[Camper's letter to Smith of 22 June 1788] Refuses invitation to become an Honorary Fellow of the Linnean Society as he looks upon Linnaeus "as a mere Catalogist, and the most superficial Naturalist" he ever knew. Further criticism of Linnaeus; suggests alternative names for the Society.

[Smith's reply to Camper, London, 21 July 1788] Disappointed by Camper's rejection of the Honorary Fellowship and his opinion of Linnaeus, especially as Camper edited some of Linnaeus' works. Explains reasons behind Linnean Society's name.

Sends Smith two flowers of 'Portlandia', one of which is for [Jonas] Dryander; not as fine or long as those which flowered at the end of August for a month. Hopes Smith will visit again to see plants in a more favourable season than his last visit.

Thanks Smith for the duplicate book from Linnaean Library which now completes her works of Linnaeus, and for taking the trouble to imitate her book binding. Thanks for "ingenious little Tract" and melon seeds; will accept the plant when it can be sent. If Smith has a stove or greenhouse offers any of her plants. Will view Smith's collections when next in London. Compliments to [Edmund] Davall, sorry to hear of death of his father and hopes to see him before he leaves England.

Sends specimen of 'Phormium hyacinthoides', a new genus. Smith to thank [Edmund] Davall for the coloured plate he sent of his intended work.

Sends specimen of 'Catesbaea [spinosa]' specimen with three flowers dropping together, to be drawn by [James] Sowerby for Smith's book ["Icones pictae plantarum rariorum"]; requests copy of the same size as the two other plants Sowerby copied at Hillingdon. Will find out which year William Wallens of Jamaica sent the 'Euphorbia wallinia' to Wimbledon, [Surrey].

Thanks for drawing of ['Smithia sensitivia']. Requests copies of [James] Sowerby's drawings of 'Portlandia' and 'Catesbaea', on vellum if possible. Argues for inclusion of her specimen of 'Catesbaea' in Smith's ["Icones pictae plantarum rariorum.."] as although it is only for plants never figured in colour before, the one in [Mark] Catesby's [(1683-1749)] work is badly done. Smith has not mentioned 'Euphorbia wallinea'; she is most interested in it as her husband was its first possessor. 'Aralia capitata' coming into flower for what she believes is the first time in England; hopes Smith will consider it for inclusion. Complimented by Smith's intention to dedicate book to her, which she hopes refers to her collection of plants "once amongst the earliest & choicest, of this country, & would have been carried on to perfection" but for her want of skill and opportunity.

Encloses unknown species of lily from [William] Curtis [Smith annotation: "'Lilium philadelphium'"]

Sorry that Smith could not view the gardens, conservatory, and greenhouses at Wentworth [Woodhouse, Yorkshire] on account of royal visit expected there, especially as she would have liked Smith's account of the plants there, which were all duplicates of the collection at Wimbledon, [Surrey]; the finest were always sent to Wentworth.

[James] Sowerby visited to draw 'Aralia [capitata]', he also drew life sized 'Pancratium amboinense', sends one of its eight flowers formed like an umbrella, fragrance like 'Cactus grandiflora'. Sends small part of 'Aralia' in full flower; invites Smith and [Richard] Salisbury to see it in person, presumes Salisbury's collection large enough for the plants Smith took for her not to be noticed. Her 'Portlandia' and 'Catesbaea' flowering a second time. [Jonas] Dryander took as yet only flower on the 'Martinia', expects it to be renamed.

Circumference of the umbrella of flowers of the 'Pancratium' is a yard and three-quarters and the bulb is 12 1/2 inches [Salisbury has annotated "probably a variety of 'P. caribaeum'].

Sends flower of 'Martinia' . Asks Smith to visit to view the 'Aralia [capitata]' to decide on its status. Several of the plants received from [Richard] Salisbury's garden are dying; fears it was the wrong time of year for transplanting such tender plants.

Asks that Smith check the botanical books she gave him for any memoranda between the pages, for she is "very choice of anything in that handwriting". Has many copies of ["Hortus Kewensis"] for friends; disappointed to find [Edmund] Davall already has one.

Requests Smith's medical advice for her gardener's bad cough, for which Smith initially prescribed a blister on the chest; he has been taking mutton suet boiled in milk every morning and night which has cured the cough but his voice is hoarse and he has lost much weight.

Sorry to hear of Smith's bad cold though but glad she unwittingly provided a remedy in her last letter [mutton suet boiled in milk taken morning and night]. Her gardener recovered in last three days, he does not think he has had night sweats, shocked to see "a strong healthy person so shrunk in the space of a week" and feared terminal decline. Smith correct that the powders "certainly tend to cure those sorts of fatal sweats".

Glad the recipe she sent [mutton suet boiled in milk] has almost cured his cough. Her gardener, Grieg, is almost better; his lungs had a narrow escape. She has had a stomach complaint but did not seek medical attention, it being rare to meet with physicians with Smith's "sentiments of the imperfection of human knowledge".

Invites Smith and [Joseph von] Jacquin to visit next week; warns Jacquin not to expect her present collection of plants to be the "celebrated" one he heard of as there have been so many new plants since then that she does not think he will see anything new to him.

Looking forward to Smith and [Richard] Salisbury's visit tomorrow morning and hope they will stay for dinner or even the night.

Smith's medical and botanical studies in Edinburgh, and lichens. Requests specimens of the 'Fucus' figured in [John] Lightfoot; notes on how to mount them. Requests all possible minerals and fossils, particularly the two kinds of asbestos known as "mountain flax" and "mountain leather"; hopes this task will inspire Smith to form his own collection. Takes up Smith's offer to purchase natural history books for him; happy to receive any book not already in his possession, list of he already own and those he would particularly like to. Seeds from Dr [John] Hope would be "highly acceptable".

Congratulates Smith on acquisition of the Linnaean collections, "undoubtedly the most valuable that could come into the hands of any naturalist". Presumes Smith will part with some of the collection and retain the herbarium; comments on disposal of rare books, harnessing the value in the manuscripts, and selling off the shell, fish, and insect collections on account of their fragility. Discussed the purchase with Smith's father, who is happy with it and Smith's prudence that it will not interfere with his studies. Warns against Russian roubles.

Pleased Smith's purchase of the Linnaean collections will probably exceed his expectations and that he is keeping the greater part; understands that the Professor of Botany at Oxford [John Sibthorp] offered a large sum for the herbarium. Suggests Smith write a "Flora Britannica" by comparing Smith's specimens against Linnaeus'.

Recently moved house. Commissions Smith to purchase the Aberdeen merchant's fossils before leaving London, directions for sending.

Sends specimens of 'Lycoperdon coliforme', 'Pervia cyathoides', and 'Lycoperdon phalloides' for [John] Pitchford, 'Lobelia urens' for Dr [John] Hope, and 'Lichen vulpinus' and a grass; observations and habitats. Reminds Smith of various promises regarding acquisition of mineralogy specimens and books in London.

Thanks for catalogue of fossils and minerals [from the London "fossilist"]; queries and places orders for several items. Hopes the specimen of 'Lycoperdon coliforme' he sent was useful; will gather more information before Smith presents it to the "Edinburgh society". Fears a parcel of specimens he sent to Norwich is lost. Examined 'Liquidambar styraciflua' but found no gum. Details of Smith's payment for [Richard Relhan's] "Flora [Cantabrigiensis]".

Annotation at head of of recto of first folio on "mountain green" and "iron with arsenic" [presumably in reference to Woodward's mineralogy specimens]

Congratulates Smith on arrival of the Linnaean collections; considering visiting London to see them. Understands that the Linnaean mosses have thrown the British mosses into "entire confusion", and expects the same for the grasses, Umbelliferous, and Syngensious plants, and 'Salix'.

Received letter from [James] Dickson on 'Lycoperdon coliforme', which he is including in ["Fasciculus plantarum cryptogamicarum Britanniae"]; asks if Smith has seen [James] Sowerby's drawing of the specimen he sent. Asks how numerous 'Fucus' are in comparison to number in "Systema vegetibilium", and whether it is worth buying the new edition. If Smith disposes of any book duplicates requests [Peter] Artedi.

Details his preparations for visit to London to view the Linnaean collections; asks for a list of duplicate books. Discusses possible works that Smith could base on the collections, including a "Flora Britannica" and a selection of Linnaeus' correspondence. Supposes the new edition of "Systema vegetibilium" not as useful as the former, which is now scarce.

Details of his and [Robert] Stone's [(c 1751-1829), botanist] pending visit to London. Received [William] Hudson's specimen of 'Corrigiola' from [John] Pitchford; totally unlike 'Illecebrum verticillatum' of Vaillant's figure and "Flora dan[ica]".