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.

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.

Received Smith's of 13 June, congratulations on becoming MD. Thanks for purchasing works of [Hieronymus David] Gaubius [(1705-1780) German physician and chemist]. The '[Pancratium maritimum]' Smith sent is growing well but the 'Mantis. alt.' is not. Requests "Traité de la Versification Latine" by Pere [Noël-Etienne] Sanadon and "Tacite" by l'Abbé Brotier. Thanks for remarks on 'Conium royenii' and 'Alyssum minimum', discusses latter mentioning 'Clypeola maritima' and 'Alyssum siculum'. Smith's 'Sisymbrium murale' is flourishing, takes it to be 'Brassica erucastrum' of Linnaeus, believes Linnaeus never saw 'Brassica muralis' and made 'Sisymbrium murale' a French rather than British plant, would like Smith to confirm. Lists plants recently found in Norfolk: 'Stellaria dichotoma', 'Pinguicula', 'Drosera', 'Anagallis tenella' and 'Melampyrum arvense'. A 'Verbascum pulverulentum' they take to be a variety of 'Verbascum lychnitis', so variable that he doubts the number of actual species. In Paris asks Smith to examine 'Coffea arabica' and 'Coffea occidentalis'. Presumes [David] van Royen [(1727-1799)] is pursuing the system of his uncle [Adriaan van Royen (1704-1779) Dutch botanist]. Requests any non-entomological works by [René Antoine Ferchault de] Réaumur, [Charles] Plumier [(1646-1704) French botanist] and [Sébastien] Vaillant [(1669-1722) French botanist]. Asks whether 'Eryngium campestre' and 'Menyanthes nymphoides' are common in England.

Requests specific works of [Louis Éconches] Feuillée [(1660-1732) French botanist] and foreign plants and seeds not found in Britain, makes specific requests from Pisa [contracted and abbreviated to illegibility]. Asks if 'Thea' trees are plentiful in Genoa. List of desiderata at end of letter. Specifically asks for seeds of 'Stellaria [dichotoma]' from Switzerland and Siberia to convince him of his error in thinking it can be British as well as Swiss considering that 'Fritillaria meleagris' and 'Epilobium [alpinum]' grow wild in England. Thanks for books, happy that Gaubius escaped flames. Advises Smith to thoroughly edit and correct his thesis before publishing it and admonishes him for blindly accepting all of Linnaeus' tenets from his writings alone, complains this is all that is needed for a first degree from Oxford or Cambridge. Pleased Smith can access the collections of [Joseph de] Jussieu, [Sébastien] Vaillant and others. General wish for an enlarged edition of the "Systema Vegetibilum". Clarification of statement on 'Coffea occidentalis'.

Asks Smith to consult Cupani's "Hortus Catholicus" and the "Supplemen alterum" in Naples; lists plants and other authors [heavily abbreviated and contracted]. Smith's 'Sisymbrium tenuifolium' "continues as a 'Brassica'", asks if it is the Betel of the Medes and Persians. Relates that [William] Curtis is learning botany at [Norwich] under "R. P." and others, believes the value of the "Flora Londinensis" will rise. A pupil of [Richard] Relhan's states that most British plants are to be found in Cambridgeshire so we may expect a "Flora Cantabrigiensis" soon. Has seen the "aurelian" Clara Reeve's [(1729-1807) novelist and poet] collection of shells, and has sent her Linnaeus' "Venus". Two of the plants in the desiderata are for Reeve.

Praises Smith's thesis ["Disputatio Inauguralis quaedam de Generatione complectens"]. Discusses the subject further including apparent suggestions for experiments with chickens and speculation on hereditary traits. Asks Smith to use all his energies in acquiring the "hidden treasures" of [Charles] Plumier's [(1646-1704) French botanist] collections in Paris. Asks Smith to buy any works by [Lorenzo] Bellini [(1643-1704) Italian physician and anatomist] Smith comes across. Possible incorrect classification of 'Clypeola maritima L' into 'Alyssum siculum' and 'Alyssum maritimum'. Asks for second part of [Giovanni Antonio] Scopoli's "Entomology"; [Louis] Gerard's "Flora Gallo-provincialis" and new edition of [Antoine-Joseph Dezallier] D'argenville's "Conchologie". Relates various upcoming periodicals with warning they all precede Smith's. Believes Smith will correct Linnaeus with more temperance than [Lazzaro] Spallanzani or Barrington, criticises Spallanzani's "wretched unnecessary trash". Pleased with books received from Smith but wishes [Sébastien] Vaillant had more figures in ["Botanicon Parisiense"]. Sir Thomas Cullum, Laurence and Priest have abandoned study of botany. Cullum and others in Suffolk want to establish a society to support wives and orphans of physicans, apothecaries and surgeons, Gwyn dismisses it as "relieving the parishes [of] their charges & taking away every spur to frugality and industry". Reports a favourable winter.

Various subjects.

[William Beeston] Coyte is coming to London and will visit Smith. Discusses Smith's publication plans for "Plantarum icones"; "Reliquiae rudbeckianae"; and new edition of "Philosophia Botanica", hoping that this last will be published by the Cambridge University press. Samuel Ewer of Lincoln's Inn Fields, Coyte's brother-in-law, is collecting a library of botany and will subscribe to all of Smith's works. Anger at [William] Curtis' corrections of Linnaeus. Smith's 'Centaurea [solstitialis]' has not produced any viable seed and Jonas has failed in making a successful cutting. Thanks for 'Forsythia' of Frasier which turns out to be only 'Decumaria carbara L'. Can procure Scottish plants for Smith from Dr Ramm. Would welcome [Joseph Franz ?] Jacquin to his home in the summer if Smith invites him. Coyte is to visit Westmoreland, advised to study [William] Hudson beforehand, intends to ask [James] Dickson about having him staying. Displeased from reading [Giovanni Antonio] Scopoli. Dissatisfied with [Caspar] Bauhin's [(1560-1624) Swiss botanist] "Prodrumus" and unsurprised by Linnaeus' rare use of it. Enjoyed reading "Hortus Upsaliensis" over the winter. [Charles] Sutton has a "brother botanist" at Norwich, a chaplain of the Bishop, and associates in [William] Kirby [(1759-1850) entomologist], and [Peter] Lathbury of Orford, Suffolk, [(1760-1820) rector]. [John] Pi[t]chford requires 'Equisetum sylvaticum', has a 'Carex strigosa' found last summer near Bungay, Suffolk. Asks Smith for copy of Kew catalogue. In postscript if Smith can acquire seeds of 'Epilobium latifolium' through [Joseph Franz] Jacquin and has two 'Geranium palustre' and a 'Sal. alpinum'.

Introduces Lawton and Hasell who would like to see the Linnaean collections, recommending to show them table 11 of "Philosophia Botanica" and the method in which Smith keeps the specimens, and 'Vallisneria' and 'Nepenthes distillatoria', asks Smith to assist their access to Kew Gardens. Dr de Ramm will visit Smith in London. Remarks Smith has not yet got any cabinets for his "Conchylia". Has received shells from Mrs Jones "but most of them trash". Asks Smith to introduce [John] Sibthorp and [Joseph Franz] Jacquin to him in Ipswich. Thanks for opinion on 'Lupinus portegrifolius'. At Kew asks Smith to show Lawton and Hasell 'Geum montanum' and "flore aureo" of the Alps.

Discussion of origin of two similar Latin words, seemingly "caprina" and "capricon" following a figure from Smith of 'acapricon', concluding an error in copying, following review of "Geoponica" [10th century Byzantine agricultural compendium] and "Rei Rustica Scriptores" [collected Roman agricultural texts]. Points out a similar mistake in 'Menyanthes', first adopted from Theophrastus by [Christoph] Knauth [(1638-1694)] and followed by every botanist since, when the true Greek word is 'Minyanthes', accordingly asks Smith to correct page 177 of ["Philosophia botanica"]. Comments on Smith referring him to ["Critica Botanica"] encourages Smith to correct and improve the work of Linnaeus, considering that he is already willing to change work of any other. Sends second drawing of ''Tropaeolum palmatum foliis palmatis' by a lady who sent a drawing of 'Dianthus superbus' to [William] Curtis, said lady also saw Smith's figure of 'Acapricon' and believes the mistake was easy and repeated from "Flor. Ant." p.346. Comments on 'Tropaeolum perninum'. Thanks for present although 'Satyr. hirein.' was bruised by being thrown out of its basket. Jonas has put a specimen of dried 'Tropaeolum' into a box for Smith along with drawing of 'Diathus superbus'. Asks for copy of "Flora Lapponica". Asks why 'Conv. majalis' is from a German and Dutch name rather than "nada" the essential specific name. Asks Smith to view Ferrari "de Flor. Cultura" in reference to 'Fed. casius'. Asks Smith to procure 'Theophrastus' either "by Gaza, Stapel, Scaligen".