Asks to borrow Smith's folio copy of [Johann] Hedwig's "Historia muscorum" for the catalogue of plants he is compiling for Nichols' "History of Leicestershire", the previous editions are not proper to reference from. Reflects on his youthful enthusiasm for 'Musci' and small plants inspired by [John] Ray's "Synopsis" and his exchanges with [William] Hudson. Visited late Earl of Bute's "very rich" botanical library, 300 feet long conservatory, and four acre garden [John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute (1713-1792)]. Asks for L'Héritier's current location.

Thanks for election as FMLS, praises Smith's "Introductory Discourse" although expected to see a mention of General Compte [Luigi Ferdinando] de Marsigli [(1658-1730)], founder of the Academy of Bologna. Has commissioned his friend Scassi to acquire all the new medical publications whilst he is London. [L'Abbé Gregoire] Fontana is translating Smith's "Discourse" into Italian.

Smith's additional remarks on his "Introductory Discourse" came too late to be included in [L'Abbé Gregoire] Fontana's translation of it. Introduces Dr Valli in advance, who is walking from Pavia to London. Description of [Luigi] Galvani's discoveries in animal electricity [(1737-1798), Italian physician]. Appreciation of Smith's biography of [Giovanni Antonio] Scopoli and its exposure of the slander surrounding Scopoli.

Asks Smith to send on specimens of Kew plants he had promised to Rev [John] Stuart.

By Smith's request sending specimens of West Indian plants including from 'Urtica' and 'Epidendrum', surprised to hear from Sir Joseph Banks that species of the latter have been flowering at Kew. His definition for separating 'Epidendrum' and associated genera 'Limodorum'. [Richard] Salisbury's observations on 'Cypripedium' are "ingenious", further discussion of the genus with reference to 'Cypripedium calceolus' and 'Cypripedium bulbosum', compliments Smith's coloured figure of same and wishes that all of the 'Gynandrae' were similarly illustrated. Does not agree with [Carl Peter] Thunberg's idea to place 'Orchideous' plants in the 'Diandria' order but agrees with [Johann von] Schreber's arrangement of 'Arum'. Preoccupied with his work on "Icones". Apologises for his error in characterisation of 'Canella alba' [in his paper for "Linnean Transactions"], only one loculament is filled with seeds.

Received Smith's letter of May 1791 and "Reliquiae rudbeckianae" through [Carl Peter] Thunberg. Directions for Smith to acquire copy of his "Observationes botanicae". Thanks for Smith's observations on the 'Carex' specimens he sent, recently found the true 'Carex brizoides' which makes 'Carex hudsonii' a new species. Smith unanimously elected as a foreign member of Swedish Academy of Sciences. Asks if his 'Psychotria pavetta' is the same as 'Ixora americana' or 'Ixora alba' [Smith has annotated "no" against both], explains his doubts. Asks if Smith has had any news of [Adam] Afzelius in Sierra Leone, heard report of an attack on the settlement.

De Ratte, secretary of the Académie des Sciences of Montpellier, informs Smith he has been elected a Correspondent Member. Broussonet has appended his own communication.

Dr Nicolaus Törner coming to London to contribute to Sir Joseph Banks' "Natural History". Copies of Smith's "Reliquiae rudbeckianae" have remain unsold in bookseller's, offers to return them. Sending as many as possible of [Carl] Thunberg's "Dissertations" for Smith and [Richard] Salisbury; unable to obtain [Olof] Swartz "Prodromus". Sorry Smith did not receive parcel of books and dissertation he sent in 1789. Details of money owing between himself, Smith, and Thunberg. Prophesied that Smith would be worthy owner of Linnaean collections; glad to see this realised with the recently published ["Linnean Transactions"]; praises Smith's "Introductory Discourse"; eager to receive new edition of "Flora Lapponica". Will ensure Smith is elected to Royal Society of Uppsala.

Has arrived safely but owing to the confusion of the colony they do not have anywhere to dry plants or write observations, so prevented from collecting, which is disappointing. Has sent some bulbs and seeds, including 'Hamanthus mulliflorus' and 'Amaryllis ornata'. Happy to have [François] Borone as his travel companion. Requests to be sent [Joseph] Ga[e]rtner's "de Seminibus", Schreber's "Genera Plantarum", and the "Vegetable Kingdom" of Gmelin's System. If not for the efforts of John Clarkson [abolitionist and 1st Governor of Free Town] he would have tired of Sierra Leone. Comments on the effort Clarkson will have to make to achieve his "laudable intentions". Cannot send [Thomas] Marsham any insects for the same reasons he has not been able to collect plants.

Conditions for collecting still unfavourable and is doubtful of sending any dried plants this year. Has sent two large tubs of living plants, including many which are new or rare in Europe. [François] Borone and himself have both recovered from fevers. Unhappy to have not received any letters from their friends in London and elsewhere.

A house is being erected for use of Afzelius and [François] Borone, Smith should shortly expect something to be sent with every vessel sailing from Free Town. Condemnation of Gmelin and his knowledge of natural history.

Thanks for books. Sending a box of living plants and seeds. Praises Governor [John] Clarkson, who is returning to England, for his kindness to himself and [François] Borone in finding them "proper habitation". Will send dry plants, fruits, seeds and insects on the next sailing vessel for Smith and other friends.

Received the most recent numbers of Smith's "Icones Pictae" and "Spicilegium Botanicum". Would like Smith's opinion of his manuscript "Flora Dubliniensis", having heard from [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert that Smith has seen it. Asks if [Pierre] Bulliard [(1752-1793), botanist] has published anymore of his ["Herbia de la France"] since 1780. Had suspected the author of "English Botany" was someone "first rate" and is not disappointed [Smith's "English Botany" was originally published anonymously]; suggests improving it by including the general size of plants and differences noted when much similarity occurs. Not impressed with [Thomas Martyn's] "Flora Rustica", particularly its lack of originality and inferior paper and plates. Thanks for Smith's pledge of support for his plans to promote natural history in Ireland but is increasingly realising the futility of this in spite of Ireland's natural treasures. Shall communicate any Irish natural history findings to the Linnean Society. Andrew Caldwell sends his compliments and hopes Smith received his pamphlets.

Thanks for second fasciculus [probably Smith's "Spicilegium botanicum"] and Smith's "Flora Lapponica", which "as far excels all other floras, as the system of Linn[aeus] does all other systems".

Answers Smith's queries on various subjects [for Smith's "Sketch of a Tour on the Continent"]: transcribes a quote by [Joseph] Addison on enthusiasm; transcript of his notes made at Sens 1 November 1786 on five figures on a monument; transcript of his notes made 8 November 1786 on a Bibliotheque de la Ville in a former Jesuit seminary containing valuable manuscripts of Cicero's "Epistles", a curiously illuminated French translation of Ovid's "Metamorphoses", two folio volumes of French romances which belonged to Louis X, a 1742 copy of Pliny's "Natural History", and several Chinese manuscripts including a "History of China" translated into French. Could find no reference in his notes to: the 'Antirtrinum monspeliense' found in woods of the Granamont; the view of the Isle de Marguerite; the temperature of the mineral water at Aix; nor any account of supposed medical virtues of the excrescences of 'Lentiscus'. Informs Smith of [Thomas] Martyn's intentions of publishing his own "Tour through Italy", enquires after Smith's plan for his.

Underwhelmed by first part of [Erasmus] Darwin's "Botanic Garden". Strong republican feelings in Sheffield: cannon have been firing on news of the Duke of Brunswick's retreat [the "Brunswick Manifesto" issued on 25 July 1792 threatened the French populace with retaliatory violence by Prussian forces should the French royal family be harmed. It antagonised the population and on 20 September 1792 the Prussians were defeated in the Battle of Valmy and retreated from France]. The 15 October has been set as a day of celebration by several sets of workmen and a republican printer has a new sign of [Thomas] Paine [(1737-1809), author and revolutionary] at a bookdesk, and several street corners bear the inscription "Death or Liberty". A government directive for dealers in perfumery, hats, and gloves to form committees to report on evasion of duties was met with remark that it "must be a poor government that cannot be supported without sowing dissension among neighbours and making fellow citizens informers of one another". Asks Smith to procure from Mr Parker of Fleet Street one of [John Mervin] Nooth's [(1737-1828), physician] "improved machines for impregnating water with fixed air [carbon dioxide]".

Sending parcel containing plants missing from certain dissertations, including 'Cliffortia', and money from the sale of some publications. This summer worked on classes 8-13 of the Cape [of Good Hope] flora; as some of less familiar may be Linnaean plants, sending specimens of 'Gnidia radiata', 'Passerina ericoides', 'Bergia capensis', and 'Milium capense'; possible that 'P. ericoides' and 'Lachnaea conglomerata' are the same plant; observations.

Smith elected to Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Praises Smith's work with Linnaean collections, acknowledging Smith has increased their strength, which Sweden might have struggled to do on its own.

Confident in Smith and [Jonas] Dryander's judgement respecting his paper ['Observations on the British Species of] 'Carex'''. Preparations necessary prior to the paper being read: asks Smith what he meant about the placing of the synonyma, will have drawn whatever needs engraving, asks how to credit Smith observing the capsules of '[Carex] dioica' and '[Carex] capitata', stating that his distinction between the two came from his own observations. Has omitted mentioning the serrulation of the capsules in many of the species.

Sending two specimens of 'Trifolium'; plants.

Illness of his brother-in-law, Mr Palmer, has delayed his coming to London till Easter and Linnean Society anniversary meeting. Remarks on various phenomena of the early spring: recently saw 'Papilio phamni' flying, 'Scarabaeus luisquilius' in hundreds, and "those nimble animals the 'Carabi'"; an apricot tree in flower in a Cambridge college garden as reported in Cambridge paper, observed in his brother's [Sir John Cullum, 6th baronet (1733-1785)] journal that the apricot tree at Hardwick, [Suffolk], flowered on 20 February 1779 and 27 February 1775 but did not flower till March or April in following years; observed 'Veronica hederacea' and 'Veronica agrestis' in flower and considering looking for 'Veronica verna' and 'Veronica triphyllos'.

Praises number fifteen of "English Botany"; 'Papaver hybridum' and 'Anchusa sempervirens' commonly grows near them does not doubt 'Verbascum blattaria' is native having seen it in similar conditions and in barren places in Cornwall. Requests of White copies of Smith's new "Flora Lapponica", Thunberg's "Characteres genenum insectorum", and [Pehver's] "Weekly Memorials for the Ingenious". Asks of Mr Poulter, [William] Hudson, and Sir George Staunton's safe return.

Disappointed to not see his name in "Linnean Transactions" list, which he otherwise enjoyed.

[Respecting Thomas Hoy's paper 'Account of a spinning Limax, or Slug' in "Linnean Transactions" vol 1] not surprised that a land 'Limax' should be found to spin, following his observations of marine animals of that or a neighbouring genus in moving about rock pools; believes that too many dissimilar animals have been confounded under name "insect", remarks in Latin, intends to write further on subject.