Congratulates Smith on purchase of the Linnaean collections, which "will be a means of making [Smith] much know". Dined with [Thomas] Woodward and [James] Crowe, latter anxious for Smith not to make any agreements as to disposal of collections before speaking to him. Glad Smith has said the purchase will not interfere with his medical studies, as exclusive study of natural history can only be pursued by those with independent fortunes. Advises Smith to buy the herbarium of the younger Linnaeus if not included in the main purchase, for the duplicates. Will now regard Smith as "a second Linnaeus", though afraid Smith's other pursuits will not enable him to make full use of the collections. Opportunity for correcting Linnaeus' incorrect synonyms in "Species plantarum". Many made unwell by "this cruel winter".

Thanks Smith for the "very judicious and liberal criticisms" he made upon the sheet [probably "A botanical arrangement of British plants" second edition], discusses various aspects of the work, including: difficulties of making the references; accenting of trivial and generic names, in accordance with Smith's opinion; omitted etymology; has made the times of flowering as accurate as possible but unsure how to do same for ripening of seeds and budding of leaves; work proceeding so slowly it will not be ready for publication next year, unless they leave the cryptogams for an additional volume.

If young Linnaeus had lived they had intended to compare the plants with the Linnaean specimens; they now hear the whole collection is coming to England, but they do not know who has acquired it. Will send Smith a copy of the book when printed.