Has been waiting for a letter from Smith. Fears Smith will only be able to continue his botanical studies in London by studying herbariums. Concerned to hear of a dispute at the Royal Society between Sir Joseph Banks and Mr Hutton. [William] Younge now President of the Edinburgh Natural History Society. Asks if Smith made a catalogue of the plants he collected from around Edinburgh; difficulties of collecting.

Lists requests made by his father, [John Hope] for Smith: list of the latest botanical works; list of new genera and species not included in "Supplementum plantarum"; best form of cabinet for a herbarium; copies of Dr [Arthur] Broughton's abridgement of "Flora Anglica", and Hedwig's "Historia muscorum"; and bark of the new 'Cinchona', a 'Carbaea'. Thanks for Smith's list of Scottish plants and habitats, including 'Verbascum massus', 'Eonymus europaeus', 'Polygonum pensylvanicum', 'Adoxa morchalellina', 'Chrysosplenium alternifolium', 'Drosera longifolia', 'Lathrea squamaria'. Lists various plants for Smith to provide habitats for. Asks if Smith is still a Brunonian. A one-day exhibition of air balloons.

Congratulates Smith on acquisition of Linnaean collections; speculates on their worth. Requests copies of works by Hedwig and [Arthur] Broughton. His growing herbarium. Physical Society laid foundation stone of a new Hall. Smith's Society [Edinburgh Natural History Society] is become "by no means inconsiderable" owing to number of respectable members; anticipating seeing Smith in Edinburgh.

General regret at Dr Lubbock's departure from Edinburgh. Account of botanical expedition to Ben Lomond in the autumn, previously undertaken with Smith and Hardy, lists plants found, including: 'Lythrum salicaria', 'Lysimachia vulgaris', 'Sedum rubens', 'Telephium', 'Convolvulus sepium', 'Malva moschata', 'Scirpus maritimus', 'Ruppia maritima', 'Lobelia dortmanna', 'Isoetis sacustris', and bark of 'Osmunda regalis'. Asks if Smith has ascended the highest English mountain, in "Yorkshire", as he intended. Comments on 'Cynosurus caerulens'. Comments on the "pompous" Dr Samuel Ferries, who has moved to London from Scotland.

Disappointed to not be seeing Smith in Edinburgh this winter. [William] Younge "storms & rages" at Smith's change of plans. Arrival of frost and snow here disrupting cryptogamic studies; difficulties of studying such plants. Account of Dr Walker's autumn botanical expedition to Ben Lomond, found 'Anthericum calyculatum', 'Dryas octopetala', 'Scutellaria minor' and 'S. galericulata'. Asks if Smith is acquainted with Dr Parsons. Hardy and Ainslie are competitors for a vacant professorship at Oxford or Cambridge.

[Note by John Hope at bottom of verso of second folio] comments on 'Gentiana' root of the shops, said to be root of a cultivated plant.

Congratulates Smith on safe arrival of Linnaean collections; warns against spending too much time studying it. Death of [William] Younge's father. Growth of the [Edinburgh] Natural History Society, though number of naturalists not considerable; Mr Alexander the principle botanist. Death of Dr Lubbock a "blow" to the Brounonians; medical lectures.

All eager for information on the arrangement, presentation, and contents of Linnaean collections. [Edinburgh] Natural History Society continues to flourish; increasing membership; account of a recent meeting including debate on Linnaeus. Account of a recent meeting at the Medical Society, including debate on medical methods.

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".

Unable to supply specimen of newly found crystalised mineral for [William] Thomson [(c 1760-1806), mineralogist and physician], as he only has one specimen himself. Pleased to hear Smith is composing his botanical lectures and undertaking new edition of "Systema [naturae]".

Introduces Dr Millar, with whom he is sending his "inestimable, invaluable, inaugural performance". Note on 'Cerastium tetrandrium'.