Apologises for not replying to L'Héritier's letter sooner, has been in country at [Richard] Salisbury's and at Oxford with Sir Joseph Banks and [Jonas] Dryander looking over [John] Sibthorp's plants and drawings, which are "very fine" and will raise Sibthorp's name from "botanical infamy to very high botanical honour". Thanks for 'Sida' specimens: his 'S. paniculata' "certainly right", has not yet found 'S. arborea' owing to confusion of young Linnaeus' herbarium, remarks on 'S. americana', and L'Héritier's 'S. ricinoides', 'S. aphyllantha', and 'S. cistiflora' appear to be new.

He has been visiting [Richard] Salisbury. Inspected [John] Sibthorp's collections with [Jonas] Dryander and Sir Joseph Banks, praises their value. Returns L'Héritier's 'Sida'; his 'S. paniculata' is correct, has not yet found 'S. arborea' in young Linnaeus' herbarium, also 'S. americana', his 'S. vicinoides', 'S. aphyllum', and 'S. cistiflora' seem new. Has not had any plants from Frazer. Welcomes any papers by L'Héritier for "Linnean Transactions".

Delayed in replying to Woodward by Linnean Society affairs and moving house, the stress of which brought on a fever, pain in the side, and cough of five months duration, now better. Glad Woodward was satisfied with the specimens he sent; recently sent Woodward a paper of his on vegetable irritability via [John] Pitchford. Opinion on his "Introductory discourse" to Linnean Society.

Has little on 'Lycoperdon' except that the little one he sent from Scotland is [James] Dickson's 'fragile'. Confirms 'Astragalus arenaria' is 'A. hypoglottis' of Linnaean herbarium and "Mantissa". Variety of 'Carex panicea' "seems a monster". His house "excellent & pleasant". Asks if Woodward would like to become a Fellow rather than Associate of the Linnean Society; the cost and benefits.

Just returned from Matlock, [Derbyshire], in much better health. Details of Linnean Society fellowship and constitution. Transcribes manuscript note on 'Lycoperdon epiphyllum' from Linnaeus' "Flora Suecica", and his own notes on 'L. pedunculatum'; advises Woodward write only on the English 'Lycoperdon'.

Goodenough received Woodward's 'Fucus' specimens but they have been unable to examine them. Corrects mistakes Woodward made about 'Fucus' in his last letter [30 July 1788, see RelatedMaterial below] and regrets being unable to help with specimens of 'Equisetum sylvaticum' and 'Mentha villosa' at present. Linnean Society has begun to make a library and herbarium of English plants and would be grateful for Woodward's specimens of 'Bromus arvensis', 'Carex limosa', 'C. strigosa', and 'Orobanche ramosa', and he would like 'C. strigosa'.

Saw 'Ophrys loeselii' in [William] Curtis' garden. At Matlock found plants not usually known there, including: 'Thlaspi alpestre', 'Lichen laetevirens', 'L. saccatus', 'L. immersus', and 'Hypnum intricatum' Schreber. Comments that [Richard] Relhan's "vile figure" of 'Thesium alpinum' seems same plant as Gerard's "beautiful & accurate one".