Sends letter for Banks and list of desiderata; offers exchange.
Has sent a box of plants from the Italian Alps. Will shortly print the "Auctarium ad floram Pedem". Asks Smith to forward a business commission.
Business matters and sale of books in London.
Thanks Smith for introducing him to [Jacques Philippe Martin] Cels. Asks Smith when he is in Paris to find out the titles of contributors to his "Delicia Florae et Faunae" so he can dedicate plates to them in the third volume.
Two notes: one dated 2 January making an appointment to call on Smith in the morning to go together to see the "Bocconi's" herbarium; the other dated 6 January accompanying "country plants" and asking Smith to look after them until they can study them together.
Forwards letter [unspecified] as requested. His father died in February. Has not heard anything from [Pierre Marie Auguste] Broussonet in the last month. Sends good wishes.
Received Smith's letter of 23 May. Thanks for condolences on death of his father. Recently and apparently suddenly married. Invites Smith to Genoa. Has despaired of hearing from [Pierre Marie Auguste] Broussonet and will seek out a new scientific correspondent in Paris. Smith has noted on the second page his reply, informing Durazzo when he expected to be in Genoa.
Reminds Smith to obtain seeds for him from [André] Thouin and others and to send via the Marquis of Spinola. Thanks in advance for [unspecified] book being brought by Mr Zimmermann [Eberhard August Wilhelm von Zimmermann?] and Mr Harbord. Asks Smith to recommend him any good books on physics or natural science he may come across in France. His 'Phaseolus caracalla' is flowering, promises to send specimens in the future.
Their enjoyment of Smith's letters. Not sorry that Smith not "bit with Poetic Phrenzy" on his visit to Vaucluse, "no Muse rewards her Votaries so ill"; discusses this. Norwich news. Sending turkies to Sir Joseph Banks, thinks he expects a letter from Smith.
Received Smith's letters of 12 February and 5 March 1787. They enjoy Smith's letters but always worry for his health and safety. Account of his trip to London: visited Smith's Chelsea appartment and found all as it should be, paid Molly; Mrs Howorth showed him a letter from Smith; [Robert] Batty has vomited blood, his wife an "agreeable companion"; breakfasted with Sir Joseph Banks. Norwich news. Told that the road from Milan to Turin is in danger of "banditti"; urges caution. Smith's brother, Francis, is pursuing astronomy.
Received Smith's letters of 26 March and 11 April [1787]. Anxious for Smith's safety on account of the "jealous government" of Venice and "cut throats" of Lombardy; indebted to their Milan friends Messrs Malanot and Maghit for the kindnesses they showed Smith. Books received for Smith. Concern for his silk trade. Molly Standard [Smith's house attendant] is with child by the man who courted her; Smith's mother will either find someone new or have Molly return after she is better. Dispute between Sir Thomas Beevor and Mr Hobart.
Received Smith's letter of 7 May [1787]. Their eagerness that though Smith is on the way home he should not pass up any opportunities to improve his knowledge and taste and form useful connections. News of "cousin Thomas Smith" and complications in a romantic attachment to Miss Smith; complications in will of Mrs Smith of Sheffield, [Yorkshire]. Has been following Smith's route through Italy in Abbé Richard's book.
Last letter received from Smith was 7 May [1787]. [William] Younge has parted from Smith as he wished to return to England and not spend further time in Genoa. Asks Smith not to buy him a watch in Geneva. Norwich news.
Replies to Smith's letters of 22 July and 3 August [1787]. Fears he caused unneccessary alarm over [Robert] Batty's health. Reassures Smith that his mother and sister are enjoying their situation in Chelsea, guarding Smith's "treasures". Making plans to enjoy more of Smith's company on his return to England than was first anticipated. Smith's brother, Francis, on the way to meet Smith in Paris. Concerned by reports in papers of trouble in Europe. Review of their new church minister. Smith's sister, Sarah, an "excellent housewife & companion", and Fanny a "very good girl".
Hopes Smith will visit this country when he travels in Europe; received his letters of 22 June 1785 and 11 November 1785. Details of back numbers of "Proceedings of the Royal Society of Uppsala" and order by [Thomas] Pennant; contents of new volume; other new European publications. Requests anatomical writings of [William Cumberland] Cruikshank [(1745-1800), anatomist] and handbooks of [John] Hunter [(1728-1793), surgeon and anatomist]. Condemns rumours started by [Carl] Thunberg regarding sale price of Linnaean collections.
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.
Intended to send a catalogue of seeds from from botanic garden of Santa Maria Nuova hospital, of which he is the head, as thanks for coming to see the herbarium of [Pier Antonio] Micheli [(1679-1737)] but it has been delayed. Will send any seeds Smith requests. Requests seeds of 'Lathyrus cicera'.
Desiderata in Smith's hand, second folio, comprising: 'Amethystea coerulea'; 'Avena nuda'; 'Catananche lutea'; 'Cerastium alpinum'; 'Cardamine resedifolia'; 'Dianthus diminutus'; 'Dolichos sesquipedalis'; 'Hasselquistia aegyptiaca'; 'Hieracium auricula'; 'Lagoecia cuminoides'; 'Silene atocion'; and 'Xeranthemum annuum'.
Smith elected Correspondent Member of Société Royale d'Agriculture. Cavanilles' work on 'Malvaceoe'. A beaver in the Rhone. [Charles Louis] L'Héritier [de Brutelle] in London. [Sir Joseph] Banks and [Olof] Swartz. List of economic plants acquired.
Arrival of Dr Young. Gerard on 'Lathyrus amphicarpos'. Economic plants. 'Medicago arborea'. Advises Smith to visit the botanists at Strasbourg, France.
Apologises for not having written since they departed at Mont Cenis, Savoy. [Carlo Antonio Ludovico] Bellardi has been informed of Smith's new Lichen and intends to look into it next year. Shall also give Bellardi the information Smith gave on 'Epilobium gelidum'.