Thanks for books, requests succeeding volumes in due course and English description for collection of coloured illustrations. His account with Smith. Asks after the illustrations of Xaempsori produced by [Sir Joseph] Banks, which he previously requested. Requests copies of "Linnean Transactions", though he is not a member of the Linnean Society.

Thanks for "Linnean Transactions". Sends papers for publication. Natural science not neglected despite the Revolution.

No summary available.

Pleased Smith and [Richard] Salisbury are visiting tomorrow as plant recommended to Smith's attention by [Edmund] Davall is likely to be in flower. Thanks Salisbury for the plants he is bringing for her.

Postscript mentioning 'Datura aborea' [truncated due to corner of page being torn out].

His brother studying medicine in England.

No summary available.

Sending this letter via Mr Haldimand, son of General [Sir Frederick] Haldimand [(1718-1791)]. Hopes Smith received seed of 'Cerinthe perennis', which he also sent last year with 'Lactuca angustana', and parcel of plants sent via Flaction. Received first volume of "Linnean Transactions": assumes that in a few years the Linnean Society will have corrected the false synonyms of the Linnaean and other plants and provided more ample descriptions. Smith "by far the properest man" to be Linnaeus' successor. Received Smith's parcel of plants from Mandrot, including "inestimable" 'Arenaria saxatilis'. His wife pregnant. His aunts' card playing habits.

At Basel went over [Werner de] Lachenal's [(1736-1800)] herbarium: it includes plants from [Caspar] Bauhin's [(1560-1624)] herbarium, bought for 7 guineas; not rich in Swiss plants and Lachenal is not deeply learned, his speciality being books and editions; his best studies are of the umbelliferae; had 'Schoenus ferrugineus' as a variety of 'Schoenus nigricans'; many dried exotic specimens from garden of Utrecht; his garden stock from Jacquin; acquired seeds of 'Minuartia' from Lachenal, originally procured of [Carl Christian] Gmelin [(1762-1837)] now director of botanic garden at Carlsruh, [Lower Saxony], sending Smith some for a good figure to be made. Accidently read part of a letter and its corresponding part from [Joseph von] Jacquin to [Nikolaus von] Jacquin, "full of the grossest & most humble flattery".

Will send plants for François [Borone, Smith's servant] when he next sends a parcel. Finding it difficult to limit his work to found wild specimens as to understand them necessary to compare them against species with near affinity throughout Europe. Disappointed by parcel of specimens received from [Dominique] Villars and is proposing to exchange books for specimens instead of money; sending "Hortus Kewensis" and Smith's "Plantarum icones". Received small parcel of badly dried specimens from [Carlo] Bellardi, including 'Arenaria liniflora' and a 'Festuca spadicea' the same as Smith's in "Linnean Transactions", also received seeds of it 'Andropogon distachyum' from [Carlo] Allioni. Would like to grow 'Andropogon gryllus' in his garden. Reminds Smith that lichens 46 and 48 from box of lichens [sent 30 April 1791] are still undetermined, thinks 47 is Smith's 'Saxifragus'. Presumes Smith informed Villars that his 'Arenaria saxatilis' is 'Arenaria laricifolia'.

Displeased by Lachenal's insistence that as 'Arenaria verna' is often taken for 'A. saxatilis' then 'saxatilis' should be continued, and same with 'Lepidium graminifolium', maintaining it is 'Iberis'. Intends to concentrate on his "Illustr. Fl. Helv." this winter. First snow of winter arrived earlier than expected on 1 November; anxious for his potted plants. Sending Smith seeds via Haldimand, including three never grown in England, so they can be figured in "Spicilegium botanicum": 'Arenaria grandiflora' L, 'Turritis caerulea' Allioni "Fl. Ped." includes growing details and instructions, 'Scutellaria alpina' ,'Iberis rotundifolia', 'Minuartia', and 'Silene -'. Hopes [Nikolaus von] Jacquin will not be the first to give coloured figure of 'Arenaria grandiflora'. Offers Smith exclusivity on seeds of new Swiss plants until he has figured it.

Proposes scheme for Linnean Society members to fund drawing, engraving, and colouring of at least one plant a year to increase provision of good figures of new, obscure, or misconceived species.

Awkwardness of following up [Richard] Salisbury's recommendation of a servant by the Bishop of Bristol [Christopher Wilson]; his duties.

Asks after the "poor frightened puppy" Smith took with him and requests that Smith's servants do not tutor it "for they have seldom much feeling about living creatures, and none at all if they are troublesome, or dirty in the house".

Thanks for "Linnean Transactions" vol 1. Encloses paper to be read at the Linnean Society.

References to "poon tree" of India in "Raii hist. 11. p. - & Ives's Voy[age] 46a", from which masts are made. Sends an oak leaf "filled with some matters" that Hugh Davies could not determine. Declines membership of Linnean Society but proposes his son David.

Requests seeds of various plants.

Thanks for "Linnean Transactions". Hopes Smith and Sir Joseph Banks have received the copies of his "Prodromus". Missed Smith whilst he was visiting England. Defends himself against not having mentioned Smith in the preface of his "Prodromus" by stating he consulted the duplicates in Carl Linnaeus junior's herbarium and other collections connected with Linnaeus including Dr Dahl's, same applies to his "Obervationes", a copy of which he has sent to Smith. Warns Smith of possible errors in the 'Cryptogamic' section of Linnaeus' herbarium as many were collected by himself, states an error noticed by [James] Dickson. Long list of desiderata [on second folio, some names have a pencilled tick against them]. Asks for Smith's observations on enclosed 'Carex' specimens [not extant].

[Smith has noted on verso of second folio] "if my friend Mr Afzelius should be met with, to beg to be remembered to him".

Discussion of origin of two similar Latin words, seemingly "caprina" and "capricon" following a figure from Smith of 'acapricon', concluding an error in copying, following review of "Geoponica" [10th century Byzantine agricultural compendium] and "Rei Rustica Scriptores" [collected Roman agricultural texts]. Points out a similar mistake in 'Menyanthes', first adopted from Theophrastus by [Christoph] Knauth [(1638-1694)] and followed by every botanist since, when the true Greek word is 'Minyanthes', accordingly asks Smith to correct page 177 of ["Philosophia botanica"]. Comments on Smith referring him to ["Critica Botanica"] encourages Smith to correct and improve the work of Linnaeus, considering that he is already willing to change work of any other. Sends second drawing of ''Tropaeolum palmatum foliis palmatis' by a lady who sent a drawing of 'Dianthus superbus' to [William] Curtis, said lady also saw Smith's figure of 'Acapricon' and believes the mistake was easy and repeated from "Flor. Ant." p.346. Comments on 'Tropaeolum perninum'. Thanks for present although 'Satyr. hirein.' was bruised by being thrown out of its basket. Jonas has put a specimen of dried 'Tropaeolum' into a box for Smith along with drawing of 'Diathus superbus'. Asks for copy of "Flora Lapponica". Asks why 'Conv. majalis' is from a German and Dutch name rather than "nada" the essential specific name. Asks Smith to view Ferrari "de Flor. Cultura" in reference to 'Fed. casius'. Asks Smith to procure 'Theophrastus' either "by Gaza, Stapel, Scaligen".

Saw [John] Lightfoot's herbarium [owned by Queen Charlotte] at Windsor yesterday; confirms that Lightfoot's 'Tomentosa' is Linnaeus' 'Filiformis' and that Smith 's "little incurod 'Carex'" from Mount Cenis is not Lightfoot's 'incuroa', however has not been able to compare. As the Uspal Society is now defunct suggests Smith makes his dedication [of Smith's translation of Linnaeus' "Flora Lapponica"] to the Swedish nation, suggests a possible wording, in Latin.

[Letter possibly incomplete: no signature or valediction]

Suffering from "a perpetual return of obstructions" and "excessive habit of costiveness" which no remedies will remove. Believes he has found 'Lichen confluens' and 'Lichen cinereo-fuscus' Weber, will send for Smith's consideration, and 'Lichen fulgens' Swartz or 'Lichen citrinus' Hedwig. Regrets his "ill treaty" with [Harvey] Spragg and his copy of Dillenius' "Historia Muscorum"; how many copies are buried in public libraries or in private hands whilst many including him "suffer & linger by the privation". His interest in cryptogams; he sent Smith the common '[Lichen] fagineus' for pleasure of it authenticated by Smith, as he is still a novice.

Recently became acquainted with [Horace-Bénédict] de Saussure [(1740-1799)] and gave him roots of 'Geranium phaeum' and 'G. lividum', Swiss plants he had sought in vain, though he is more a lithologist than botanist. De Saussure collected lichens during an expedition on Mont Blanc, an account of which was published July 1788, and intended to send them to [Georg Franz] Hoffmann for identification but Davall persuaded him to send them to Smith instead. Transcribes, in French, part of de Saussure's letter acceptance, in French. Transcribes, in French, letter received from [Carlo] Bellardi with article for Smith.

Watson-Wentworth writes on 2 December: Still waiting for information from [Richard] Salisbury on the servant he recommended to take Crabb's place. Received box of Botany Bay seeds but did not let [Harvey] Spragg take any to show Smith as he should see the whole contents. Sorry to hear of Dr Pictairn' death , she only met him once.

Watson-Wentworth writes on 3 December: Received letter from Salisbury stating that sevrant he recommended does not wish to leave his current position. Found 'Passiflora suberosum' in flower for first time this morning and as she is uncertain whether this is common will send [James] Sowerby a specimen for painting; along with 'Corsiopsis' on vellum will compliment his drawing of 'Catesbaea'. Has not heard from Sowerby regarding dimensions of 'Datura' and fears he does too much at once.

Thanks Smith for sending books, including L'Héritier, encloses bill, clearing his account with Smith; asks after text for Smith's "Spicilegium botanicum" and second part of Gaertner, and price of "Flora cochinchinensis". [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert "greatly enriched" his herbarium by a visit to Lord Bute's garden [John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute (1713-1792)], at High Cliff, Hampshire.

Thanks Smith for letter and present. Sending a box of insects to [Thomas] Marsham, with duplicates for Smith. Saw [Thomas] Woodward's herbarium and fossil collection and discussed establishment of a local natural history society. Rev Charles Davy [(d 1836)] of Caius College, Cambridge, proposed encouraging study of natural history on national level by having the plan adopted in every county. Asks if [James] Sowerby safely received the 'Hirudines' ['Hirudo'].

No summary available.

Thanks for Pulteney's letter of 4 [Dec 1791] and bill. Discusses arrival of remaining prints for first volume of Cavanilles' ["Icones et descriptiones plantarum quae aut sponte in Hispania crescunt"]. Gaertner dead, unclear if his 5 remaining "Centuriae" will be published. Laments death of Dr Pictairn, said that his collection will be sold.