Sends "Atraphaxis"; exchange of duplicates.

Replied to Smith's letter of 19 May [1785]. Remarks on Smith's proposed "Flora Britannica"; can wait for Smith to finish his Edinburgh studies to ensure it is perfect; convinced many plants not in [John] Lightfoot will be found in Scotland; Smith may finish before [William] Withering's ["Botanical arrangement"]. Withering publishing a pamphlet on medicinal properties of 'Digitalis'. Received [James] Dickson's "Fasciculus", remarks on plants: 'Hypnum stellatum', 'Targionia hypophylla', 'Sphaeria maxima', 'Lycoperdon fraxinum'. Dickson and Smith's Oxford journey postponed. Fossils: commissions Smith to purchase books for him.

Finds that the 'Melampyrum sylsaticum' in woods near Bungay is 'M. pratense'; 'Scleranthus perrenis' plentiful here and near Norwich. Minerals. Discusses Linnaean collections; glad Smith is not disposing of the fossils yet. Commissions for White's [bookseller]. Account of a balloon ascent at Norwich, by Mr Decker, in stormy conditions. He and [Robert] Stone [(c 1751-1829), botanist] are to botanise on Suffolk coast in July.

Postscript at top of verso of first folio: has two young plants from seed of 'Rumex paludosus' from Dr [John] Hope's garden; observations.

Sending several good specimens of 'Myriophyllum verticillatum'; observations.

[Note in Smith's hand:] "right JES".

Captain Cook's and other expeditions rich in results; expected return of Desfontaines; Lamarck's collections.

Thanks Smith for trying to bring himself and [John] Pitchford together. Grief at death of the Duchess of Portland [Margaret Cavendish Bentinck (1715-1785) wife of 2nd Duke of Portland], her collection to be auctioned February and March 1786 in Whitehall.

Thanks for Smith's civilities in London. Encloses a plant from [Thomas] Woodward; observations on its possible classification. Notes on 'Matricaria' and 'Chenopodium'.

[John] Pitchford sending Smith specimens of 'Orobanche ramosa'; observations and long character description. Received 'Oleum cajeput' from Pitchford. Ordered [Richard] Relhan's "Flora Cantabrigiensis" for Smith. Requests Schmidel's "de Buxkaumia" and Schreber's "de Phases" if he comes across them in Europe.

Linnaeus' manuscripts "a very great acquisition, [...] the world may wonder that such a collection was ever permitted to leave the country in which it was made"; expecting another volume of "Amoenitates academicae" from Smith. Asks Linnaeus' motive for crediting his dissertations to others, suspects vanity. Praises [James] Dickson, bearer of Smith's letter; hosted him before he left for Highland expedition; account of his time in Edinburgh. Comments on Smith's decision to gain degree from Leyden; "an Edinburgh degree is far superior to & more honorable than any other".

Congratulates Smith on his election as FRS. Discusses recent publications by Sparrman and [Richard] Relhan. Account of debate with Dr [Thomas] Beddoes [(1760-1808), chemist and physician] concerning latter's "joy at seeing commencement of the attack on Linnaeus' system".

Replies to Smith's letter of 24 October [1785], having heard that Smith's Europe trip is postponed until spring. Further observations on 'Orobanche ramosa' he sent Smith and another parasitic plant in Huntingdonshire, 'Cuscuta'. Responds to remarks on plants in Smith's previous letter [see RelatedMaterial below], including: 'Milium lendigerum' being 'Agrostis australis', 'Bromus', 'Festuca repens', and [Charles] Bryant's [(d 1799)] 'Carex'. [Richard] Relhan to publish a Cryptogamic appendix to his "Flora [Cantabrigiensis]"; comments on 'Sphaeriae'. Comments on 'Sisymbrium murale' and 'S. catholicum'.

Knows nothing of '[Salix] fissa' but from [James] Crowe and bad specimens from Edward Forster; its distinction from 'S. rubra' of "Flora Anglica". Wishes Smith would settle between Mr Francis and himself whether 'Mnium tripomanis' and 'M. fissum' Linnaeus are not the same species, and whether [James] Dickson is mistaken in calling '[Jungermannia] nemorosa' '[Jungermannia] resupinata'.

[Note attached, unknown hand] "For Dr Smith from Dr Pulteney" [and in Smith's hand] "Lycoperdon anemones Linn. Trans.".

Thanks for Smith's remote "uncommon care" and medical advice; his current state of health.

Requests return of drawings when finished with. Thanks [John] Lightfoot for the 'Chenopodium', his 'C. rubrum' is correct but but 'C. urbicum' not Linnaeus'; his 'Matricaria chamomilla' is 'Chrysanthemum inodorum'. 'Orobanche ramosa' a valuable discovery.

Mr Humphrey is "grown almost childish" after suffering a hemiplegia; principal symptoms; a young lady suffering severe case successfully treated with the Bark with steel and aromatics.

Discovery of 'Sphaeria' Micheli ["Plantarum genera"] Pl.104 Tab.55, sends drawing, discusses how it has been universally found growing parasitically on 'Lycoperdon cervinum', possibility of Linnaeus confounding 'Lycoperdon cervinum' with 'Lycoperdon spadiceum', believes they may have been first to disover the true 'L. cervinum' in England.

Received a 'Lichen fuliginosus' of [James] Dickson and a 'Lichen croceus' which accords to [John Lightfoot's] "Fl[ora] Scot[ica]", asks Smith to compare his specimens. Reviews James Bolton's "History of English Ferns", highlights errors with 'Polypodium aculeatum', 'Polypodium fragrans', 'Polypodium [thelypteris]', 'Polypodium lobatum'. Asks Smith's opinion of [Anders] Spaarman's "Voyage to the Cape". Asks likelihood of a good herbarium selling for between £20 and £50 at an auction such as the Duchess of Portland's. 'Phallus caninus' and 'Peziza stipitata' found.

Asks after Sir Joseph [Banks'] rules in regard to a Latin quotation, having disfavourably compared the [Christian Gottlob] Heyne's edition of Tibullus recommended to him with Broukhuyse. Wishes to borrow third volume of [Linnaeus'] "Amoenitates", requests seeds of 'Hesperis verna'. Has [René Antoine Ferchault de] Réaumur's [(1683-1757) French scientist] "Methode d'éclore des oeufs" ["Method of hatching eggs"]. Wishes to see [Carl Alexander] Clerck's [(1709-1765)] work on insects ["Svenska spindlar"]. Would like Smith's translation of Linnaeus on the sexes of plants and Smith's translation and notes of [Lazzaro] Spallanzani [(1729-1799) Italian biologist]. Asks Smith to look at aphorisms in Linneaus' manuscript notes he might have occasion to quote. Reminds Smith of talk of producing a new edition of "Philosophia botanica". Numbered extracts on plants, in Latin. States importance of natural history artists representing nature "justly", in reference to [George] Edwards' [(1694-1773) artist and ornithologist] "[Gleanings of] Natural History". Recommends using balloons to observe the nests and eggs of tropical birds considering Sir Issac Newton's observations on visually distorting effects of the atmosphere when using telescopes.

Thanks for Smith's hospitality whilst in England. Presumes Smith knows that [Pierre Marie Auguste] Broussonet is coming to England. Believes it "impossible for a man of sense that hath been sometime in England, to be satisfied with [France]". Remarks that the opposition between the "French and English fas[h]ions" exceeds what Smith had supposed and is waiting for Smith to arrive before giving his opinon of "childish and foolish manners" of the French. Paris contains very little of anything new in entomological collections, critical of the poor arrangement of the collections, especially the King's cabinet. Broussonet and another person are the only people to have their collections scientifically arranged.

Thanks for copy of Smith's dissertation ["on the sexes of plants" (1786)] and for dedicating it to him. On further consideration has decided against his plans for large scale publication of entirety of 'Asafoetida', especially as Sir Joseph Banks had done it in best way possible. Pleased by Smith's intention to publish new edition of "Species plantarum"; wishes that the King would give Smith a pension so that he could give up medicine for Botany.

Sends specimens for [Samuel] Goodenough, including: 'Orobance ramosa' near Bungay; 'Lobelia urens' Shute Common, Devon; 'Galium pusillum' Matlock, Derbyshire; 'Melampyrum arvense' near Norwich, Norfolk; 'Marchantia conica' Bungay; 'Lycopodium alpinum' Old Man of Coniston, Lancashire, the hill evidently a former volcano; and 'Astriplex pedunculata'. Sends 'Orobance ramosa' for Sir Joseph Banks, [James] Dickson, and [William] Curtis and will send Banks Norwich specimen of 'Bromus arvense' when found. Sends Smith possible variety of 'Ervum tetraspermum'.

Examined [Albrecht von] Haller's plates and descriptions according to [William] Hudson's reference; notes. List of his Hudson desiderata: 'Poa alpinia', 'Juncus filiformis', 'Elatine alsinastrum', 'Orchis corioptore', 'Salyrium hircitrum', 'Carex limosa', and 'Carex strigosa' are marked. Sends Smith specimens of 'Marchantia conica'. His bookseller, T Miller, reports from Portland sale that lots sold cheap, that Da Costa was a great buyer, and Royal Admiral shells sold for £1 6s 9d each.

Presumes Smith has left for Holland from Yarmouth, Norfolk. The 'Sisymbrium murale' Smith sent is growing, shall compare the plant with the descriptions of Linnaeus, [William] Curtis, and [William] Hudson. Asks if the difference between 'Sisymbrium murale' and 'Sisymbrium murens' comes from soil and culture. Compliments Smith's translation [of Linnaeus dissertation], many have ordered copies of it. Hopes Smith will be able to revise and correct the defects in Linnaeus' system although has gained much from [Johan Anders] Murray's editions. Warns Smith against current taste of publishing numerous vapid volumes. Wishes Smith enquire in Leyden, Holland, what 'Alyssum siculum' now there is an 'Alyssum maritimum'. Asks Smith to purchase for him the works of [Hieronymus David] Gaubius [(1705-1780) German physician and chemist]. Received seeds of 'Trifolium alpestre', 'Hesperis [verna]', '[Hesperis] obovata' from Mr Dixon.

Thanks Smith for showing him the Linnaean collections. Requests small specimen of Linnaeus' handwriting

Has sent a letter introducing Smith to Professor [Frédéric-Louis] Allamand of Le[i]den, and will ask Allamand to introduce Smith to Professor [David] van Royen. Also a copy of Banks' letter of introduction, in Smith's hand.