Introduces [Etienne] Delessert, a young gentleman of Paris who is to spend time in London; he has been resident in Edinburgh for last 5 years. Asks if [William] Thomson [(c 1760-1806), mineralogist and physician] is still in Italy. Comments on "demi-maniac" Sir George Staunton and "cabbage leaf of a fellow", Broussonet. Sorry to have missed [James] Dickson when he passed through Glasgow on his Scottish tour. Dr Stuart, of Luss, now married.

Recently met Smith's German friends [Caspar von] Voght, Wattenbach, and Smeisser; disappointed that the latter has already claimed discovery of new species of earth in the spar from Strontian in two publications; long statement of his own claims to its discovery. Informed that [William] Withering is to publish new edition of his "Botanical arrangement", will supply him with Scottish plants. Need for a new and enlarged edition of "Flora Scotia", now that Lightfoot's is becoming scarce, and [James[ Dickson has enabled a cryptogamic addition. Asks Smith's opinion of [Joseph] Trapp's proposed translation of [Dietrich Heinrich] Stoever's "Life of Linnaeus".

Encloses copies of a chemical paper he previously alluded to. Thanks Smith for acquitting Schmeisser of the charges he imagined against him [see RelatedMaterial below]. His enjoyment of Smith's "Tour of the continent" and its account of their friend, [William] Younge; thinks Smith may have been more sparing of his "coronal abuse". Notes Smith's entomological studies must be novel to him. Pleased to hear Smith is working on a "Flora Britannica". Asks after English copies of Smith's paper on ferns for Turin Academy. Observed that air effects cause 'Peziza cyathoides' to "discharge its semen".