No summary available.

Sends two dissertations: [Linnaeus'] "Reflections on the Study of Nature", the other is not named. Happy to hear that a new edition of Linnaeus' "Systema Vegetabilium" is to be published. Thanks for the copy of the "inaugural dissertation". Remarks that Botany is making little progress in Dublin, the only person well informed is [Walter] Wade who is giving lectures but is entirely self-taught. Parliamentary aid for establishing a Botanic Garden has been granted but progress is very slow.

Alarmed to hear that Smith is in Matlock for his health; asks after it another work he had due out. His opinion of "Flora Lapponica". Sir Thomas Cullum received legacy of £5000 from his brother-in-law, Mr Palmer, making him much more comfortable; recipients of the remainder.

'Ophrys anthropophora' and 'O. nidus-avis' recently found in abundance near Bury, [Suffolk], and 'Ornithogalum pyrenaicum' wild near Yoxford, Suffolk. Asks Smith's opinion of Hoffmann's "Plantae lichenosae" and "Salices" [see RelatedMaterial below]. His account with Smith.

Thanks for Woodward's letter [of 19 June 1792]. His health bad since April, following various inflammatory attacks on his lungs, for which he has come to Matlock, several relapses but much recovered. Dr [Erasmus] Darwin is here, "a fine old man, full of enthusiasm", who wants to become a FLS, thinks Sir Brooke Boothby [7th baronet, (1744-1824), poet and writer] would, too. Admires Woodward's friend, Mr Favell. His new work is the second part of "Spicilegium botanicum".

Requests specimen of 'Ornithogalum pyrenaicum'. Abundance of bee and fly orchids here and he collected many lichens off the high rocks of Cromford moor, including: 'Lichen omphalodes', 'L. saxatalis', 'L. globiferus', 'L. fragilis', 'L. physodes', 'L. sanguinarius', 'L. ventosus', 'L. tartareus', 'L. calcareus', 'L. polyphyllus', and 'Jungermannia tridentata' but not in flower. Studied Hoffmann's works little but they seem very good, he is Murray's successor at Gottingen. Comparison of his "Flora Lapponica" with the original will show he corrected the citations very much. He has been lonely in Matlock.

Sending two specimens of 'Trifolium'; plants.

Following pleuritic attacks in spring and summer has come to Matlock Bath for air and waters. Sending locally gathered mosses and lichens with this letter. Responds to Davall's letter of 18 May 1792: has not yet received Davall's two packets; recommends he take the Bath waters or similar for his stomach; condolences on death of his baby; entreats him not to overexert himself in the garden or fields, to avoid damp and evening air, and wet feet; thanks for seeds of 'Carduus crispus'; spending two or three weeks at Windsor soon [teaching Royal Family botany]; [Dominique] Villars correct in what he says, he [Smith] will write preface for his paper on 'Arenaria' for second volume of "Linnean Transactions" in which he will fully explain his method of ascertaining the Linnaean species from original numbered and marked specimens, and show in what cases synonyms are to be greater authority than the herbarium, citing example of 'Carex pilulifera'; thanks for quotation from Schreber, pleased with his praise and has written to him on the strength of it.

[Joseph] Gaertner has died but finished his book in second volume ["De fructibus et seminibus plantarum" (1788-1805)], he is very severe on Linnaeus "but a good author may be pardoned for a few prejudices'. Surprised at the attention his "introductory discourse" has received; Father Gregorio Fontana, mathematical professor at Pavia, has translated it into Italian.

Received parcel of plants from Botany Bay, many unknown to [Sir Joseph] Banks and others, with coloured drawings of most, and if Banks will not publish his work sees no reason not to publish these. Paper on 'Filices' not quite finished. Considers it settled that 'Trichomanes canariense' is to be 'Davallia'. Sending Davall a "choice copy" of second part of "Icones pictae", a present from Lady Rockingham, and second part of "Spicilegium Botanicum"; hopes he approves of 'Ligusticum cornubiense'. Encloses part of 'Byssus aurea'. Also encloses for Mrs Davall a small smelling bottle made of the "beautiful spar of this place".

Note at end of letter: "to remark that 'Poa salina' of Pollich is = distans as well as the retroflexa of Curtis".

He has had a relapse since arriving but now well, and as the waters do him "great service" will stay for another 8 or 10 days. Asks that Sowerby send [Edmund] Davall copies of second numbers of both "Icones pictae" and "Spicilegium botanicum". Sending box of plants for "English botany", including: 'Lithospermum officinale', 'Cardamine impatiens', 'Aquilegia vulgaris', 'Arenaria verna', 'Thlaspi montanum', 'Polygala vulgaris', 'Lysimachia nemorum', 'Cistus helianthemum', 'Euphrasia officinalis', 'Poterium sanguisorba', 'Galium', 'Byssus aurea'; brief notes on characteristics of each.