Introduces himself and his botanical work: has collected 1200 plants from the 10 sq miles of his neighbourhood, from which he is publishing an "Index florae Lancastriensis" in the third volume of the Transactions of the Philadelphia Philosophical Society. Is now making a full description of the indigenous plants of Pennslyvania in the fashion of [William] Withering, [John] Lightfoot, or [Carl Peter] Thunberg, but frustrated by his ignorance of which plants Linnaeus has already described. Received some assistance from [Johann Christian Daniel von] Schreber, now requests Smith's assitance after seeing him mentioned as holder of Linnaean collections by [Jonathan] Stokes in "Withering's Arranagement". Offers to send prepared specimens for Smith to confirm.

Sending numbered Lancastrian plants for Smith's attention, including all the local ferns. Will send mosses and lichens in next shipment, of which he has observed 'Lycopodia', 'Mnia', 'Sphagnum', 'Phaseum', 'Fontinalis', 'Polytrichum', 'Brya', 'Hypna', 'Jungermannia', and 'Marchantia'. Cannot obtain Dillenius' "excellent work" ["Historia muscorum"] but expecting [Johann] Hedwig's "later works" ["Descriptio muscorum"]. Assisted with his work on lichens by [Georg Franz] Hoffmann's "Enumeratio lichenum". Using Schaeffer's "Fungi" to identify the local fungi but still unsure on many. Asks for Smith's particular attention on several numbered plants. Generally confused by 'Carex', 'Solidago', 'Aster', 'Asclepias', 'Polygala', and 'Hedysarum'. Unfortunate that [William] Aiton's "Hortus Kewensis" is out of print as it is valuable for American botanists. Lists some of his American botanical correspondents: Dr Culler in New England; Mitchill in New York; Barton, Barkram, and Marshall in Pennsylvania; Kramsch in North Carolina; and in Germany [Johann Christian Daniel von] Schreber and Hoffmann. Asks Smith to investigate a box of specimens sent to Philadelphia by Hoffmann but possibly delayed in London.

The 234 dried plants he sent Smith are still in Philadelphia after missing ships and a "dreadfull sickness" in the city that stopped communications. Sending seventy-eight 'Cryptogamic' plants additional to those already sent. His "Index florae Lancastriensis" now published in Transactions of Philadelphia Philosophical Society, offers to send any plants Smith wants from it. Limited usefulness of [Johann Christian] Schaeffer's "Fungi". Queries: asks if 'Hypericum setosum' and 'Sarothra gentianoides' are really different plants; if 'Cassia ligustrina' and 'Cassia marilandica', 'Asclepias tuberosa' and 'Asclepias decumbens', 'Ambrosia elatior' and 'Ambrosia artemisiifolia', 'Urtica capitata' and 'Urtica cylindrica', and 'Rumex britannica' and 'Rumex persicaria', are different and how; if there is a book on North American plants containing figures, and if Plukenet in particular is one. Smith has annotated some of these queries with brief responses, in pencil.

Anxious to hear of the two packets of dried plants, numbered 1-234, and 235-313, he sent Smith from Philadelphia, [Pennsylvania], December 1793. Sending a third packet, consisting entirely of 'Lichen'. "Unhappy troubles in the old Countries" have broken correspondence with his German friends, hopes Smith will prove more constant.

Sending a third packet of local plants to Smith composed of grasses, his favourite, they are listed on second and third pages. Hopes the second packet formed of Lichens has arrived. Offers to send plants from Carolina, Kentucky, and some of the northern states. Very gratified by the observations Smith sent in repsonse to the first packet of plants.

Received Smith's letter of June 1796. Preparing a new packet of plants to send, including some better quality specimens of those previously sent. Discusses previously sent plants, including whether 'Acnida cannabina' should be renamed either 'Acnida celosioides' or 'Acnida amaranthoides'. Growing 'Orchideae' in his garden to eventually send on to Smith. Willing to send Smith any American plant but believes most are already in Kew Garden. Sending seed of 'Trollius ? americanus' and 'Pedicularis aspleniifolia'. Anxious for Smith's next set of observations. Asks if American trees are superficially described and specifically whether 'Juglans cinerea' L is the 'Juglans oblonga' of [Philip] Miller and if Linnaeus made 'J. oblonga' a variety of 'J. nigra'.

Has not heard from Smith since 1796, uncertain if this is due to the turbulent times or if Smith is even alive. Receives curious plants from his botanic correspondents, believes many are unknown in Europe. His attempts at describing them hindered by inability to determine the trivial names without the Linnaean herbarium. Asks for Smith's observations on plants he has previously sent and asks permission to send more. Struggles with complexities of 'Carex', 'Asclepias', 'Vaccinium', 'Aster', 'Solidago', 'Viola', 'Salix', and 'Hedysarum'. Gives brief descriptions of local species of 'Vaccinium' he has already sent to help Smith determine the trivial name.

Four sided list of queries and notes on the numbered plants he has sent Smith over the previous six years.

Has not heard from Smith for a year but anxious for his observations. Has been assisted by [Carl Ludwig] Willdenow but doubtful whether "he has hit the Linnaean plant". Complains about how often Linnaeus is wrongly cited, even in [Jan Frederik] Gronovius' "Flora Virginica". Asks if there is anyone in London to compare American plants with herbarium of Gronovius and [John] Clayton, which is in London. Has asked a similar question in Paris of [André] Michaux's herbarium, whom he remarks neglected to keep Linnaeus' received names. List of queries from "Flora Virginica" by page, asks if "Linnean Transactions" might not answer these and similar queries for those "who live at a distance from the fountain". A second list of queries asking Smith to fix the names of some plants he previously sent. Asks permission to send another packet of plants, will send it with Mr Lyons, gardener at William Hamilton's "excellent botanical garden" near Philadelphia. Asks if Dawson Turner is still alive as Turner wanted 'Conferva' specimens. News of North American botanical publications: reviews Michaux's work ["Flora Boreali-Americana"]; Barton preparing a Flora of Pennsylvania and possibly neighbouring states; Brickel preparing a Flora Georgiana; himself compiling a description of indiginous Lancastrian plants but struggles with the cryptogamia class compounded by death of [Johann] Hedwig, anxious to see the relevant volume of "Flora Britannica". Gives brief descriptions of local species of 'Populus' to help Smith determine them.

Received Smith's letter of 22 December 1807, but is hindered by disrupted navigation from sending anything other than a letter. His own observations in response to Smith's observations on plant specimens 703-780. Lists those of his plant specimens sent to Smith still to be determined. [Carl] Willdenow has not written to him for some time, so still in doubt over the specimens he sent for determination.

Received [Dawson] Turner's "Muscologiae Hibernicae" and his treatise on 'Fucus' ["A synopsis of the British Fucus"].

Received Smith's letter of September 1809, along with a letter from Olof Swartz the only communications from his European correspondents. Enjoyed Smith's "Flora Britannica". Thanks for Smith's observations on his plants numbered 708 to 803, responds with list of queries on his previously sent numbered specimens. Will send new packet of plants via Liverpool.

Has not heard from from Smith or any of his other botanical correspondents for a long time, "botany has suffered much [...] by the unhappy interruption of mutual communications" [War of 1812, conflict between the US and Britain in North America, 1812-1815]. The President has given permission for Mr Whiston to travel to England to return with plants "for the use of science", Whiston introduced the [medicinal?] use of 'Urtica' and 'Asclepias' to America. Sending with him copies of his pocket book "Catalogus plantarum Americae septentrionalis", complains of difficulty of getting it or similar published. Hopes Smith and Sir Joseph Banks will assist Whiston. No book on fungi with figures in any of the public libraries of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, or Charlestown, asks [Dawson] Turner's book can be sent, or if specimens could be sent for comparisons with his own collection. Intends to send Turner specimens once navigation reopens. Would like observations on the 'Solidago' specimens he previously sent.