No summary available.

Has sent a box of plants from the Italian Alps. Will shortly print the "Auctarium ad floram Pedem". Asks Smith to forward a business commission.

No summary available.

Two notes: one dated 2 January making an appointment to call on Smith in the morning to go together to see the "Bocconi's" herbarium; the other dated 6 January accompanying "country plants" and asking Smith to look after them until they can study them together.

Their enjoyment of Smith's letters. Not sorry that Smith not "bit with Poetic Phrenzy" on his visit to Vaucluse, "no Muse rewards her Votaries so ill"; discusses this. Norwich news. Sending turkies to Sir Joseph Banks, thinks he expects a letter from Smith.

His last letter 30 December 1786. Account of his [and William Younge's] time in Genoa, including stay with the Marquis Durazzo, acquaintance with Dr Batt, fears for Mr Marsh's health, "smooth" English consul. Account of precipitous journey to Pisa, which necessitated sea journey from Sestri to Lerici, the remainder of the journey on land. Intended itinerary for remainder of their time in Italy. "Abundantly" furnished with letters of introduction. Durazzo reports that Spalanzani is now in prison in Vienna under charge of embezzlement; all hope for his innocence, he does for the "honor of philosophers".

Hopes Smith will visit this country when he travels in Europe; received his letters of 22 June 1785 and 11 November 1785. Details of back numbers of "Proceedings of the Royal Society of Uppsala" and order by [Thomas] Pennant; contents of new volume; other new European publications. Requests anatomical writings of [William Cumberland] Cruikshank [(1745-1800), anatomist] and handbooks of [John] Hunter [(1728-1793), surgeon and anatomist]. Condemns rumours started by [Carl] Thunberg regarding sale price of Linnaean collections.

His last letter to his mother, of 22 January 1787. His [and William Younge's] journey from Pisa to Rome, via Florence. Account of their time in Florence, where they were "quite in raptures"; art; the sepulchre of the Medicis; spent afternoons with Abbé Fontana. Stopped in Sienne to visit Dr Mascagni; his work on the lymphatic system. Their entrance into Rome; lodging in part of a house hired by Duke of Gloucester [Prince William Henry (1764-1805)]; compares St Peter's with St Paul's [Cathedral, London]; their itinerary.

Has learned all the particulars about Spalanzani, who "proves to be a great villain", having stolen items from the Emperor's museum and blamed Scopoli; further details of legal proceedings; many of his experiments found false; his father to inform relevant people.

No summary available.

Praises Smith's thesis ["Disputatio Inauguralis quaedam de Generatione complectens"]. Discusses the subject further including apparent suggestions for experiments with chickens and speculation on hereditary traits. Asks Smith to use all his energies in acquiring the "hidden treasures" of [Charles] Plumier's [(1646-1704) French botanist] collections in Paris. Asks Smith to buy any works by [Lorenzo] Bellini [(1643-1704) Italian physician and anatomist] Smith comes across. Possible incorrect classification of 'Clypeola maritima L' into 'Alyssum siculum' and 'Alyssum maritimum'. Asks for second part of [Giovanni Antonio] Scopoli's "Entomology"; [Louis] Gerard's "Flora Gallo-provincialis" and new edition of [Antoine-Joseph Dezallier] D'argenville's "Conchologie". Relates various upcoming periodicals with warning they all precede Smith's. Believes Smith will correct Linnaeus with more temperance than [Lazzaro] Spallanzani or Barrington, criticises Spallanzani's "wretched unnecessary trash". Pleased with books received from Smith but wishes [Sébastien] Vaillant had more figures in ["Botanicon Parisiense"]. Sir Thomas Cullum, Laurence and Priest have abandoned study of botany. Cullum and others in Suffolk want to establish a society to support wives and orphans of physicans, apothecaries and surgeons, Gwyn dismisses it as "relieving the parishes [of] their charges & taking away every spur to frugality and industry". Reports a favourable winter.

No summary available.

Smith elected Correspondent Member of Société Royale d'Agriculture. Cavanilles' work on 'Malvaceoe'. A beaver in the Rhone. [Charles Louis] L'Héritier [de Brutelle] in London. [Sir Joseph] Banks and [Olof] Swartz. List of economic plants acquired.

His last letter 12 February [1787]. Account of his [and William Younge's] time at Rome, including the Carnival; saw the Pretender every day [Prince Charles Edward Stuart (1720-1788), Jacobite claimant to British throne], a "heavy, sickly looking man" who "drinks very hard"; lists the sights they have seen in Rome; will leave Rome "with more regret" than he ever left any place. Account of journey from Rome to Naples. Account of presentation to and evening with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester [Prince William Henry (1743-1805) and Maria Walpole (1736-1807)]. Description of a memorial mass for the Abbé de Bourbon they attended. Opinion of town and people of Naples. Can see Vesuvius from his window.

Forgot to mention that they got into the Pope's chapel on Ash Wednesday; his opinon of the Pope.

Received Smith's letter of 2 [February 1787]. Regrets not seeing their "mutual best friend", [Samuel] Goodenough, as much as he would like to; they have described about 200 new British insect species but struggle without reference to the Linnaean collections. He has not said anything of the new Society [Linnean Society] other than to [John] Lyon of Dover, [Kent], who has despaired of the present one [Society for the Promotion of Natural History] and is committed to the new.

Showed Sir Joseph Banks the section of Smith's letter concerning [Lazzaro] Spallanzani [(1729-1799), natural historian] [on dispute between Spallanzani and Giovanni Scopoli over mismanagement of the Univsersity of Pavia museum; Smith was a supporter of Scopoli]; Banks read it aloud to the gentlemen present, including [William] Hudson, L'Héritier, [Olof] Swartz, and [Jonas] Dryander. Swartz has been collecting Jamaican plants and is comparing them with Banks' West India herbarium.

Thanks Smith for obtaining some of his 'Lepidotera' desiderata; requests further species. Progress of [William] Jones figures of same; received parcel of insects from China but only contained two 'Papilio' not yet figured by Jones. Discusses [John] Latham's "Le Courent Bris" from his ["General synopsis of birds"]. [James] Dickson had a successful natural history excursion in north of Britain but all his findings were lost in wreck off Dutch coast. A valuable new entomological correspondent, and others.

Publication of [William] Curtis' "Botanical Magazine". Recent appointments, including at [Society for Promotion of Natural History] and East India Company. Wishes he could have joined Smith on his "7 golden days" in Florence; wishes he had an independent fortune of his own and thinks Smith's situation a "most enchanting one". Comments on Spallanzani and Scopoli dispute.

No summary available.

Received Smith's letter of 13 January. Account of the recent politics: his opinion of the imminent commercial treaty with France; hopes it will allow for natural history exports but uncertain of its long term prospects; account of current political state of the measure. Proceedings in Parliament including call for impeachment of [Warren] Hastings [(1732-1818), Governor-General of India 1773-1785] by [William] Pitt (1759-1806), Prime Minister 1783-1801 & 1804-1806] and others. Lord Mansfield is angry that Sir Lloyd Kenyon has been appointed to succeed him and refuses to resign and wishes for Buller instead. Dimisses a very a popular pamphlet [by Sir Nathaniel William Wraxall] called "A Short Review of the Political State of Great Britain" as "a jumble of the best sort of coffee house conversation". Portugal considered very inferior at the moment but Ministry very much perplexed by Irish affairs as the treaty says France is to be "the most favour'd nation".

Busy amusing himself with the idea of their new [Linnean] Society, which must replace "the present gross body" [Society for the Promotion of Natural History]. Critiques its activities which "go on in the usual way of having a fossil or plant go round the table, nothing is or can be said upon it - it is referr'd to a committee to consider of it" and then sent back and forth between Society and committee. Certain that if Sir Joseph Banks was not president of the Royal Society he would join [Thomas] Marsham, Smith, and himself in the new Society. Goodenough's "Systema Accentuatum" ready for the press but shall not print until Smith returns to England; he and Marsham have described 200 new species. Sent seeds received from West Indies to Kew, also received grasses. Currently setting up his insect cabinet with a collection of "some hundreds".

Hopes Smith sees [Carlo] Allioni; greatly admires his natural history work. Calls [Lazzaro] Spallanzani [(1729-1799), physiologist] a "rascal"; detests a natural history thief "beyond all possible theives" [Scopoli dispute]. Requests 'Curculis paraplecticus' and 'Agrostis minima'.

Replies to Smith's letters of 2 October [1786] and 12 February [1787]; pleased that Smith still thinks of his Norwich friends; thanks for Bulliard [plates for "Histoire des champignons" (1791-1812)] and offer of Leers' "Flora". Comments on [Anders Jahan] Retzius' [(1742-1821)] output. Thanks for 'Gnaphalium luteo-album' and 'Agrostis minima'. Smith's access to so many famed herbariums like "taking a journey to Jupiter or Saturn". Smith's 'Senecio acanthifolius' must be "magnificent". If Smith travels through Switzerland recommends consulting [Albrecht von] Haller's [(1708-1777)] herbarium as useful for a "Flora Anglica" considering so many Swiss plants are native to England. Comments on Smith's account of his travels, including visit to [Louis] Gerard, time in Genoa with Marquis [Ippolito Durrazo], Florence, and [Lazzaro] Spallanzani's [(1729-1799), Roman Catholic priest and natural historian] disgrace, and the non-reviews of Smith's tract attacking "so great a personage".

Has not found any new cryptogamia this winter but [James] Dickson's expedition to Scotland produced 150 new species of mosses, jungermanniae, and lichens, though many were lost when [James] Crowe's portmanteau was stolen. Saw Smith's mother in Norwich who informed him of [Robert] Batty's relapse, including vomiting blood. An election declared void on account of bribery by House of Commons following petition by Sir T Beever, details of reelection. Death of his father-in-law, Mr Manning; short confinement after long decline from diabaetes.

His father's letter of 12 February as grateful to him as "cold water to a thirsty soul". Unable to find any connections for his father in Naples, it is said they are all thieves. Discusses transfer of monies. Admires [William] Pitt [(1759-1806), Prime Minister 1783-1801] more than ever in the affair of Governor [Warren] Hastings [(1732-1818), Governor-General of India 1773-1785, accused of corruption in 1787]. Mr Marsh's poor condition.

Account of his [and William Younge's] activities in Naples, including their ascent of Vesuvius and trips to Herculaneum and Pompeii.

Received Smith's letters of 12 February and 5 March 1787. They enjoy Smith's letters but always worry for his health and safety. Account of his trip to London: visited Smith's Chelsea appartment and found all as it should be, paid Molly; Mrs Howorth showed him a letter from Smith; [Robert] Batty has vomited blood, his wife an "agreeable companion"; breakfasted with Sir Joseph Banks. Norwich news. Told that the road from Milan to Turin is in danger of "banditti"; urges caution. Smith's brother, Francis, is pursuing astronomy.

Forwards letter [unspecified] as requested. His father died in February. Has not heard anything from [Pierre Marie Auguste] Broussonet in the last month. Sends good wishes.