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.

Reminds Smith of his request for L'Héritier's "Sertum anglicum", adds L'Héritier's "Stirpes novae" to his order.