The fish specimen that he thought was 'Uranoscopus' is in fact 'Perca alepidota', is sending it to Smith along with other unspecified specimens.

His wife gave birth to a daughter. He suffered from diarrhea for last three weeks. Collected 'Schoenus ferrugineus' and 'Satyrium repens' for Smith. Will send Smith 'Bartsia alpina' every year. Frustrated that out of paternal concern Mr Mandrot refused to pay more than 10 guineas for [James] Sowerby's work on his plates. Work on his book very slow and does not feel capable of producing a second and in future will send his notes to Smith or publish them through Linnean Society; feels he would be more useful to Smith botanising in his garden and in the wild. [Werner de] Lachenal is not jealous of the book and encourages him as it will be useful for his own intended "Flora Helo. Linnaeus ordine". [Jacob] Wyttenbach and young [Albrecht von] Haller [(1758-1823)] have offended himself and Lachenal in pursuit of their work [new edition of elder Haller's "Icones plantarum Helvetiae"] and transcribes, in French, long extract from offensive letter sent by Wyttenbach who wishes to use Davall's plates in the new edition.

Observations on various Alpine plants: 'Arenaria striata', 'Arenaria liniflora', 'Hypericum babatum', particular observations on 'Hypericum richeri', 'Saxifraga ajugifolia', 'Arenaria grandiflora' and 'Arenaria triflora', 'Arenaria laricifolia' and 'Arenaria liniflora' of Bauhin, now thinks what he thought were two plants of 'Chenopodium polyspermum' are the same plant in different stages of growth. Discusses in detail 'Cerinthe' from one of his previous packets. No longer thinks Haller is correct to name 'Alium angulosum' the same as 'Alium senescens'; compares with plants of [Nikolaus von] Jacquin's "Flora Austriaca" t423 and Gmelin's ["Flora Sibirica"] t11 f3. Discussion of Haller's plants 30 and 31. Anecdote relating to sale of Haller's library: in the same year it was sold to the Emperor there was a fireworks display costing £1500, when a smaller sum would have kept the library. Developing an area in his aunt's garden for shelter and a different exposure for about 800 plants in pots. Convinced Haller's plant number 30, in his parcel of 27 February 1790, is 'Salsola prostrata' of Jacquin's "Flora Austriacta". Plant 59 'Euphorbia gerardiana'.

In postscript down left-hand margin of recto of first folio Davall has written that he has been very ill since writing this letter, and hopes Smith received a letter from Mrs [Henriette] Davall [letter is dated "by post of 14 Sept 1790" but was evidently written before].

Letter sent by Merlet de la Boulaye in Angers to Smith. The Paris bust of Linnaeus ; the Botanic Garden damaged by rebels ; exchange of desiderata ; the 'Hortus Kewensis.'

Urges Smith to come early in order to see her large 'Portlandia', which now has twelve flowers in flower, and to bring [Jonas] Dryander and [Adam Afzelius].

News; gratification at election as FMLS; his researches in the Alps; preparing a new ed. of Haller's 'Hist. Stirpium'; irritability of plants; mineralogy.

Discusses English 'Mentha': received 'Mentha villosa' [Hudson] "Fl[ora] Ang[lica]" from [Samuel] Goodenough which confirms that 'Mentha villosa' [Ray] "Syn[opsis methodica]" 233.1 is not the true one and is probably related to 'Mentha viridis', sends specimen to Smith and makes his own observations, asks how Linnaeus has marked it and 'Mentha verticillata' in his copy of Ray's book. Requests specimen of 'Mentha sativa'; asks if Ray's 'Mentha verticillata' is same as Linnaeus'; [John] Lightfoot found only 'Mentha gentilis' around Hackney and Peckham, encloses a Norfolk specimen of it [extant]. Lightfoot believes 'Mentha viridis' is related to 'Mentha sylvestris'. Believes botanists might be wrong to disregard the length of 'Mentha' stamina.

[On separate folio] Further observations on [William] Hudson's descriptions of 'Mentha villosa', 'M. sylvestris and 'M. rotundifolia', 'M. aquatica', 'M. gentilis', 'M. arvensis', and 'M. satvia'.

Specimen of 'Mentha gentilis', label states it is from William Sole.

Sent [James] Sowerby flower of 'Myrtus tomentosa', which he is painting life sized for her "in its full dignity of royal purple", it flowers "for ever" but they turn white after a few days in sun. Astonished by how much the 'Passiflora' in her hothouse has flowered, called "the Bats wing" by herself and 'P. vespertilio' by [Samuel] Goodenough, resembles the one in Smith's ["Icones pictae plantarum rariorum...", 'Passiflora lunata']; will send pressed flower, fresh flower and leaves for comparison, notes her own observations. Loddiges sent it as true 'Passiflora vespertilio' with two 'Cinnamomum', one which Loddiges insists is the true and the other the same as Mr Hastings', a mango, and white flower variety of 'Rhododendron mexicana'.

Jokes that she will soon be King's Bench Prison [debtors' prison in Southwark, London] where she "shall look for relief to some of my botanical friends".

Thanks for election as FMLS. Sending his paper on genus 'Dillenia' for "Linnean Transactions". Received a specimen of 'Ternstromia', a species of his 'Cleyera'. Awaiting list of Smith's plant requirements, but in meantime enclosing specimes of 'Hovenia' and other grasses. Whilst he was in Africa received specimen of 'Wachendorfia graminifolia', and brought back from Japan nuts of 'Gingko bilboa', but has been unable to obtain flowers from it.

Received from Smith academic dissertations by Linnaeus, plants for his herbarium and seeds, which have been planted in [Rodrigo de] Sousa [Coutinho's] garden, suggests in future Smith sends seeds rather than dried specimens to Sousa. Planning to write to [Edmund] Davall. Hopes to see a new edition of Smith's "Vegetabilium System", a bookseller in Turin would like every book on botany or natural history Smith has published or intends to publish. Satisfied with Smith's observations on the plants of uncertain classification, has consulted Scheuchzer's "Agrostographiae Helveticae Prodromus", is certain that the 'Phalaris' in question is the one described by Linnaeus and not 'Radice perenni', on which he is currently working on a memoir of for the Academy of Sciences. The 'Arenaria' he sent with the name of 'Saxatilis vill' is a perennial. Discussion of 'Arenaria zanoni', 'Arenaria flaccida', 'Arenaria capillacea', 'Arenaria striata'. Asks for advice on 'Allium nigrum', 'Potentilla verna', 'Androsace lactea', 'Ranunculus cuneifolium', 'Campanula rupestris', 'Trifolium aureum', 'Spartium [...]', 'Asperula saxatilis', 'Asperula cynanchica', 'Festuca decidua', 'Radix perennis', 'Polypodium [pessimalte]', 'Anthemis altissima', all of which Smith has received from Bellardi, this list is underlined in pencil.

Thanks for books. Introduces Onofrio Scasso, a physician who studied at Pavia University and is now in London to learn new skills. Thanks for being made ALS. Has been neglecting his natural history studies since his appointment as assistant lecturer to chair of anatomy, occupied by his father.

Struggling to grow the seeds sent by Smith due to their arrival late in the season. [William] Thomson [(c 1760-1806), mineralogist and physician] is to visit him and although pleased is disturbed by the reason for his journey [Thomson was disgraced in 1790 following imputations from a previous experiment on a man and accusations of "improper behaviour" with a servant boy]. Involved in sourcing the Republic's army with clothing and other items. Introduces Dr Onofrio Scasto who is carrying the letter and travelling with Mr Malis. Requests seeds, especially of 'Passiflora', 'Mimosa', 'Robinia', 'Aeschinomene', 'Cassia', and 'Lantana', amongst others. Attempting to grow 'Phaseolus caracalla' again after it died in cold weather.

Introduces Mr Istria, a medical doctor interested in natural history and botany.

Sending Smith eight volumes of the Royal Agricultural Society of Turin via Dr Istria, who is travelling to London with the Marquess of Moss, asks that Smith introduces Istria to the medical establishment. Also sending a dissertation on the propagation of mushrooms, work by Mr Pic and a pamphlet by Mr Bonansea on a new theory on the internal cause of the putrid fever. Has had to postpone sending dried plant specimens. Hopes in future to send the five volumes of the old Royal Academy of Sciences of Turin and the three volumes of the new Royal Academy of Sciences. Thanks Smith for the paper he sent on the "propagation of species" and seeds of 'Smithia' and welcomes his paper on ferns and on any other subject of natural history.

Introduces Boncal.

Will let Smith decided whether her gift of ["Icones pictae plantarum rariorum.."] for [Edmund] Davall should be the large or small copy. Her 'Portlandia', in addition to the 17 flowers Smith saw on it at once, keeps flowering without signs of exhaustion and has two fruits swelling on it, though most are not, asks in what state he would like to inspect them. Asks after [James] Sowerby's drawings of 'Portlandia' and 'Myrtus tomentosa' for her.

Requests copy of lesser sized ["Icones pictae plantarum rariorum.."] for herself with both English and Latin, and Duchess of Portland [Dorothy Bentinck], Mrs [Elizabeth] Weddell, and [William Fitzwilliam, 4th Earl] Fitzwilliam [(1748-1833)] will also want copies.

Edmund Davall writes: sending small parcel of plants. [Jacob] Wyttenbach and [Albrecht von] Haller [(1758-1823)] have given up plan for their work [new edition of the elder Haller's "Icones plantarum Helvetiae"] and he has refused to allow Wyttenbach a reimpression of his plates for their work; transcribes, in French, Wyttenbach's response. Does not consider it a burden to collect plants such as 'Satyrium repens' for Smith. Procured copy of [Nikolaus von] Jacquin's "Enumeratio stirpium [...] agro Vindobonensi...", with plates, for Smith. Will settle [James] Sowerby's bill for work on his plates, also requests second fasciculus of Sowerby's "Florists Delight" for his wife and commissions drawings of 'Limodorum', 'Tankervilli', 'Strelitzia', 'Protea mellifera' and another "fine showy & rare plants" for his wife's room. Thinks his 'Cerinthe' is Haller's 602, and that Haller may have fabricated descriptions, prefers scientific name 'Cerinthe perennis'.

Henriette Davall writes in a postscript, in French: [description to follow].

Smith will receive a copy each of his two new works, one on miliary fever and the other entitled "Conspectus presentaneae morborum conditionis".

Declined Mr Bromfield's drawings as Smith's information on 'Coralline' was decisive and is out of her area of interest. Much more inclined to send [Edmund] Davall the larger copy of Smith's ["Icones pictae plantarum rariorum.."].

Offers her hothouse 'Gordonia pubescens' to be drawn by [James] Sowerby; notices that Linnaeus and Kew place 'Gordonia' under different classes, hers seems 'Monogynia' but inside of flower resembles 'Camelia'. Lightning and distant thunder yesterday evening.

Smith elected Associate Foreign Member of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Turin in preference to [Peter Simon] Pallas and others by a majority of seventeen to two. Dr Istria was unable to bring to London the promised six volumes of memoirs of the Royal Agricultural Society of Turin.

Smith has been elected as a foreign member of the Turin Academy. Looking forward to receiving dried plants promised by Smith.