Writes to Smith for first time after several years of interruption due to the war. Sends some of his botanical works. Requests seeds for the the Florence botanical garden which he is recultivating; after some years as a "culture garden" it is reverting to its original function as the botanical school is to be attached to it. Offers to send Italian seeds and samples of mineralogy.

On verso of first folio Smith has annotated "Ansd. Nov. 8. 1818 by Dr Stevenson - with 50 sorts of Cape seeds".