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".

Replies to Smith's letters of 23 January [1789] and 8 February [1789]; thanks for parcel of plants, including 'Ecinophora spinosa', no longer considered a British plant, and the 'Cryptogamia'. Requests 'Ligusticum cornubiense' lately found in Cornwall. Thanks for [Dillenius] transcript from "Catalogus [plantarum sponte circa] Gissam"; has not made further progress with his 'Lycoperdon' but sends another paper on 'Fucus subsuscus' [see RelatedMaterial below] inspired by letter from [Samuel] Goodenough. Comments on new paper, which includes additional notes on 'Ulva plumosa', but not a new 'Ulva'; observations on this. Discusses 'Fucus setaceus', a possible new species, and other marine plants.

Will send Linnean Society specimens of 'Polypodium phegopteris', 'P. dryopteris', 'Galium boreale', and 'Carex strigosa'. Approves of Smith's plan and reasons for an "Observationes botanicae" instead of a "Flora Anglica". Offers to write account of 'Fucus hypoglossum', after acquiring permission of Sir Joseph Banks. The unexpected recovery of the King [George III (1738-1820)] "transfer'd his disorder to the nation, such universal uproar is occasion'd by it"; illuminations in Norwich; describes Bungay's alternative more muted celebrations. Discusses doubts over 'Carex caespitosa' and 'C. gracilis'.

Discusses his figure of 'Lycoperdon coliforme'; would like a specimen of Smith's 'L. fragile'. Describes [James] Dickson's method for preserving fungi. Found 'Hydnum infricatum'; observations, sent specimen of that and 'Agaricus' species to Dickson. Unfavourable season for fungi. Added 'Leonurus cardiaca' and 'Alopecurus ventricosus' to the Norfolk flora. Has a specimen of 'Lysimachia thrysiflora' but would be glad to see the true 'Elymus arenarius'; previously saw [James] Crowe's and [William] Curtis' specimens.

Asks after the mineral specimens Smith offered to procure for him. Has acquired copies of [Sébastien] Vaillant's [(1669-1722)] "Botanicon parisiense" and Phillip Miller's copy of [Pietro Antonio] Micheli's [(1679-1737)] "Nova genera plantarum".

Thanks for box of books, especially the [Leonard] Plukenet [(1642-1706), botanist], marbles and pebbles, and plant specimens. Discusses the specimens, including plants: 'Aralea', 'Sitbaldier', 'Acrostichum septentrionale', 'Gnaphalium alpinum', 'Silene acaulis', 'Empetrum nigrum'; requests 'Saxifraga nivalis', 'Saxifraga caespitosa', and 'Ranunculus reptens'; lichens, including: 'Lichen laratus', 'L. pubescens', 'L. plumbius', 'L. ventosus', and 'L. gildius'; gathered 'L. omphaloides', 'L. scrobiculatus', 'L. geographicus'; and 'Juncus', including 'J. spicatus', 'J. campestris', 'J. biglumis', also the 'Arundo epigeios' he sent Smith. Smith's 'Lycoperdon' is clearly new.

Charles Bryant [(d 1799)] published and dedicated his pamphlet to Sir Joseph Banks; thinks Banks cannot have read it as he sent a letter of thanks, and in doing so "prostituted his pen", especially as he is the "present head of English botanists"; Bryant's errors.

Lists his Lightfoot desiderata. Has not said anything on the mosses Smith sent; [John] Pitchford thinks Smith's 'Fontinalis pennater' is 'Hypnum crispum'. 'Fontinalis squamosa' or 'F. minor' appears to be 'F. antipgretica'.

Thanks for specimens sent with letter of 3 February, including the asbestos; remarks on its unsuitability for cloth and similarity to a newly discovered Derbyshire stalactite known as “hair fossil”, requests specimen of other asbestos called "leather". Lichens found by [James] Crowe, [John] Pitchford, and himself: 'Lichen fascicularis' and 'L. tremelloides'. He and [Robert] Stone [(c 1751-1829), botanist] found 'Lycoperdon coliforme'; their observations. A probable 'Lycoperdon' found by Mr Humphreys; observations, including similarities to 'Phallus impudicus' and 'Lycoperdon bovista'. Lists plants and lichens for Smith to look for in Westmoreland on his journey into England, hopes he will go the mountain the Old Man of Coniston for 'Carex capitata'; lists other plants found there.

Thanks for the "Monachologia", the truth in which must have "extremely enraged" the gentry concerned; reactions of [John] Pitchford, [James] Crowe, and [Robert] Stone [(c 1751-1829), botanist]. [James] Dickson's work on 'Cryptogams' progressing; Sir Joseph Banks is engraving the plates for him; 'Lycoperdon phalloides' is to be included; thinks 'Lycoperdon coliforme' should be; [William] Withering's reasons for not figuring it in his own cryptogamic plant catalogue. Withering thanks Smith for his paper, he knew of Smith from Dr Stokes. Severe frost, which has brought out a great variety of wild fowl, identified with [Thomas] Pennant. New fasciculus published by [Pierre Marie Auguste] Broussonet.

Sending Smith proofs of first sheet of [William] Withering's work, for Smith's comments; his own opinion; discusses pronunciation and accenting of trivial names; [John] Pitchford will be unimpressed that Withering has not inserted [John] Ray's synonyms. Thanks for 'Ulva umbilicalis'. Received a lichen from Devonshire, where many of the Scottish ones grow.

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

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