Wishes to join the Linnean Society; his credentials are in the mineral and vegetable kingdoms, which his location serves him well for. Lists his credentials, including membership of Medical Society, a paper published in "Philosophical Transactions" 1777 [see RelatedMaterial below], and a large work on surgery currently in preparation and to be dedicated to the King [George III (1738-1820)]. His London relations.

Has sent as many of Smith's desiderata as he could find. The 'Splachnum' Smith sent may be 'Splachnum purpum'. Would like to compare his lichens and mosses with the ones Smith received from his foreign friends as it is "the best way of being sure of plants".

Dufresne visiting London; has added 500 new genera to his work; Corrêa in Paris; desiderata.

Sorry to hear Smith has been so ill. Re-elected member of Parliament, as was Mr Vaughan, so preventing "even a possibility of any disturbance in the county". Lists visitors to his house over summer.

Though Smith has let [William] Windham [(1750-1810), politician] know his sentiments "pretty clearly" does not approve of [William] Smith whom Smith exchanged for him, as he is "too much the opposite". Has no opinion of those politicians who under "pretence of patriotism or alarm would sacrifice every thing to their faction". Laments loss of friendship between himself and Windham since their school days. His wife and daughter [Mariamne Johnes] well and the latter grown so stout Smith would not know her, though "this sad weather" much against his "invalids".

Expects Dyke shortly to view the estate he intends to sell, which if sold near his expectations shall be a "made man". Asks how fearnoughts [thick woollen cloth for overcoats] are selling this year as if not too dear shall want some for his poor people.

No summary available.

Thanks for Smith's recognition of his service [elected FMLS]. Sending signet ring with image of his late father, Johann Hedwig [(1730-1799), botanist]. Discussion of ferns: Dawson Turner handling, drawing, and examining these plants for his book; requests any ferns Smith may have. Lists ferns according to Smith's taxonomy, highlighting how many items are missing from Smith's classification.

Appreciates Smith's proposal to add a footnote mentioning the republication of his "Flora Canatabrigiensis" when quoting from the same.

Habitat of 'Bromus arvensis' which is growing in his own fields along with 'Lolium perenne'. Received seeds and ferns from Jamaica. Received letter from [Jacques-Julien de] Labillardière who has been commissioned by French government to publish natural history of his voyage [to Australia]. Extract from Labillardière's letter, in French, on his appreciation of England, and on the chemist Guiton Morreau [Louis-Bernard Guyton-Morveau (1737-1816)]. Could not find 'Bromus erectus' for [William Fitt] Drake. A life of Cyrillus [5th century Greek jurist] in August's "Monthly Magazine". [Richard] Salisbury has found twenty new species of 'Erica' in [Lambert's] plants from the Cape [of Good Hope], intends including them in a supplement to his paper on the same.

Received alarming accounts of Smith's health from Sir Thomas Cullum and brother-in-law, R Reeve, and that it was not Smith's lungs but an erysipelas affecting his head and rendering his eyes weak, preventing him from going to Liverpool. Sends two varieties of 'Potamogeton natans', one approaching close to 'P. lucens' and other to [Richard] Relhan's 'P. palustris'. 'Ophrys beselii' growing in boggy ground near his house; peculiarities of its habitat.

No summary available.

His health much better since coming here, though still cannot read or write for more than half an hour at a time. Sowerby made a mistake in ordering the indexes sheet of "English botany" to be printed now as he had enough for September. Intends to spend a week with [Dawson] Turner at Yarmouth, [Norfolk], shortly. Requests copies of "English botany" from no 81 onwards, for an American friend.

Would like to help Sowerby with his intended book on minerals but has "never attended much to that part of Natural History", and concerned it will delay Sowerby in his work with "Flora Graeca", which the executors want finished as quickly as possible; Smith will never consent to any other artist being employed, though [Thomas] Platt [(d 1842), one of John Sibthorp's executors, supervised the publication of "Flora Graeca"] thinks Sowerby is not progressing as fast as he might. Suggests new wording for Sowerby's advertisement for a mineralogist.

Congratulates Smith on his marriage. Preoccupied with educating his son and three daughters and in the last few years with the revolution, taxes and arrests, which included his own arrest for a time, and a siege which induced disease and famine [in 1797 Napoleon formed the Ligurian Republic, incorporating the Republic of Genoa and other areas, it was occupied 1800-1801 by Austrian forces]. Gave over his "Villetia" to [Carlo] di Negro [(1769-1857) poet] in a deal with the government. Management of the botanic garden has gone to [Domenico] Viviani who has been appointed Professor of Botany at University of Genoa and is using it as the School of Botany. Has a collection of 1400 plants in the country, asks Smith to recommend an amateur to exchange seeds with, suggesting "jeune Aiton" [possibly John Townsend Aiton (1777-1851)]. Thanks Smith in advance for the seeds of 'Mimosa', 'Hibiscus', 'Sida', 'Geranium' promised. Expresses admiration for volumes 2-5 of "Linnean Transactions". Impatience for the publication of "Flora Graeca". Intends to publish on the "Flora Ligustica and Italia" with Viviani and [Antonio] Bertoloni.

Bedford River "abounding" with 'Chara flexilis' "English botany 1070". Encloses "curious production" with habit of 'Conferva' [extant]; observations. Believes 'Chara flexilis', 'Ceratophyllum submersum', and 'Ceratophyllum demersum' can be consolidated under one genus; observations. Lists plants he has found since 1798 as a supplement [to his "Flora Bedfordiensis" (1798)], for Smith's "Flora Britannica". Prays for recovery of Smith's health, "so valuable to the botanical world".

Specimen of a plant.

Hopes Smith soon recovers from his illness, relates his own "sundry pulmonary attacks". Went to Öland island in the summer, amongst the peculiar plants growing there is 'Cistus oelandicus', however the season was too late for scarcer plants such as 'Orchidea', and the rain so continual that little could be done, but obtained some good cryptogamic plants. Also found 'Carex obtusata', sends Smith a specimen of it, it is close to 'Carex pulicaris'. Expects [Georg] Wahlenberg back from the northern regions [an expedition to Lapland], part of his "Carciographia" has been printed in transactions of [Swedish] Academy [of Sciences]. Hopes printing of [Erik] Acharius' "Lichenographia" ["Methodus lichenum"?] will begin soon. Asks if Smith has seen his paper on 'filices' in [Heinrich Adolph] Schrader's "Journal of Botany".

No summary available.

Thanks for Smith's offer for assitance in completing his book ["Description of the genus Pinus"]. Pleased Smith has "settled the willows". Letter from [Jacques-Julien de] Labillardière who is sending a packet of plants by [Karl Friedrich von] Gaertner [(1772-1850)], comments that he is successfully following his father's career [Joseph Gaertner (1732-1791)] and is to visit England. Has a "fine copy" of [Johann] Hedwig's "Mus." ["Species muscorum"?] should Smith wish to borrow it. The Secretary to the English embassy in Naples, [Italy], is sending plants of 'Papyrus' and seeds, also informed by him that [John] Graeffer [(1746-1802), gardener to Queen of Naples] is dead, will send any plants they desire. A young draughtsman [unnamed] from Bath copying plates lent by Smith.

Sending specimens of several lichens and rare mosses.

Asks Price to enquire about fifth volume of the American Philosophical Society's "Transactions" that should have been received by Linnean Society. Also requests that a delayed packet for him also from American Philosophical Society be located and forwarded.

Revives their correspondence with intention of offering product of his Tangier plant collecting and everything that may interest Smith in France, to which he is returning. Has not had any book on botany since he left France in 1792, excepting fourteenth edition of the Systema Naturae. Encloses catalogue of plants.

Has not forgotten Smith's offer in 1796 to send New Holland plants. Broussonet is still near the Canaries, had hoped to reach the Cape of Good Hope.

Received collection of plants from New South Wales, Australia, from Governor [Arthur] Philip [(1738-1814) first governor of New South Wales] including 'Metrosideros' and 'Melaleuca', offers to send them, they are not in "White's collection". Encloses 'Emobothrium' [Smith has annotated underneath "'myricifolium'"]. Also a parcel of New Zealand plants from Dusky Bay, most are Forster's, offers to send. Apparently training a young man in botany, he is currently learning French.