Mild and wet winter but his health good aside from remains of rheumatism. His farm goes on, "like the nation, very flourishing"; financial issues. Anticipating arrival of "Linnean Transactions". Intends to meet [Samuel] Goodenough in London to accelerate their work of examining 'Fucus', will finish his 'Lycoperdon' paper afterwards. Requests return of his paper on 'Fucus [fastigiatus]' and 'F. farcellatus' for revision; requests loan of Linnaean 'F. farcellatus'.

Commissions London lodgings from Smith; his requirements. Intends to wait for an original edition of Leers' "Flora" as the plates in the new edition are badly copied. Discusses Sir John Rous' [1st Earl of Stradbroke (1750-1827), politician] and Lady Rous' interests in botany; John is more practical, forming large plantations with American and other forest trees, he may buy Smith's L'Héritier for his wife. Discusses Smith's forthcoming publications. Discusses specimens or figures of 'Lycoperdon coliforme' and 'Ligusticum cornubiense'; [William] Hudson's statement of knowing its habitat "a piece with the rest of his assertions"; thinks the fire was fortunate for his credit as he could not have always refused a reference to his specimens.

Urges Smith to publish his travel journal, to "convince the world that a botanist can write English intelligibly & that he can give some observations beyond the names & places of growth of plants".

Glad that Woodward was not more seriously injured in his coach accident; now thinks of their parting jokes as "almost criminal"; hopes Woodward prosecutes the coach operator for taking so many people on board. Reveals when he was 20 years old it was discovered that he had broken his collarbone at some point in his childhood. He was recently at Sir Joseph Banks' when [Charles Godfrey] Woide [(1725-1790)] of the [British] Museum suffered an apoplectic fit; he died shortly after.

[Letter incomplete: second folio cropped, only three lines of text remain]

Broke his collarbone and bruised his arm and leg in a stagecoach accident; refused to go to a surgeon and went straight home; making a good recovery; all of the 17 or 18 travellers were injured. Thought of their parting words but does not blame Smith. Smith's "distressing" visit to Sir Joseph Banks' [apoplectic fit and death of Charles Godfrey Woide (1725-1790)].

Encloses certificate nominating [Robert] Stone [(c 1751-1829), botanist] as FLS. [John] Pitchford claims 'Geranium pusillum' is Dillenius' and not Ray's, so Pitchford can consider an error in the plant or engraving as it is not the fault of "Pope Ray"; discusses his own work on 'Geranium' including comparison with Scopoli and [Albrecht von] Haller [(1708-1777)]; convinced old 'Geranium rotundifolium' is Haller and Scopoli's 'G. malvifolium', but the plant exists in herbarium as 'G. pusillum', suggests solution.

His broken collarbone healing well. Gathered 'Fillaea muscosa' for [James] Dickson and will find 'Carex strigosa', 'C. pulicaris', 'C. diocia', and 'Mentha villosa'. Asks Smith to purchase and send the Chinese jar he saw off of Broad Street when last in London, description.

Pleased Woodward's health is recovering; does not doubt health benefits of taking quicksilver, though as he does not understand how it works he ought to deny its usefulness.

His "Icones pictae" and "Spicilegium botanicum" both soon published. [Samuel] Goodenough in London tomorrow for Royal Society anniversary meeting; looking forward to seeing the Crowes. Ordered continuation of Bulliard's ["Histoire des champignons"] for Woodward some time ago from L'Héritier but he is now extremely busy. "Linnean Transactions" vol 1 out by Christmas. Glad Woodward is thinking of coming to London in the spring. Still working on ferns; for the genus 'Woodwardia' only has species 'W. nodosa' and 'W. alata', disproves of name of former. Thanks for drawing of 'Lycoperdon phalloides', which will be in first number of "Spicilegium botanicum". Writing the text for [James] Sowerby's "English botany", on plan of [William] Curtis' "Magazine", for free, till he sees whether it succeeds or not; its motto from Virgil; contents of first number.

Thanks for Smith's letter of 29 November [1790]. His health good this winter; surprised at the effect of quicksilver, knowing it can only act mechanically, yet it removes any obstruction. Gave up shooting as he believed the violent exercise in hot weather caused stomach spasms.

"Charmed" by first number of "English botany": the paper, print, and execution of the plates "so much superior" to [William] Curtis' "Magazine"; advises [James] Sowerby to avoid "Flora Londinensis" plants for as long as possible. Recommends Sowerby's figure of 'Lycoperdon coliforme' for "Spicilegium botanicum" or "English botany". Discusses his paper on 'Lycoperdon'; rough draft almost finished; nine-tenths will be a response to [Charles] Bryant's [(d 1799)] pamphlet; requests references from Smith, listed. Fear of gout.

After attending Smith's botanic lectures in London has a question on "Luccams" oak, sometimes called evergreen, an "accidental variety from seed of 'Qu[e]rcus cerris'. Debates why its leaves remain on the tree longer than those of deciduous oaks.

Thanks Smith for his letter and invites him to visit her and her husband [Shute Barrington, Bishop of Durham]. Interested in obtaining 'Strelitzia reginae' from the Chelsea Physic Garden.

List of plants sent to Bellardi by Smith in addition to those marked in Bellardi's desiderata.

Received from Smith academic dissertations by Linnaeus, plants for his herbarium and seeds, which have been planted in [Rodrigo de] Sousa [Coutinho's] garden, suggests in future Smith sends seeds rather than dried specimens to Sousa. Planning to write to [Edmund] Davall. Hopes to see a new edition of Smith's "Vegetabilium System", a bookseller in Turin would like every book on botany or natural history Smith has published or intends to publish. Satisfied with Smith's observations on the plants of uncertain classification, has consulted Scheuchzer's "Agrostographiae Helveticae Prodromus", is certain that the 'Phalaris' in question is the one described by Linnaeus and not 'Radice perenni', on which he is currently working on a memoir of for the Academy of Sciences. The 'Arenaria' he sent with the name of 'Saxatilis vill' is a perennial. Discussion of 'Arenaria zanoni', 'Arenaria flaccida', 'Arenaria capillacea', 'Arenaria striata'. Asks for advice on 'Allium nigrum', 'Potentilla verna', 'Androsace lactea', 'Ranunculus cuneifolium', 'Campanula rupestris', 'Trifolium aureum', 'Spartium [...]', 'Asperula saxatilis', 'Asperula cynanchica', 'Festuca decidua', 'Radix perennis', 'Polypodium [pessimalte]', 'Anthemis altissima', all of which Smith has received from Bellardi, this list is underlined in pencil.

Introduces Mr Istria, a medical doctor interested in natural history and botany.

Thanks for diploma of Linnean Society. Sends papers on botany and entomology. Introduces Brogniard.

Introduces Mr Newton, an "accurate botanist, & skilful mineralogist", who wishes to inspect Smith's lichens. Recently spent time with one of their old Edinburgh friends, Dr Goodwin, who has been abroad with Mr North. Would like to see Smith next time he is in Norfolk. Antrobus sends his compliments.

Account of his time in Italy: spent time with Tozzetti at Florence, brings book/manuscript from him; compliments from Abbé Fontana; sending Scarpa's last publication; received great attention from Spallanzani including response to Hunter's queries on his animal digestion experiments.

His health did not benefit much by the Italian air [Boraston had wintered in Italy]; cold weather in Florence and Pisa; regrets not visiting Nice; inconvenience of making long journies alone. Left Spallanzani's response to Mr Hunter [on animal digestion] with Dr [William] Thomson [(c 1760-1806), mineralogist and physician]; many requests to peruse it. Will send impressions from Tozzetti of 'Fucus', described by Micheli, found near Florence. On his return through Milan visited Count Castiglioni, whose brother, Luigi, remembers meeting Smith; preparing history of plants and forest trees of North America; astonished by collections of the Milanese, particularly the Marquis d'Angubola's natural history collection; Societa Patriotica.

Informed that the ship with Smith's fossils has arrived in the King's Warehouse, will send them on as soon as the duty is paid. Thomas Sikes reminds Smith of his promise for letter of introduction to Mr Stuart, for his trip to Scotland. Received parcel of plants for Smith from [Edmund] Davall.

Returns borrowed book [unspecified].

Discouraged by Smith's mention of the difficulties of settling the mints, but not yet abandoning his intention; sending Smith all his specimens, discusses 'Mentha sativa', 'M. gentilis', 'M. exigua', 'M. villosa', and 'M. sylvestris'.

Compliments to [James] Sowerby, intends to take his "little work" ["English botany"], "the botanist searches in vain for something to feast upon". Compliments Smith's "Icones pictae" but unable to purchase it. Encloses two 'Squilla' for determination.

Thanks for election as FLS. Isolated from progress of botany, owing to his "out of the way" location, not having a botanical correspondent in London, and inability to buy even old botanical books. Declines Smith's offer to acquire L'Héritier's "sumptuous work" until he is sure of its extent; would like to see the treatise on 'Geranium' mentioned in "Hortus Kewensis" but assumes the "present distracted state of France " will disrupt such publications.

[Smith has briefly noted on recto of second folio extent and cost of a book]

Thanks Smith for offering to procure botanical books for him; requests L'Héritier's "Sertum anglicum"; directions for sending. Anxious to procure those books quoted by Linnaeus, particularly Dalechamp and Brunssaling. He is about to publish his "Sketches of the progress of botany" [(1790)], orginally intended as an introduction to a large scale English flora.