Sends "Atraphaxis"; exchange of duplicates.

Captain Cook's and other expeditions rich in results; expected return of Desfontaines; Lamarck's collections.

The Duchess of Portland [Margaret Cavendish Bentinck (1715-1785) wife of 2nd Duke of Portland] pleased to see Smith's collection, thanks for her presents. Offers to support Smith's candidature at Royal Society. Asks Smith to examine 'Murex ambiguus', 'Murex despectus', and 'Murex corneus' of Linnaeus.

[Part of second folio cropped, no significant information appears to be missing]

Thanks Smith for trying to bring himself and [John] Pitchford together. Grief at death of the Duchess of Portland [Margaret Cavendish Bentinck (1715-1785) wife of 2nd Duke of Portland], her collection to be auctioned February and March 1786 in Whitehall.

Felicitations on Smith's Linnaean collections. His mother has died. Asks Smith to have mourning ring made.

Has edited works of [Pierre Richer de] Belleval.

Encloses his list of desiderata [extant]. Natural history "an object of perpetual pleasure"; has collected and dried 3000 plant specimens. Believes he has all British species except those in his desiderata, offers Smith any specimens he may desire. His collection of lichens and mosses poor and unsatisfactorily arranged. Believes he has all of Hudson's species of 'Fucus'. Smith's purchase of Linnaean collections "sets Britain above all other nations in the Botanical empire".

[On separate folio] Goodenough's "Desiderata Hudsoniana", several marked by Smith: 'Campanula patula', 'Ornithogalum pyrenaicum', 'Juncus triglumis', 'Arbutus aplina', 'Euphorbia characias', 'Chelidonium hybridum', 'Chelidonium corniculatum', 'Lathraea squamaria', 'Subalaria aquatica', 'Vicca lathyroides', 'Hieracium paludosum', 'Gnaphalium supinum', 'Carex limosa', 'Lycopodium alpinum', 'Fucus cartilagineus', and 'Scirpus pauciflorus'. Smith has also noted "sent 'Lichen miniatus', 'Lichen olivaccus', 'Hypnum painetin', 'Hypnumn curpiratum', 'Isoetes lacustris', 'Phalaris phleoides', 'Agrostis littoralis', 'Lichen globiferus', and 'Lichen glaucus'.

Impatient to receive specimens from his desiderata. Has five specimens of 'Nasmythia articulata' for [Thomas] Woodward, hopes to establish an exchange with him. Disappointed by [Thomas] Marsham's failure to acquire a cabinet of insects for him from the Duchess [of Portland's] sale [Margaret Cavendish Bentinck (1715-1785), collector of natural history specimens, wife of 2nd Duke of Portland]. Invites Smith to dinner on Sunday, asks him to bring his thesis manuscript for alterations.