Intends to winter in Nice; also considered Florence and Pisa. His indisposition prevents him from settling at a university. Requests introductions and advice.

[Smith has noted his reply on verso of second folio]: comments climates of Nice, Florence, and Pisa, notes names of friends and accomodation recommendations.

Thanks for specimens; some observations. The three specimens from [John] Pitchford are 'Byssus furcata', 'Byssus fubra', and 'Polypodium thelypteris'.

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'.

Sends drawings by Miss Applethwaite of some of his hothouse plants. Thanks for specimens; still pursuing a large collection.

Thanks for seeds. He was lucky to get copy of Linnaeus' "Supplementum plantarum"; wishes he could get Hedwig's "De Muscis"; impatient to see Linnaeus' "Amoenitates academicae" vol 8, though he admires Linnaeus more as a naturalist and systematist than philosopher. Laments death of the younger Linnaeus, "a severe blow to the progress of Botany & Zoology". Wishes to see [William] Aiton [(1731-1793), director Kew Gardens 1759-1793] "Hortus Kewensis". Thanks for Smith's attentions to his desiderata. Requests advice and information from London hospitals on improving hospitals here.

Thanks for Hedwig and Broughton books, specimens of British plants, information on a cabinet for dried plants, and list of botanical books. List of books to be purchased for University Library, including: [William] Curtis' "Flora Londinensis", [Nikolaus von] Jacquin's "Flora Austriaca", "Icones plantare rariorum", and "Miscellanea Austriaca", [Casimir Christoph] Schmidel's "Dissertationes botanices", [Anders] Retzius' "Fasciculus observationum botanicarum", and Meerberg's "Icones Ludg. Bat.".

Introduces Dr Young of the island of St Vincent's, where he had charge of temporary botanic garden.

Thanks for copy of Smith's dissertation ["on the sexes of plants" (1786)] and for dedicating it to him. On further consideration has decided against his plans for large scale publication of entirety of 'Asafoetida', especially as Sir Joseph Banks had done it in best way possible. Pleased by Smith's intention to publish new edition of "Species plantarum"; wishes that the King would give Smith a pension so that he could give up medicine for Botany.

Has been waiting for a letter from Smith. Fears Smith will only be able to continue his botanical studies in London by studying herbariums. Concerned to hear of a dispute at the Royal Society between Sir Joseph Banks and Mr Hutton. [William] Younge now President of the Edinburgh Natural History Society. Asks if Smith made a catalogue of the plants he collected from around Edinburgh; difficulties of collecting.

Lists requests made by his father, [John Hope] for Smith: list of the latest botanical works; list of new genera and species not included in "Supplementum plantarum"; best form of cabinet for a herbarium; copies of Dr [Arthur] Broughton's abridgement of "Flora Anglica", and Hedwig's "Historia muscorum"; and bark of the new 'Cinchona', a 'Carbaea'. Thanks for Smith's list of Scottish plants and habitats, including 'Verbascum massus', 'Eonymus europaeus', 'Polygonum pensylvanicum', 'Adoxa morchalellina', 'Chrysosplenium alternifolium', 'Drosera longifolia', 'Lathrea squamaria'. Lists various plants for Smith to provide habitats for. Asks if Smith is still a Brunonian. A one-day exhibition of air balloons.

Congratulates Smith on acquisition of Linnaean collections; speculates on their worth. Requests copies of works by Hedwig and [Arthur] Broughton. His growing herbarium. Physical Society laid foundation stone of a new Hall. Smith's Society [Edinburgh Natural History Society] is become "by no means inconsiderable" owing to number of respectable members; anticipating seeing Smith in Edinburgh.

General regret at Dr Lubbock's departure from Edinburgh. Account of botanical expedition to Ben Lomond in the autumn, previously undertaken with Smith and Hardy, lists plants found, including: 'Lythrum salicaria', 'Lysimachia vulgaris', 'Sedum rubens', 'Telephium', 'Convolvulus sepium', 'Malva moschata', 'Scirpus maritimus', 'Ruppia maritima', 'Lobelia dortmanna', 'Isoetis sacustris', and bark of 'Osmunda regalis'. Asks if Smith has ascended the highest English mountain, in "Yorkshire", as he intended. Comments on 'Cynosurus caerulens'. Comments on the "pompous" Dr Samuel Ferries, who has moved to London from Scotland.

Disappointed to not be seeing Smith in Edinburgh this winter. [William] Younge "storms & rages" at Smith's change of plans. Arrival of frost and snow here disrupting cryptogamic studies; difficulties of studying such plants. Account of Dr Walker's autumn botanical expedition to Ben Lomond, found 'Anthericum calyculatum', 'Dryas octopetala', 'Scutellaria minor' and 'S. galericulata'. Asks if Smith is acquainted with Dr Parsons. Hardy and Ainslie are competitors for a vacant professorship at Oxford or Cambridge.

[Note by John Hope at bottom of verso of second folio] comments on 'Gentiana' root of the shops, said to be root of a cultivated plant.

Congratulates Smith on safe arrival of Linnaean collections; warns against spending too much time studying it. Death of [William] Younge's father. Growth of the [Edinburgh] Natural History Society, though number of naturalists not considerable; Mr Alexander the principle botanist. Death of Dr Lubbock a "blow" to the Brounonians; medical lectures.

All eager for information on the arrangement, presentation, and contents of Linnaean collections. [Edinburgh] Natural History Society continues to flourish; increasing membership; account of a recent meeting including debate on Linnaeus. Account of a recent meeting at the Medical Society, including debate on medical methods.

Linnaeus' manuscripts "a very great acquisition, [...] the world may wonder that such a collection was ever permitted to leave the country in which it was made"; expecting another volume of "Amoenitates academicae" from Smith. Asks Linnaeus' motive for crediting his dissertations to others, suspects vanity. Praises [James] Dickson, bearer of Smith's letter; hosted him before he left for Highland expedition; account of his time in Edinburgh. Comments on Smith's decision to gain degree from Leyden; "an Edinburgh degree is far superior to & more honorable than any other".

Congratulates Smith on his election as FRS. Discusses recent publications by Sparrman and [Richard] Relhan. Account of debate with Dr [Thomas] Beddoes [(1760-1808), chemist and physician] concerning latter's "joy at seeing commencement of the attack on Linnaeus' system".

Unable to supply specimen of newly found crystalised mineral for [William] Thomson [(c 1760-1806), mineralogist and physician], as he only has one specimen himself. Pleased to hear Smith is composing his botanical lectures and undertaking new edition of "Systema [naturae]".

Introduces Dr Millar, with whom he is sending his "inestimable, invaluable, inaugural performance". Note on 'Cerastium tetrandrium'.

[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.