Asks for news.

Comments on 'Ophrys paludos' of "Flora Danica", which resembles 'O. loeslii' Linnaeus; and 'Equisetum sylvaticum', which he discovered to be 'E. fluviatile'. Sends specimens of 'Carex gracilis' Curtis and 'C. caespitosa'; observations, including remarks by [Samuel] Goodenough. Requests 'Dianthus glaucus'.

Sends specimen of 'Phormium hyacinthoides', a new genus. Smith to thank [Edmund] Davall for the coloured plate he sent of his intended work.

Unable to supply specimen of newly found crystalised mineral for [William] Thomson [(c 1760-1806), mineralogist and physician], as he only has one specimen himself. Pleased to hear Smith is composing his botanical lectures and undertaking new edition of "Systema [naturae]".

Received Smith's letter of 19 September 1788. Thanks for book by Mr Ellis and one of Smith's Latin dissertations. Shall send copies of his dissertation on the propagation of fish in which he discusses two hermaphrodite fish, 'Perca' and 'Canna'. Is following this publication with one on propagation of cartilaginous fish and one on propagation of crabs, asks whether it is preferred for them to be written in Latin or Italian. Admires Smith's own work on the propagation of the species and his notes on Linnaeus. Not convinced by [Johann] Hedwig's arguments.

Letter sent by Broussonet in Paris to Smith in London. Thanks for election as FMLS. His brother's studies, hopes to take him to London and Edinburgh. De Jussieu. Lemonnier appointed Physician to Louis XVI.

[William Beeston] Coyte is coming to London and will visit Smith. Discusses Smith's publication plans for "Plantarum icones"; "Reliquiae rudbeckianae"; and new edition of "Philosophia Botanica", hoping that this last will be published by the Cambridge University press. Samuel Ewer of Lincoln's Inn Fields, Coyte's brother-in-law, is collecting a library of botany and will subscribe to all of Smith's works. Anger at [William] Curtis' corrections of Linnaeus. Smith's 'Centaurea [solstitialis]' has not produced any viable seed and Jonas has failed in making a successful cutting. Thanks for 'Forsythia' of Frasier which turns out to be only 'Decumaria carbara L'. Can procure Scottish plants for Smith from Dr Ramm. Would welcome [Joseph Franz ?] Jacquin to his home in the summer if Smith invites him. Coyte is to visit Westmoreland, advised to study [William] Hudson beforehand, intends to ask [James] Dickson about having him staying. Displeased from reading [Giovanni Antonio] Scopoli. Dissatisfied with [Caspar] Bauhin's [(1560-1624) Swiss botanist] "Prodrumus" and unsurprised by Linnaeus' rare use of it. Enjoyed reading "Hortus Upsaliensis" over the winter. [Charles] Sutton has a "brother botanist" at Norwich, a chaplain of the Bishop, and associates in [William] Kirby [(1759-1850) entomologist], and [Peter] Lathbury of Orford, Suffolk, [(1760-1820) rector]. [John] Pi[t]chford requires 'Equisetum sylvaticum', has a 'Carex strigosa' found last summer near Bungay, Suffolk. Asks Smith for copy of Kew catalogue. In postscript if Smith can acquire seeds of 'Epilobium latifolium' through [Joseph Franz] Jacquin and has two 'Geranium palustre' and a 'Sal. alpinum'.

The genus "Broussonetia".

His trip to Paris: Broussonet took him to the Académie des Sciences in Paris and has enabled correspondence with Montpellier, [France]. [Jean Louis Antoine] Reynier [(1762-1824), botanist] meddling with politics and may end up in the Bastille; he is an observer of "considerable perspicacity" having determined 'Sonchus canadensis' without the the knowledge Smith had communicated. Purchased [Johan Daniel] Leers' ["Flora Herbornensis"] but plates are bad impressions.

Forster; insanity of Le Breton.

Sends specimens for determination, to be returned: one is possibly the true 'Dianthus glaucus' and the other a 'Potamogeton'. Received letter from [Samuel] Goodenough in which he states 'Carex caespitosa' does not grow in England; disagrees, also mentions 'C. gracilis'. Encloses 'Jungermania asplenioides' gathered near Holy-well, Flintshire; observations, it may be 'viticulosa'.

Asks after particulars of Smith's projected new work ["Icones pictae plantarum"]; hopes he will not forget a "Flora Britannica", the need for one. Sending specimens for Linnean Society of 'Salsola fruticosa' and 'Carex caespitosa' "Fl[ora] Ang[lica]". Believes 'Sparganium natans' will turn out to be 'S. simplex' Fl Ang.

A great deal of sickness in Genoa in the winter "has swept away a prodigious amount of our inhabitants". None of [William] Batt's [(1744-1812) physician and chemist] patients died, earning him great credit but the plants in his botanic garden have all been frozen, asks Smith to procure whatever replacements he can. Sir Thomas Rumbold [(1736-1791) administrator of India] and his family have been visiting. Asks to pass apologies to Lord Verney should Smith see him. Thanks Smith for items sent for his little museum. Sending a collection of petrifications for Smith from Baron de la Turbie. Thanks for the "English songs", which are "very acceptable", and are to be sung at a wedding. Postscript from Caffarena's wife, explaining how her mother has been unable to write and thanking Smith for the English songs.

Pleased that Lord Gainsborough [Henry Noel, 6th Earl of Gainsborough (1743-1798)] has been elected [to the Linnean Society] but intended for the proposal and election to be at different meetings. The King [George III (1738-1820)] is "so far better to have grown perfectly harmless & quiet, but he wavers almost every quarter of an hour" and informed that Dr [Francis] Willis [(1718-1807), physician to George III] thinks a perfect recovery will be accomplished in time with the attentions of friends. Goodenough concerned that people in the King's situation often relapse or continue with irregular waverings. The Chancellor [Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow (1731-1806)] saw the King yesterday and left convinced of necessity of immediately declaring the Regent, Goodenough convinced this likely and concludes that he understands that "the string upon which he goes off is Politicks particularly the German". Had not heard of the D of P [William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland (1738-1809)] declining a part in the admininstration, hopes it is not true.

Could not attend meeting on Tuesday because there was no moon for the return journey, fears his Royal Society certificate has been forgotten and asks Smith to ask Mr Greville, Mr Marsden, or Mr Blagden to sign it.

Thanks Smith for specimens, including one from Linnaean collections. Requests specimens of 'Salix reticulata', 'Salix rubra', and others as he plans to study 'Salix' in the Fens this summer. Promises greater part of Smith's desiderata except for some plants from his "Flora [Cantabrigiensis]". Hopes he is a FLS. Asks if Smith's Cryptogamia is so complete as to not need his assistance.

List of products of mines in the Duchy of Aosta that Baron d'Avise de Charvensod would like to exchange for samples from Cornish lead mines, Derbyshire mines and coal mines near Swanwick, Derbyshire. Has been unable to send promised drawings of birds and insects as preparations for the marriage of the Duke of Aoste have employed every painter in the city but shall try to send them soon. Introduces Henry Matthey of Turin who is attempting to set himself up in London, information on his family. Dr Ballardi has sent a box of plant specimens to Smith.

In Paris Broussonet took him to Académie des Sciences and established correspondence between him with [Jacques] Dorthes in Montpellier, [France]; no time for the Société d'Agriculture. Deep snow drifts on journey from Pontarlier, [France], to Orbe. Insulted by [Jean Louis Antoine] Reynier's [(1762-1824), botanist] criticism of his Latin. Found 'Carex tomentosa' for [Samuel] Goodenough. Ordered six copies of the new edition of Leers' ["Flora Herbornensis"] being published in Berlin. The lesser 'Caryophylla' in his herbarium could be worth Smith's attention. Believes they both hold 'Arenaria striata' and 'Arenaria liniflora'; the first is alpine and the second is Jurane and answers to plant at Kew. What he thought was a 'Colchium montanum' in his garden may be 'Bulbicodium', and if so an addition to the Swiss flora. Asks Smith's advice on 'Chenopodium' of Linnaeus and [Albrecht von] Haller with detailed reference to various publications. Has been sent Leers' 'Hypericum dubium' and a friend found Jacquin's '[Hypericum] barbatum'; offers to send these and 'Phaca australis' from Reynier's herbarium.

Thanks for specimens. Asks if [John] Lightfoot's annotated copy of [William] Hudson's "Flora Anglica" is still for sale at White's. [Thomas] Woodward agrees with him that his 'Carex caespitosa' is not 'C. gracilis' in a small state, as Smith and [Samuel] Goodenough think; observations. Sent Goodenough two specimens of a possible 'Galium isuliginosum'. Thanks for Smith's notes on 'Dianthus glaucus'; observations. Sending "smallest known" 'Potamogeton', possibly Hudson's 'P. setacea', and possible 'Lichen pertusus'.

Specimen label attached with note "'Mucor infusorius' Lee", no specimen extant.

Thanks for election as Honorary Member of the Linnean Society.

A case of a woman, Ann Sidley, with functional supernumerary nipples. Encloses the particulars and a drawing, written up by Mr Conquest, a surgeon of Chatham, for possible inclusion in "Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society" [not extant, nor does the account appear to have been published by the Royal Society]. Having examined the woman himself, makes his own observations by comparison to a similar case described in [Thomas] Bartholin's [(1616-1680)] "Anatomia Reformata". The curiosity only discovered when she began breastfeeding. Theorises on formation and connection of the "lactiferous tubes", illustrated with a small diagram.

Botanical losses by severe frost; details of temperatures; high opinion of Forster.