's dissertation delayed.

Sending specimens of 'Trifolium alpinum', 'Salix reticulata', 'Dryas octopetala' and 'Agrostemma flos-jovis' via Mr Boroni. Has included "Phisico-Medica" dissertation by Mr Botta, seeds, and his list of desiderata [extant, see RelatedMaterial below]. Enquires price of Hudson's "Flora Anglica" and Dillenius "Historia muscorum".

Sent to Smith via Mr Boroni. Four columns of plants per page, some marked by Smith.

Thanks for gift of Litmus and Stalactites. Pleased to hear Smith has kept his health and become strong since leaving Edinburgh.

Thanks for Smith's remote "uncommon care" and medical advice; his current state of health.

Introduces Mr Cooper, who has left the Church of England to study physic. Asks if Dr [William] Cullen [(1710-1790), chemist and physician] proposes publishing another volume of his "First Lines [of the Practice of Physic" (1777-1784)]; asks after progress of Ferguson's ["History of the Progress and Termination of the Roman Republic" (1783)] and Dr [William] Robertson's [(1721-1793), historian and Church of Scotland minister] "History of America" [(1777)]. Comments on "savage" Bruno. Norwich news.

Sending several good specimens of 'Myriophyllum verticillatum'; observations.

[Note in Smith's hand:] "right JES".