His botanising is limited to the "rude mountains" of his locale and mists have made the season unfavourable to Highland botanists. Will pass through London on his way to East Indies this summer. Studying Persian in Edinburgh in a month; intends to send Smith "some small fruit of [his] botanical labours". Hopes Smith has received a copy of his thesis. Smith's opinion of 'Lichen gelidus' well founded; hopes to send specimens but difficult to procure. The moss he thought to be a 'Splachnum' may be 'Bryum capsulis nutantibus' and the 'Lichen caeruleo-nigricans' appears doubtful, believes it may be a variety of 'Lichen calcarius'. Sending specimens of [William] Hudson's 'Helvella plana' and a similar fungus. Will give Smith the [Robert] Morison book before leaving for the Indies.

Will send a parcel once he receives instructions from Smith. Encloses '[Hypnum] proliferum' in fructification. Offers to send the 'verticillatum' of [John] Lightfoot; believes his attribution is wrong as it totally differs from those of Linnaeus and [William] Hudson. Similarly, Dr [John] Walker [(1731-1803) professor of natural history] showed that Lightfoot's 'Salix arenaria' is Linnaeus' 'Salix fusca', from specimens of [Daniel] Solander's. Offers to send Smith '[Ptilium] crista-castrensis'. Has found '[Sphagnum] palustre' and a 'Boletus' with a "delightful smell" he believes to be the 'suaveolens' of Linnaeus ['Trametes suaveolens'], Lightfoot describes one under the same name but with no odour. The society [Natural History Society, Edinburgh] "rather low" but has received a great addition in Mr Alexander. Hopes to submit a paper soon.