Unable to attend Smith's gathering of friends at Marlborough Street due to his ill-health, a "rheumatic sciatic". His paper on 'Papilios' is with Smith, not having seen it since it was approved to be printed.

Happy to see that [Thomas] Marsham is "more profitably employed than attending the Linnean Society". Has been unable to attend since the hours were changed, suprised at Smith sanctioning them. Critiques an unnamed book apparently on ancient mythology. Recommends "History of the Heavens" ["Histoire du ciel considéré selon..."] by same author of "Spectacle de la Nature" [Noël-Antoine Pluche (1688-1761) French priest].

List of desiderata. Specimens sent by Smith [Oct 93] marked with a tick.

Thanks for books sent; will distribute duplicates to Genoa botanists; specimens of "Carex" for Goodenough; plants from Siberia.

Sent copies of his "glossary"' ["Language of Botany"] to Smith and Linnean Society, includes: from "Hortus Kewensis" 'Achillea squarrosa', and from [Carlo] Allioni 'Achillea herba-rota', 'Achillea ligustica', and 'Achillea tanacetifolia'. Asks if Smith knows "'Achillea lutea' Krocker siles n. 1443". Difficulties with 'Achras' species in "Hort. Malab. vol 3 tab 29, 30, 31" [Rheede van Draakenstein's "Hortus Indicus Malabaricus"?] and between 'Achras' and [Olof] Swartz' 'Bumelia'. Asks what 'Achras balata' of Gmelin "Syst. 574.5" is. Preparing 'Aconitum' for press, asks for any of Smith's observations especially 'Aconitum lycotonum'.

Acknowledges Smith's thanks for dedication [of "The language of botany"]. Asks Smith to correct any errors in the glossary in advance of a second edition. Discusses botanical terminology and the trend of words changing their meaning.

Requests information on the new species of 'Hystrix' [ie. Echidna] from New South Wales, no information in Captain [John] Hunter's "Voyages to New Holland". Using [Arthur] Phillip's and [John] White's "voyages" and [John] Latham's "Index ornithologicus" to communicate zoological finds from New Holland to his colleagues; details of a German translation of latter work. Smith's desciption of 'Bradypus ursinus' published by de Luc in "Rozier's Physical Journal" May 1792; [Jean-Claude] de la Métherie has made a poor figure of it in his ["Journal de Physique"], requests further descriptions of it. Smith's "disciple" Townson said there is a new Swedish edition of Linnaeus' "Fauna Suecica", asks if Smith is working on it and whether he is including the new insects from the Linnaean collections published in [Dietrich Heinrich] Stoever's biography of Linnaeus. Himself and [Heinrich Adolph] Schrader had planned a German translation of "Linnean Transactions" but preempted by Dr Reich of Leipzig, who has no zoological or botanical knowledge.

Sending numbered Lancastrian plants for Smith's attention, including all the local ferns. Will send mosses and lichens in next shipment, of which he has observed 'Lycopodia', 'Mnia', 'Sphagnum', 'Phaseum', 'Fontinalis', 'Polytrichum', 'Brya', 'Hypna', 'Jungermannia', and 'Marchantia'. Cannot obtain Dillenius' "excellent work" ["Historia muscorum"] but expecting [Johann] Hedwig's "later works" ["Descriptio muscorum"]. Assisted with his work on lichens by [Georg Franz] Hoffmann's "Enumeratio lichenum". Using Schaeffer's "Fungi" to identify the local fungi but still unsure on many. Asks for Smith's particular attention on several numbered plants. Generally confused by 'Carex', 'Solidago', 'Aster', 'Asclepias', 'Polygala', and 'Hedysarum'. Unfortunate that [William] Aiton's "Hortus Kewensis" is out of print as it is valuable for American botanists. Lists some of his American botanical correspondents: Dr Culler in New England; Mitchill in New York; Barton, Barkram, and Marshall in Pennsylvania; Kramsch in North Carolina; and in Germany [Johann Christian Daniel von] Schreber and Hoffmann. Asks Smith to investigate a box of specimens sent to Philadelphia by Hoffmann but possibly delayed in London.

The 234 dried plants he sent Smith are still in Philadelphia after missing ships and a "dreadfull sickness" in the city that stopped communications. Sending seventy-eight 'Cryptogamic' plants additional to those already sent. His "Index florae Lancastriensis" now published in Transactions of Philadelphia Philosophical Society, offers to send any plants Smith wants from it. Limited usefulness of [Johann Christian] Schaeffer's "Fungi". Queries: asks if 'Hypericum setosum' and 'Sarothra gentianoides' are really different plants; if 'Cassia ligustrina' and 'Cassia marilandica', 'Asclepias tuberosa' and 'Asclepias decumbens', 'Ambrosia elatior' and 'Ambrosia artemisiifolia', 'Urtica capitata' and 'Urtica cylindrica', and 'Rumex britannica' and 'Rumex persicaria', are different and how; if there is a book on North American plants containing figures, and if Plukenet in particular is one. Smith has annotated some of these queries with brief responses, in pencil.

Received Smith's letter of 20 February 1792. There is a description of the "Diandrous" timber tree Smith intends to name after him in Roxburgh's plant drawings sent to Court of Directors [of East India Company], sent specimen of the tree to [Alexander] Dalrymple [(1737-1808) geographer] for possible use in mathematical instruments. The 'Lythrum orixensis' flowering in his garden is similar to 'Grislea', further observations, sends new sketch of flower and capsule to replace his faulty former description [on the reverse of the letter Smith has written: "drawing of 'Lythrum' put into herb[ariu]m at 'Grislea'"]. Encloses specimen of 'Indigofera caerulea', too northerly for [Johann Gerhard] Koenig [(1728-1785)] to have come across it. Efficacy of 'Swietenia' bark in curing fevers even after Peruvian-bark has failed, has sent a sample for Smith. Hopes Smith received seeds.

In postscript encloses seeds of 'Lythrum orixensis', asks Smith to forward a note to [William] Aiton [(1731-1793) Kew gardener], and for Molesworth to send potato seeds, believes those in India are still propagated from the first ever sets planted in Asia.

Received Smith's letter, seeds, and parcel from [Carl Peter] Thunberg. Discovery of new genus of absorbent earth called "Strontites" [strontium] by [Thomas Charles] Hope, who read a paper at the Royal Society of Edinburgh on it. Details of its properties and characteristics. Offers to send a specimen.

Thanks for information from Kinnersley [probably Nathaniel Kinderely (d 1808), a relation of Smith's who spent time in India]. A forthcoming marriage in his family. Correcting the Indian section of his "Outlines of the Globe" for the specimen volume alluded to in his "Literary Life".

"Men of science never need apologize for the revival of trouble respecting information, nor do any delay it unless the little fat curator of the British Museum". Questions on North American plants: asks which plants generally cover ridges and rocks as there is no 'Erica', 'Ulex', or ['Spartium']; where the "the universal mosses" are; and what the "palmatters" and palm of [William] Bartram's "Travels" on pages 69 and 113 are. Marriage of David [Pennant] and Smith's "fair countrywoman" this week, anxious to meet her.

Thanks Smith for 'Carex incurva'. Received 'Thlaspi hirtum' of "Fl[ora] Ang[lica]" from [Dawson] Turner, it is possibly 'Thlaspi vaccaria' of Ray "Syn[opsis methodica]" 305.5, believes Hudson wrong. [Thomas] Woodward and himself believe Linnaeus wrong in 'Ligusticum cornubiense' because of cramped figure in Ray's "Synopsis". Summarises his observations on the 'Mentha' genus, as transmitted to Edward Forster junior: [William] Hudson correct on 'Mentha sativa' and 'M. gentilis' but wrong on 'M. sylvestris' and 'M. villosa'; 'M. arvensis'; makes other observations including comparisons across Linnaeus, [John] Ray, [William] Withering, and [Johann Adam] Pollich. Hopes for figure of Edward Forster's 'Mentha sativa' next autumn, concedes it is too late for 'Saxifraga oppositifolia'.

Thanks for '[Mentha] exigua', on comparing it with 'Mentha pulegium' convinced it is idential to Linnaeus' one [Smith has briefly annotated one of Pitchford's observations], believes he will have to give up his description of 'Mentha' on account of not being able to settle how to distinguish them. Believes it impossible to get a new species out of variations of leaf in 'Mentha gentilis' as Edward Forster has claimed to do with ['Mentha exigua'], and that [Thomas] Woodward is also wrong supposing it a rediscovery of [John] Ray's 'Mentha aquatica exigua', believes 'M. exigua' is simply 'M. pulegium'. Condolonces to Smith family on their loss. Asks [James] Sowerby to send Sir William Jerningham [6th Baronet (1736-1809)] "English Botany" from number 24 onwards.

Discusses whether 'Mentha exigua' is distinct from 'Mentha pulegium' with observations on a specimen received from Sutton, a letter from [Thomas] Woodward on it, and comparison of the calyx. Fears Dr Lubbock has typhus.

On behalf of Royal Scientific Society of Uppsala acknowledges receipt of Smith's edition of "Flora Lapponica". Apologises for delay in replying.

Introduces Jean Rasovi, a doctor and surgeon from Parma who is coming to England to learn about new medicine developments, he translated the work of Dr Brown of Edinburgh into Italian. Has heard that the new colony in Sierra Leone is struggling to establish itself and may break up, [Luigi] Borone is anxious about not having heard any news of his son [François Borone] who is there [with Adam Afzelius].

Introduces Dr Rasori, the bearer of this letter, who is in London to compliment his medical studies and brings copies of the Italian translation of Smith's "Introductory Discourse". Rasori has translated into Italian the work of the late Brown [John Brown (1735-1788), Scottish physician ?], it is a valuable work but resisted by older doctors. Requests introductions to Mr Simmons, Hunter, and Crookshank for Rasori.

Thanks for Smith's letter of 24 May [1793]. 'Bryum' and 'Hypnum' desiderata. A specimen of 'Hypnum' is attached.