Thanks for Pulteney's bill for Linnean Society admission charges. They hope to print a volume of "Transactions" soon, Sir Joseph Banks having promised to pay for the engraving of the plates. Sorry Pulteney has so much difficulty in getting books, offers his assistance, and to supply numbers of L'Héritier's "Stirpes novae aut minus cognitae". "All science stands still at Paris at pres[en]t". Hedwig's work on mosses. Asks after Pulteney's book currently in the press.

Encloses L'Héritier's "Sertum anglicum", bill should Pulteney keep them. Was unable to acquire Dalechamps or Brunfelsius for Pulteney. Asks after Pulteney's intended "Flora".

Thanks for Pulteney's book, has already "devoured" a great part of it at Sir Joseph Banks'. Will send his second fasciculus [of "Plantarum icones"], sorry to have been "polemical, but thought a little chastisement of an impertinent fellow would save me future quarrels". Offers to send Gaertner and L'Héritier's latest works. Encloses list of Linnean Society members, 25 were present at their anniversary meeting. [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert likely to make "great discoveries" in Ireland.

[Draft or copy]

Apologises for delay in replyigng to Smith's letter of 22 October [1790], caused by a severe indisposition all winter. Thanks for Smith's remarks on his book. Responds to points in Smith's letter: Plukenet's authority, John Ray's manuscripts, difficulty of his acquiring books.

Would have replied to Pulteney's letter of 24 May [1791] sooner had the enclosed "Linnean Transactions" vol 1 arrived earlier. "Quite out of patience" with waiting for L'Héritier's recent publications; offers to send Pulteney's sketches to him. Discussion of recent publications, including by Allioni, Cavanilles, Hedwig, Schreber, and Labillardière.

Sends books and account of money owing to him. Keen for Pulteney to publish in "Linnean Transactions". Just returned from a trip to Lord Lewisham's [George Legge] in Kent to see 'Convolvulus speciosus'.