This letter is comprised of five double folios, each individually addressed.

Recently learnt that the parcel of plants he sent on 12 November was almost lost on the Goodwin Sands. Ashamed at his lethargy in completing his book. Observations on plants he has sent Smith in previous packets: no 30 in parcel of [22 May] 1789 by Mandrot 'Arenaria verna', no 6 in [31 May] 1790 parcel by Mandrot is 'Potentilla opaca'. Stubborness of Villars, his 'Arenaria triflora' is Smith's 'Arenaria pubescens', confusion over 'Potentilla'. Wishes Linnean Society had a small botanic garden for study of obscure European plants. Extensive numbered comments on parcel of plants sent via Mr Gooch 27 February 1790 [12 folios].

Observations on 'Crepis virens', 'Anemone', 'Saxifraga burseriana', 'Carduus acanthoides', 'Carduus inclinans'. Finds it difficult to remain indoors and focus on his book. Received "Icones pictae", it surpasses Jacquin's work especially figures of 'Euphorbia punicea'. Praises "English Botany". Asks Smith's advice for dealing with dispute between Wyttenbach and Haller on one side and himself and Lechenal on the other, percipitated by his becoming involved in the Swiss flora with his own book, they have reportedly left off thiers after Lechanel's refusal to be involved; details of events and occurences, if not for Smith they would disgust him from botany. Asks Smith's advice: his Latin is insufficient for completing his book and Wyttenbach has offered to look it over, must either trust to him or give it up. His health has been poor, stems from stomach which is weak and led him to becoming costive, prescribed infusion of rhubarb in cold water and a mixture chiefly containing Minderuus' spirit. Believes he gathered 'Lichen testaceus' for Smith. If he should die his books and plants should be admitted to Smith's use, as his botanical work is done solely for his benefit. Offers his work to Smith to be published as Linnaeus published work of his disciples.

Sends £20 for [James] Sowerby to pay for plates, "Florists Delight", and "English Botany". Discusses 'Lachenalia mediana', 'Lachenalia pallida' and 'Hyacinthus orchidioides' with reference to [Nikolaus von] Jacquin's "Icones plantarum rariorum" and [William Aiton's] "Hortus Kewensis". Received visit from [Joseph von] Jacquin who criticised [Albrecht von] Haller [(1758-1823)] and [Jacob] Wyttenbach's "premature" proposal [for new edition of elder Haller's "Icones plantarum Helvetiae"] and thinks this may be why they gave it up. Jacquin also provided introduction to [Carlo] Allioni and had not heard of Smith's intended "Systema Vegetabilium", thinks Jacquin "a good young man" but the botanical chair of Vienna "thirsts for preeminence". Will endeavour to repair relations with [William] Aiton [(1731-1793)]. Has moved earth for 3-4,000 pots, fears his health will be ruined before garden comes to fruition. Intends to send 'Carex tomentosa' grown from root, and intends to grow 'Schoenus ferrugineus'.

Sends jar of Chamouny honey made by bees that feed chiefly on 'Pinus larix', and specimen of 'Psora testacea' Hoffmann. [James] Dickson's 'Dentaria bulbifera' will not grow in his garden. Now has all of [Albrecht von] Haller's [(1708-1777)] anemones except for 'Anemone sylvestris' number 1150. Has not received Smith's differentia specifica of 'Lichen cucullatus, or 'Dianthus glaucus' Hudson, which he has found in Switzerland, would like it to be 'Potamogeton obtusum' . Exists as Smith's and the Linnean Society's delegate. Observations on the 'Potentilla opaca' and 'Potentilla villosa' following experiment planting them in pots and different soils. Urges Smith to follow botany rather than medicine. Lists plants growing in part of his garden he names "the Alps".

Postscript on recto of first folio indicates that Davall also sent box of lichens containing 'Lichen testaceus', and 'Lichen ciliatus', and possible 'Lichen aeruginosus' and 'Lichen common'.

Hopes Smith received the box of lichens he sent, intends to send new parcel of plants via Mr Mandrot. Classification of 'Dianthus glaucus' Hudson, [Werner de] Lachenal [(1736-1800)] convinced it is 'Dianthus plumarius', Haller's no 897. Anxious that [Jacob] Wyttenbach's "submissive respect for Haller" may lead him not to translate his manuscript if anything in it derogates Haller. Just received a box of live alpine plants, including 'Hieracium pumilum' and 'Hyoseris foetida'. Responds to points in Smith's letter of 4 January 1791: 'Ribes petraeum' did not grow from cuttings; 'Coronilla minima'; 'Graphalium orientale'; 'Rosa m' from Reynier; 'Saxifraga sedoides'. Sent [Edward] Forster wild, rare specimens in good condition and received in return a "heap of disfigured garden specimens".

[Letter possibly incomplete: no signature or valediction]

Asks Smith not to tell [Edward Forster] of this letter as he is offended by Forster sending "mouldy oleraceous specimens" in return "for some of Flora's pure & rarest productions". Sends parcel of plants with a former governess of the Duke of Argyll's children who is accompanying Mr Mandrot, including 'Satyrium repens' for [James] Dickson . Successfully weaned his daughter. Will send alpine lichen and 'Psora testacea'. Smith's publications: assumes Smith has finished "Flora Lapponica", asks when more of "Plantarum Icones" and "Icones pictae" appear, would like to be kept up to date with "English Botany", and when "Systema vegetabilum" and "Obs. Bot." are out. 'Cypripedium calceolus' in flower, 'Ranunculus parnasifolius' and 'Arenaria grandiflora' in flower, and 'Anemone alpina' flowering for first time five years after transplantation.

Received Smith's "Spicilegium botanicum", 'Arenaria saxatilis' and '[Acrosticum marantae]'. Describes death of his infant daughter and his grief; he and his wife are to holiday in Switzerland. Leaf of plant number 53 of his parcel by Mandrot 1790 belongs to 'Sium latifolium', quotes [Johannes] Loesel [(1607-1655)]. Will send seed of 'Cerinthe perennis', which he previously sent as 'Cerinthe intermedia', hopes it could be figured in "Spicilegium botanicum". Hopes to send parcel of plants via Flaction before departing.

Staying with [Werner de] Lachenal [(1736-1800)]. Dispatched a parcel of plants to Smith via Flaction; requests seeds and plants of [Robert] Teesdale and [James] Lee. Requests plates for his intended work from [James] Sowerby. Surprised to find his herbarium richer than Lachenal's in alpines: gave him Haller's "little 'Gentiana' (tenella Rottboel of ED)" and he immediately went to [Nikolaus von] Jacquin's "Miscellanea [Austriaca]" for 'Swertia carinthiaca', they are very alike except for flower. Lachenal has 'Morina persica', not at Kew. Criticises Lachenal's botanical culture and gardening skills. Delighted to see 'Cypripedium bulbosum'.

Arrived back in Orbe unwell; taking purgative mineral waters of Saidschultz, Hungary. Sending seed of 'Cerinthe [perennis]' for Smith via Mr Mandrot; would prefer Smith figured it rather than [Joseph von] Jacquin. As 'Cerinthe perennis' forms a very stout root if in a pot it should be transplanted to the open to flower.

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.

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.