He has prepared a very large assortment of specimens of grasses for Smith, which he is sending with other items to Dr Russell. Transcribes extract from his letter to Russell requesting him to forward parcel to Smith. Asks Kindersley to explain to Smith the difficulties of making up such collections in countries without assistance and with poor botanical libraries.

Pleased to receive confirmation of value of specimens he sent Smith some time ago, via [Nathaniel] Kindersly [Smith's cousin]. Will receive much satisfaction from "corresponding with so distinguished a Botanist as Dr Smith". Pleased to see in "Critical Review" for January [1791] that Smith has decided to make a genus of 'Paulina asiatica'; it will be drawn and described as 'Scopolia aromatica' in his next collection to be sent to the Court of Directors [of East India Company] and Sir Joseph Banks.

Requests copy of anything Smith publishes.

Has just received Smith's letter of 20 February 1792. Thanks for Smith's intention to name the 'Mucada' timber tree after him and makes further notes on its qualities, also that he sent some of the wood to Alexander Dalrymple [(1737-1808) geographer] for possible use in mathematical instruments, and presumes Smith does not approve of naming it after the late Sir John Pringle [(1707-1782) military physician] as he previously intended. Remarks on efficacy of a "newly discovered fever-bark" from a 'Swietenia' in curing gangrenous ulcers, sending Smith specimen; refers Smith to Dr [Patrick] Russell for more information [(1727-1805) East India Company physician]. Requests copies of Smith's new botanical publications.

Received Smith's letter of 20 February 1792. There is a description of the "Diandrous" timber tree Smith intends to name after him in Roxburgh's plant drawings sent to Court of Directors [of East India Company], sent specimen of the tree to [Alexander] Dalrymple [(1737-1808) geographer] for possible use in mathematical instruments. The 'Lythrum orixensis' flowering in his garden is similar to 'Grislea', further observations, sends new sketch of flower and capsule to replace his faulty former description [on the reverse of the letter Smith has written: "drawing of 'Lythrum' put into herb[ariu]m at 'Grislea'"]. Encloses specimen of 'Indigofera caerulea', too northerly for [Johann Gerhard] Koenig [(1728-1785)] to have come across it. Efficacy of 'Swietenia' bark in curing fevers even after Peruvian-bark has failed, has sent a sample for Smith. Hopes Smith received seeds.

In postscript encloses seeds of 'Lythrum orixensis', asks Smith to forward a note to [William] Aiton [(1731-1793) Kew gardener], and for Molesworth to send potato seeds, believes those in India are still propagated from the first ever sets planted in Asia.

Appointed [Robert] Kyd's successor as superintendent of Calcutta Botanic Garden . Sending seeds for Smith and thanks him for letters of 30 November 1792, 17 April 1793 and the three fasciculi. 'Swietenia' bark still successful in curing fevers, especially "Batavia fever". Has 400 plant drawings and descriptions, including 200 grasses, ready to send in addition to 500 already sent [to Sir Joseph Banks and East India Company], but currently deterred by previous batches being detained at Custom House and 20-30 being lost from the first parcel. Admits it was an error not to give a definition of each plant, gives Smith permission to use them. Few ferns in India but there are more in Calcutta than on the coast.

Has found new plants in Bengal including 'Asjogam' of "Hortus Malabaricus" vol 5 tab 59, thinks it a new genus and has named it after the late Sir William Jones ['Jonesia'] [(1746-1794) philologist and scholar of ancient India]. A manuscript of Jones' botanical observations to be posthumously printed in "Asiatic Researches" vol 4. Sends Jones' description of the 'Asjogam' and his own with drawing, hopes Smith can publish one. Has 400-500 drawings of plants to send by the next ships, his previously sent drawing of 'Nauclea orientalis' incorrectly labelled. Bark of 'Corchorus olitorius' and 'Corochorus capsularis' discovered to be equal to "the best flax" and will be a valuable export, it was mentioned by [Georg Eberhard] Rumphius and asks if it is known if "the ancients" or any other people substituted flax for it; the Bengali have long used it but only for cordage and twine uses, they believe 'Crotalaria juncea' is more valuable.

A duplicate copy of this letter was also sent.

This is letter is marked as a duplicate and was presumably sent at a later date to ensure arrival of at least one copy of the letter.

Has found new plants in Bengal including 'Asjogam' of "Hortus Malabaricus" vol 5 tab 59, thinks it a new genus and has named it after the late Sir William Jones ['Jonesia'] [(1746-1794) philologist and scholar of ancient India]. A manuscript of Jones' botanical observations to be posthumously printed in "Asiatic Researches" vol 4. Sends Jones' description of the 'Asjogam' and his own with drawing, hopes Smith can publish one. Has 400-500 drawings of plants to send by the next ships, his previously sent drawing of 'Nauclea orientalis' incorrectly labelled. Bark of 'Corchorus olitorius' and 'Corochorus capsularis' discovered to be equal to "the best flax" and will be a valuable export, it was mentioned by [Georg Eberhard] Rumphius and asks if it is known if "the ancients" or any other people substituted flax for it; the Bengali have long used it but only for cordage and twine uses, they believe 'Crotalaria juncea' is more valuable.

In postscript additional to the original letter writes that the majority of the season's ships have arrived but without letters from Smith or Mr Molesworth, fears some of his letters to Europe may have been lost.

Received Smith's letter of 16 December 1793 and letter and potato seeds from Mr Molesworth, none of them grew. Thanks for observations on the three 'Indigofera' plants, was uncertain about his 'Indigofera caeralia' ['Indigofera caerulea'?], comments that the seeds "vegetate" with difficulty which may prevent it being universally cultivated. Has sent Smith two capsules of 'Dillenia indica' and seeds of 53 species including 'Flemingia', shall send later 'Dillenia' flowers preserved in spirits. Sending 400 drawings, including 200 grasses, to the Directors [of the East India Company], wants Smith to point out any errors in them. Disappointed by his failure to grow 'Lythrum' as they do not have it but says 'Flemingia' is much more elegant. [John] Fleming [(1747-1829)], the East India Company's Surgeon-General, is a skilled botanist. Brief description of 'Jonesia', will send a full description if it is suitable for Smith's "Icones Pictae".

Has obtained seeds of 'Ipomaea grandiflora', the 'Munda-valli' of "Hortus Malabaricus"; Gaertner incorrect thinking it 'Bona-nox' which is Roxburgh's 'Ipomaea bona-nox', both are in Roxburgh's drawings numbers 567 and 568. Has procured living plants of Sir William Jones' 'Jatamansi', the real 'Spikenard': Jones concluded it was a 'Valerian' from the imperfect description he worked from; recommends Garcias ab Hotor's figure; believes Jones' plant is the 'Spikenard' of the ancients. Has been promised plants of 'Andropogon', a "medicine of repute of these countries", which Dr Blane took for the 'Spikenard'.

Several of the plant names have crosses next to them and some plant names are underlined in pencil.

Sending seeds of 'Munda-valli' ['Ipomaea grandiflora'] and 'Ipomaea bona-nox' in addition to other seeds recently despatched, extract from previous letter of same date regarding same. Describes fragrance of 'Munda-valli' flowers. Asks for seeds to be shared with Mr Molesworth and Dr [Patrick] Russell [(1727-1805) East India Company physician].

Sending specimens of 'Dillenia indica' in addition to those already sent to Sir Joseph Banks, to be divided with Smith. Poor health since coming to Calcutta, intends to go to coast of Coromandil and possibly on to Cape of Good Hope. His last 12 months work in the drawings sent to Banks from India House. [Francis] Buchanan has found the palm 'Nipa' or 'Nypa' of [Georg Eberhard] Rumphius, a new genus which Roxburgh plans to name after Buchanan.

Had expected to see Roxburgh taking a botanical excursion up the river by this time and recommends such a trip in the cold weather as being advantageous to his health; encloses account [extant] and specimens of a locust swarm, one of the "numberless natural curiosities" of this country, to encourage him to visit.

Received Smith's letter of 1 February 1797. Sending specimens of 'Jonesia asoca', 'Flemingia grandiflora', and 'Thunbergia fragrans', the only species he knows of in India, for Smith's observations, includes some of his own. Duplicates from a box of specimens sent to Sir Joseph Banks for [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert should be given to Smith. Started despatching generic and specific characters of his plant drawings two years ago after hearing they were to be published, the twelfth hundred are now ready. Separately sending seeds of his 'Grislea tomentosa', formerley 'Lythrum', glad to hear that it is growing in Edinburgh Botanic Garden, has had no acknowledgment of the seeds and plants he has sent there since the death of [John] Hope, asked Banks to name one of the new genera after Hope if the former 'Hopea' proves to be a 'Lymplocos'. Assumes Smith has received 'Dillenia indica' flowers. An "infinite" amount of insects in his location but only just started collecting them on Smith's request, separately sending four of a cloud of locust and the letter sent from the surgeon who sent them to Roxburgh. Intends to go to Cape [of Good Hope] for his health.

In addition to other items he is sending by Mr Brown also sending seeds, and box of insects gathered by Mr Le Beck, they both wish to become members of the Linnean Society; Le Beck will be a valuable correspondent as he intends to spend his life in India. Recently drew and described a new species of 'Dolphinus'; as large as common dolphin but without dorsal fin, 60 teeth in each jaw, and chiefly inhabits the Ganges river, calls it 'D. gangetica'. [Francis] Buchanan is visiting them; he will send Smith plants.

Last wrote by Mr Brown, surgeon of the Albion, in December; hopes Smith received the seeds, specimens, and insects. Arrived at the Cape a few days ago; sending his son, George, to England under care of a surgeon from Bengal Establishment. Requests Smith's assistance in getting his son, William [(fl 1780s-1810)], who has been studying in Edinburgh, a place as a writer in Bengal Establishment, otherwise to have him appointed his botanical assistant; would write to [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert on subject but does not have an introduction.

His health suffered during the voyage but now feels recovered; intends to remain 6 or 8 months, or until William and his sister arrive. Sends box of insects, including many 'Phalena paphia', which yields a large quantity of strong silk, as Smith will see by the cocoons he has sent Sir Joseph Banks, and another species of 'Phalena', the caterpillars of which live on leaves of 'Palma christi', observations on its silk; has written an account on both but yet to publish. Also sends specimens of nutmeg in spirits.