Introduces [Etienne] Delessert, a young gentleman of Paris who is to spend time in London; he has been resident in Edinburgh for last 5 years. Asks if [William] Thomson [(c 1760-1806), mineralogist and physician] is still in Italy. Comments on "demi-maniac" Sir George Staunton and "cabbage leaf of a fellow", Broussonet. Sorry to have missed [James] Dickson when he passed through Glasgow on his Scottish tour. Dr Stuart, of Luss, now married.

Encloses paper on Sawfish [see RelatedMaterial below]. Notes on the paper, asks Smith to make any necessary corrections. Sends specimens for inspection, to be returned.

Disputes the 'Mentha' Smith and Goodenough determined as 'M. sativa'; convinced that all 'Mentha' can be found both hairy and smooth on the underleaf depending on soil and situation; discussion of other 'Mentha' including 'M. arvensis', 'M. gentilis', M. rotundifolis', 'M. sylvestris', 'M. villosa'; desires to see [Edmund] Davall's specimens and to hear from [William] Hudson on subject.

Pleased to hear that [Samuel] Goodenough now concedes that the Linnaeus' 'Carex caespitosa' is the same as the London 'C. caespitosa'. Requests specimen of 'Cerastium alpinum'. Congratulates Smith on escape from fire at the Pantheon, [Oxford Street, London].

[Note on separate piece of paper] an article in January [1792] edition of "Monthly Magazine" proposes an explanation for the formation of "fairy rings", brief summary.

Concerned to hear of weak state of [William] Hudson; intends to write to him on subject of 'Mentha villosa', which needs to be "fully cleared up", as does 'M. sylvestris'; observations, including on differences in length of stamina depending on condition; 'M. gentilis'. Thanks Smith for mentioining his name to a Parisian Natural History Society who sent him a prospectus for a new periodical work.

Congratulates Smith on appointment as the Queen's [Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744-1818)] botanist, pleased he will have opportunity to look over [John] Lightfoot's plants; errors for Smith to look out for in his letters to Lightfoot, if they are extant, including on 'Carex' and 'Salix'.

Notes on Lightfoot's confounding of 'C. caespitosa' with 'C. recurva'.

Thanks for Smith's letter of 9 December [1791]. Requests copy of Smith's "Flora Lapponica" and remaining parts of Gaertner. Expects Labillardière's circumnavigation of the globe will delay his work. Requests remainder of Cavanilles' "Monadelphiae".

Thanks for Smith's letter of 16 [July 1792] and books; congratulates Smith on return of his health; state of his account with Smith. Expects he will have to draw a line soon regarding his purchase of works on exotic botany. Book orders for himself and a gentleman of his neighbourhood.

Should his 'Lycoperdon' paper be intended for publication he has some small additions to make. [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert in a "very low & depressed state". Grandmaison has published a French edition of his "View of the Writings of Linnaeus". Cannot come to London to examine Linnaean shells; his own collection contains nearly 1000 distinct species; he has lately inspired two young gentleman of the area in natural history, including [William George] Maton, whom Smith has already shown the Linnaean shells. Hears much of Bulliard's book on fungus ["Histoire des champignons de la France.." (1791-1812)].

Encloses bill for books, discharging his account. Reluctant to purchase periodical works such as Hedwig's, owing to difficulty of completing them.

Asks Smith to obtain list of foreign botanical books Haslock currently has in hand, as he wishes to obtain several titles of repute, including Schmidel's continuation of Gesner ["Historiae plantarum fasciculus" (1759)], and Hedwig's work ["Descriptio et adumbratio microscopico-analytica muscorum" (1787-1797)].

Introduces himself; thanks for being made ALS through "polite interference" of [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert. Praises Smith's works; his "Icones pictae" and "Spicilegium [botanicum]" are the "most superb botanic publications" he ever saw, and is anxious to receive all of Smith's works as they are published; asks if a new number of "Linnaeus' herbarium" has been published yet ["Icones plantarum"].

Forced to give up his attempt to publish a "Flora Dublinensis" for want of encouragement, but asks Smith's opinion of the sample he sent Messrs White [publishers]; Sir Joseph Banks thought it had "no particular merit", though he knows no other good extant figure of 'Hyoscyamus niger'. Now attempting to publish a "Flora Hibernica" without figures. Asks after possibility of Ireland receiving a copy of Banks' edition of Kaempfer's "Icones selectae". Praises Smith's "Introductory Discourse" in "Linnean Transactions".

Thanks Smith for the introduction to botany. Trying to collect all of Smith's works. Asks whether there will be new editions of the Principal Works of Linnaeus, especially the "Systema Vegetabilium". Comments on the uncertain publication of [William] Curtis' lectures, which would have been useful for students, and the deficiencies of [James] Lee's "Introduction to Botany" [(1715-1795) nurseryman]. Seeks London edition of Smith's translation of Linnaeus's dissertation on the sexes of plants. Complains that Smith's "last number" [probably "English Botany"] should have been described how 'Ligusticum' differs from the many plants to which it bears a general resemblance.

Sends two dissertations: [Linnaeus'] "Reflections on the Study of Nature", the other is not named. Happy to hear that a new edition of Linnaeus' "Systema Vegetabilium" is to be published. Thanks for the copy of the "inaugural dissertation". Remarks that Botany is making little progress in Dublin, the only person well informed is [Walter] Wade who is giving lectures but is entirely self-taught. Parliamentary aid for establishing a Botanic Garden has been granted but progress is very slow.

First part of 'Icones' published; criticism of Ortega.

Invites request for desiderata; about to begin a new exploration.

Species of 'Cistus' and other plants observed.

Returned from eight months tour in Valencia; acknowledges books and specimens.

New plants discovered; 'Encelia'; sends specimens.

Sending Smith a specimen of 'Cineraria alpina?' [sic]. Has papers on lichen to send for "Linnean Transactions" if the second volume has not already been set. Enquires after [William] Hudson and Mr Zier.

Sends Italian translation of Smith's "Linnean Transactions" paper 'Introductory Discourse on the Rise and Progress of Natural History' via [Eusebio] Valli [(1755-1816) physician]. Introduces Valli and relates his work on [Luigi] Galvani's [(1737-1798) physician and physicist] discoveries in animal electricity.

Sends plants by L'Heritier; flora of Barary; Anchusa.

Thanks Smith for the books he sent. Sir Brooke Boothby [6th baronet (1744-1824)] and Dr Johnson of Derby wish to become members of the Linnean Society. Boothby has a great collection of plants at his house. Mentions his own admittance to the society. Enjoyed reading Smith's thesis on "generation" but believes their theories will not agree.