Thanks for Smith's letter of 17 March [1789]. Explains the difficulties he has in pursuing botany: too busy with his medical practice to botanise in local area, and too far from London to study exotics, which confines his studies to books, of which he has none.

Informed by [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert of formation of the Linnean Society, thanks Smith for invitation to join and asks to pay his subscription as a sum rather than annually. Thanks for Smith's botanical information, as he no longer has a London botanical correspondent. Had hoped that [Thomas] Marsham's scheme would have "comprehended the whole Fauna", as on plan of "Fauna Suecica". Requests information on Smith's "Plantarum icones".

Signed [Josef Franz] Jacquin's Royal Society nomination certificate; offers to show Jacquin Dorset if his tour of Britain takes him west. Thanks Smith for invitation to view Linnaean collections.

Wishes to join Linnean Society. Received Smith's "[Plantarum] icones" and "Reliquiae rudbeckianae" and [Johann] Gmelin's edition of "Systema [naturae]". Asks if [William] Withering and [John] Stokes' "Botanical Arrangement" is correct to designate "the Cornish heath" as new. Asks if any copies of [Olof] Swartz's "Prodromus Plant. Amer." are available in London.

Invites Pulteney to become a FLS; news of the Linnean Society, including intentions, members, fees, and collections. Botanical news: 'Calycanthus praecox' in flower this winter; discovered that 'Schrebera' is only 'Myrica aethiopica' with a 'Cuscuta' on it, intends to publish this and other observations in a volume "Observationes Botanicae", but at present occupied in publishing "Icones plantarum"; Kew catalogue published in June.

Young [Joseph Franz] Jacquin staying in Britain for most of the summer. [Thomas] Marsham publishing an "Entomolgia Britannica". His herbarium now in better order than when he was at Chelsea, offers its services.

Received Pulteney's letter of 6 October [1789]. Congratulates him on admission as FLS, rejoices "to have your name on our list as one of the main pillars of our infant undertaking", believes Pultney's and Linnaeus' names ought never to be separated. Proud that Pulteney approves of his recent publications, currently working on second fasciculus and "more splendid work with coloured figures". Studying 'Arenaria' for Linnean Society and ferns for another purpose.

'Erica didyma' of Stokes distinct from 'E. multiflora' Linnaeus. [Olof] Swartz' "Prodromus" not to be had in London. Recommends Jusseiu's "Genera Plantarum", though "not altogether Linnean". Offers to acquire L'Héritier's works for him.