Enquires whether Smith received two letters he sent some time ago, the first with seeds requested by Smith [this was received, letter of 18 Mar 1788], and the second introducing Father Balsamo of Siciliy [not extant] and thanking Smith for seeds of 'Caroline'. Seeds of 'Hedisarum gyrans' sent by Smith have grown but not yet flowered. Sending list of seeds picked last year [from botanic garden of Santa Maria Nuova hospital] [not extant].

Received Smith's letter and Linnean Society diploma. [Gregory] Boraston briefly visited him, has given him a copy of [Pier Antonio] Micheli's [(1679-1737)] 60 plates ["Icones plantarum submarinarum"] for Smith. Brief history of Micheli's work: it was intended for second volume with "Nova Genera", and Tozzetti's father [Giovanni Targioni Tozzetti] attempted to separate the zoophita from the plants after Micheli's death. Plans to publish the unpublished parts, may ask Smith for assitance. Also sending with Boraston his memoir on 'Lathyrus sativus', many additional observations can be made and adds that after Mr Visconti had for some time been fed a small amount of the seeds of it and lost the use of his legs. Visconti eventually died and at his dissection it was discovered he was suffering from advanced synovitis in the joints and his bones had become so soft that they could be cut with a knife.

Fears that [Gregory] Boraston may not have been able to deliver to Smith the plates of [Pier Antonio] Micheli's [(1679-1737)], memoir on 'Lathyrus sativus', and letter he entrusted to him in Florence. Has requested of Mr Hilton a model of the pump of Albion mill.