Joy he receives from Smith's friendship. Presses Smith to visit. Anxious that Smith may not have received the seeds of 'Cerinthe perennis'. Glad his ideas on 'Trifolium alpestre' proved correct in "Linnean Transactions", further comments on [Adam] Afzelius' paper. 'Serapias' all a confusion for Smith. Cannot say anything on "pretended specific difference" of 'Gnaphalium sylvaticum', 'norvegicum' Retz, 'Crepis discoridis', interests him as much as 'Trifolium agaricum'. Comments on plants previously sent in various parcels.

Thanks Smith for his efforts in reconciling [William] Aiton to him. Answers Smith's queries on his health: does find fruit to be laxative, red wine makes him costive, and is most tormented with it in spring where 'Leontodon taraxacum' is eaten as they do other vegetables, stewed in butter or beef broth. Has not yet received anything from [Horace Bénédict] de Saussure [(1740-1799)]. Regarding Smith's proposal to name a genus after him would like Smith to do whatever he thinks best, but wishes he had completed his work before such an honour. Comments on 'Carex' no 11 of his parcel by Mandrot 1790.

Fears for Smith's safety following reports of fire at the Pantheon [place of public entertainment on south side of Oxford Street, London]. Responds to Smith's letter [of 30 December 1791]: sorry to hear of Smith's brother's inactivity; will send a list of desiderata in due course, but anything not Swiss welcome and especially 'Smithia sensitivia'. Intends for his herbarium plan Swiss plants and English and European plants in near affinity. Thanks for Smith's figures of 'Agrostis capillaris' and 'Saponaria lutea'; shall send Smith a list of grasses desired, already has 'Cornucopiae cucullatum'.

Responds to Smith's letter of 6 July 1791: extensive comments on 'Arenaria liniflora'; is Smith happy with his drying and nature of specimens; number 10 of his 1791 parcel by Mandrot 'Anemone fragifera' or '[Anemone] baldensis'; will send good wild specimen of 'Ranunculus thora', comments on Haller's figure, does not agree with what Smith says of [Jean Johannes] Bauhin [(1541-1613)] and notes errors in printing of Bauhin and other 'Ranunculus' species.

Asks if Smith has seen "that complicated, fabricated, forged, mechanic mass", the vegetable part of [Johann Friedrich] Gmelin's [(1748-1804)] "Systema Naturae". Received visit from Professor [Johann] Hermann of Strasburg last summer.

Davall's letter forms the first eight pages. Apologises for not sending Smith anything with Mandrot. His poor health: the least exertion affects his eyes and stomach, and suffered violent inflammatory fever with a sore throat that spread to his gums and was in danger of going to his chest, prolonged by a late bleeding, until his urine became very thick and an abcess formed. Has been bled three times in eighteen hours and five times since January, losing 3 1/2 lb of blood and now drinking whey to thin his blood. His wife gave birth to premature son but he died after eleven days.

Has dried specimen of wild 'Ranunculus thora' from his garden for Smith. His garden: 'Cerastium latifolium' grown from roots gathered himself in Alps in full flower, 'Moehringia', 'Crataegus chamaemespilus', 'Turritis coerulea', 'Arenaria grandiflora', 'Androsace villosa' or 'Androsace obtusifolia', 'Aretia alpina' not yet flowered, 'Saxifraga hirculus'.

Continues letter on 21 May: managed to make up a parcel of plants to send with Mandrot, including [Horace Bénédict] de Saussure's [(1740-1799)] lichens.

Fifth folio is titled "Villars" and is a transcription, in French, of extract of letter from [Dominique] Villars 20 December 1791, following communication of Smith's discovery concerning 'Festuca spadicea'. Davall displeased at [Martin] Vahl's [(1749-1804)] impertinence [he claimed a discovery of Smith's as his own]; does not have a good opinion of men in general and passes for a misanthrope in Orbe because he prefers spending his time with plants. Consoles Smith with the fact that even if he is exposed to the impertinence of "some Empiricks as La Marck etc" at least he will "ever have the applause of good orthodox botanists & men of sense". Transcribes extract from preface of second volume of [Johann Christian Daniel von] Schreber's [(1739-1810)] edition of "Genera Plantarum" quoting Smith. Sends seed of 'Carduus crispus'.

Ninth and tenth folios are transcription, in French, of extract of letter from de Saussure 14 February 1792 accompanying lichens, which he [Davall] sends on to Smith, includes eight notes to recognise those de Saussure has.

Has been seriously ill with extreme weakness of the eyes and disordered stomach and digestion. As his blood was so inflammatory was prescribed whey and setters water for the summer, which weakened his stomach further. About to start an infusion of 'Cinchona'. Thanks for Smith's letter of 27 June and the lichens, also recently received the other lichens sent with Mr Du Bois, pleased with 'Lichen omphalodes', 'L. fragilis', and 'L. globiferus'. Domestic news: one of his wife's brothers has caused great uneasiness; persuaded his aunts to give him another room for his study; his 'Mespilus chamaemespilus' has finally produced two fruit, which he intends for Smith; found 'Schenchzeria'; believes 'Poa retroflexa' Curtis is 'Poa distans' Linnaeus, and 'Poa salina' Pollich as determined by specimen from Ehrhart; dried 'Saxifraga hirculus', 'Schenchzeria' and 'Swertia H', 'Avena fertilis' Allioni "Auctar", suspects it 'Avena dubia' Leers; two plants of 'Lavatera punctata' just come into flower, will send seed if possible; has seed of 'Avena strigosa' Schreber "Spicilig." Retz "Obs." and 'Bromus arvensis'. His wife pregnant again.

Thanks for Smith's works, "Spicililegium botanicum" and "Icones pictae". His health is still weak and digestion disordered. Explains that through his "ardent love of Botany" he has declined every opportunity conducive to his fortune and reduced his patrimony in forming his botanical library to the bare minimum and his study, friendship with Smith, and relationship with wife "are the three great & only objects" which make him value his existence.

Concerns over war [threatened invasion of Switzerland by the French]: the Genevans have called on their allies and 1500 of Berne and 640 of Zurich have entered Geneva, which was proteseted against by the French resident before issuing a direct declaration of war, and French artillery now expected to commence firing on Geneva. The Swiss are marching on every frontier shared with France and if not for his wife would happily take up a musket in defence of his collections. Believes only reason to fear French is their immense numbers and the common people are strong and the German Swiss "are perfectly well armed, their artillery of the best sort" and 30-40,000 men are stirring. A young man who escaped from the massacre of the Swiss Guards at Paris was with him yesterday.