Received Smith's two translations of dissertations by Linnaeus [see RelatedMaterial below]. Invites Smith to visit him in Genoa. Sends a list [not extant] of seeds and plants he would like for his botanical garden. Angry with [Pierre Marie Auguste] Broussonet for not replying to his last letters or sending a promised portrait of Baymann.

Recent letter exchanges. Extension of Smith's journey to include Rome and Naples, where he has letter of introduction to Sir William Hamilton [(1731-1803)], ambassador to Naples. Warns Smith against taking a boat from Marseilles to Genoa or Genoa to Naples, for fear of shipwrecks, pirates, and quarantines. Introductions for Genoa and Milan. Warns against dangers of Vesuvius, subterranean journies, and extravagant pursuits of curiosity.

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.

Sends letter for Allioni.

Responds to Mrs P's letter. Religion "seems to sit very easy upon every body here"; disinclined to judge other people's conduct on the subject, less charity for those who have "scarcely any true principles of religion [and] in private affect to despise all those who have more principle or diffidence". His hatred of Abbés, though knows some exceptions, shocked that people entrust the education of their children to them, when their celibacy means these men cannot be anything but dissolute.

General dislike of the ladies of Paris and their painted faces; expects to fall in love with the first English woman he meets on landing, actually felt himself in danger from an English woman he saw in Paris. Nuns who visit the sick make up for the Abbés. Enquired after medical education abroad but not impressed with French system.

To Mr [Pitchford]: looking over Tournefort's herbarium, has already described 50 new species of oriental plants from it.