Watson-Wentworth writes on 2 December: Still waiting for information from [Richard] Salisbury on the servant he recommended to take Crabb's place. Received box of Botany Bay seeds but did not let [Harvey] Spragg take any to show Smith as he should see the whole contents. Sorry to hear of Dr Pictairn' death , she only met him once.

Watson-Wentworth writes on 3 December: Received letter from Salisbury stating that sevrant he recommended does not wish to leave his current position. Found 'Passiflora suberosum' in flower for first time this morning and as she is uncertain whether this is common will send [James] Sowerby a specimen for painting; along with 'Corsiopsis' on vellum will compliment his drawing of 'Catesbaea'. Has not heard from Sowerby regarding dimensions of 'Datura' and fears he does too much at once.

Sends letter for [John] White [(1757-1832), surgeon in New South Wales] to be forwarded by Mr Wilson. Nut drawn in Smith's letter is amongst the seeds she received from White in New South Wales; Smith has "a neat way of punishing stingy people by withholding the name" and if it is the same as that brought by Mr Hoye to his house thinks it is unknown.

Repeats questions whether 'Passiflora suberosa' commonly flowers and if it has been painted. Pities Smith and his "little Italian" [François Borone] on their missing dog; her own "little old favourite" has "a most dreadful cough like the distemper". Still looking for a servant to take Crabb's place and asks after Mr Smershall, an apothecary in Portman Street, [London], who has given her a recommendation. Hopes [Richard] Salisbury's sister will recover.

Smith's busyness; glad their acquaintance commenced before Smith acquired "the greatest treasure England can boast". Lets Smith decide which genus to rename 'Woodwardia', hopes a 'Dicksonia' will accompany that and 'Davallia'. Anticipating Smith's "Flora Lapponica" and "Icones [pictae]", [James] Dickson's "Fasc[iculus plantarum cryptogamicarum Britanniae]", and [Johann] Schreber's [(1739-1810)] "Genera plantarum". Reports greatly exaggerated of his suffering a severe attack of his disorder shortly after Smith left Norfolk; his symptoms. Hopes [William] Withering is elected to Linnean Society; he and Professor [Thomas] Martyn nominate [Revd Thomas] Zouch, minister of the late Mr Tunstall's parish and highly esteemed by him, and [Revd Charles] Favell; Favell found 'Anagallis foemina' in his parish, will send specimens for [James] Sowerby if desired.

Glad Smith enjoyed the game he sent from [Andrew] Fountaine's, though he has given up shooting; will also send a turkey so Smith can wish them many happy Christmases and prosperous New Years, though it is "out of fashion now". [John] Pitchford has corresponded with [William] Sole on mints, from his letters he seems a "very queer genius"; Sole angry with Smith for having spoken "so slightingly" of [John] Hill's [(1716-1775), botanist] "Vegetable System". Eager to see a good figure of 'Ligusticum cornubiense'.

Sends drawing of an 'Epidendron' just flowering [Smith annotation: "'Epidendron cochleatum', figured in Jacquin"]; offers to send flower. Also has 'Ophrys latifolia' and 'Hydrangea hortensia' about to flower.

Returned Smith's book, with thanks. Offers specimen of 'Andersonia altissima', or 'Nauclea decandra' as [William] Roxburgh calls it. Requests Botany Bay seeds.

Thanks Smith for sending books, including L'Héritier, encloses bill, clearing his account with Smith; asks after text for Smith's "Spicilegium botanicum" and second part of Gaertner, and price of "Flora cochinchinensis". [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert "greatly enriched" his herbarium by a visit to Lord Bute's garden [John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute (1713-1792)], at High Cliff, Hampshire.

Thanks Smith for letter and present. Sending a box of insects to [Thomas] Marsham, with duplicates for Smith. Saw [Thomas] Woodward's herbarium and fossil collection and discussed establishment of a local natural history society. Rev Charles Davy [(d 1836)] of Caius College, Cambridge, proposed encouraging study of natural history on national level by having the plan adopted in every county. Asks if [James] Sowerby safely received the 'Hirudines' ['Hirudo'].

Thanks for letter and pamphlet of Smith's "Introductory Discourse" from the first volume of "Linnean Transactions".

Thanks for "Linnean Transactions", hopes it will long continue, and plants; will try to sell some items from them though botanists few in number here; passed on enclosures to [Johan] Acrel and [Olof] Swartz. Asks after parcels he sent Smith and [Sir Joseph] Banks in May via English surgeon Griffiths. Few copies of Smith's works can be sold in Sweden but requests some copies.

Compared 'Festuca spaducea', identical to 'Anthoxantum paniculatum', with specimen in Burser's "Herbarium" vol 1 p.46; comment on 'Phalaris oryzoides'; attaches drawing of 'Dianthus virgineus' [Smith annotation: "in Herb."] from "Herbarium" vol 11 p.99.

Intends to send his recently published dissertations, and dried plants. Certain that there are plants in his collections from the Cape [of Good Hope] not in Linnaean herbarium, but until his "Flora capensis" is published difficult establish what Smith may require. Intends to send a paper for "Linnean Transactions" vol 2.

Saw [John] Lightfoot's herbarium [owned by Queen Charlotte] at Windsor yesterday; confirms that Lightfoot's 'Tomentosa' is Linnaeus' 'Filiformis' and that Smith 's "little incurod 'Carex'" from Mount Cenis is not Lightfoot's 'incuroa', however has not been able to compare. As the Uspal Society is now defunct suggests Smith makes his dedication [of Smith's translation of Linnaeus' "Flora Lapponica"] to the Swedish nation, suggests a possible wording, in Latin.

[Letter possibly incomplete: no signature or valediction]

Suffering from "a perpetual return of obstructions" and "excessive habit of costiveness" which no remedies will remove. Believes he has found 'Lichen confluens' and 'Lichen cinereo-fuscus' Weber, will send for Smith's consideration, and 'Lichen fulgens' Swartz or 'Lichen citrinus' Hedwig. Regrets his "ill treaty" with [Harvey] Spragg and his copy of Dillenius' "Historia Muscorum"; how many copies are buried in public libraries or in private hands whilst many including him "suffer & linger by the privation". His interest in cryptogams; he sent Smith the common '[Lichen] fagineus' for pleasure of it authenticated by Smith, as he is still a novice.

Recently became acquainted with [Horace-Bénédict] de Saussure [(1740-1799)] and gave him roots of 'Geranium phaeum' and 'G. lividum', Swiss plants he had sought in vain, though he is more a lithologist than botanist. De Saussure collected lichens during an expedition on Mont Blanc, an account of which was published July 1788, and intended to send them to [Georg Franz] Hoffmann for identification but Davall persuaded him to send them to Smith instead. Transcribes, in French, part of de Saussure's letter acceptance, in French. Transcribes, in French, letter received from [Carlo] Bellardi with article for Smith.