Thanks for election as Honorary Member of the Linnean Society.

Queries on nomenclature of several plants: is the blue monkshood the '[Aconitum] napellus' or '[Aconitum] cammarum'; is the common London tuft 'Dianthus barbatus' or '[Dianthus] carthusianorum'; asks for the name of the plant he encloses [not extant].

Smith has annotated his responses in the margin, confirming 'Acontium napellus', 'Dianthus barbatus' and has sent 'Dianthus carthusianorum', and Rose's specimen is 'Melaleuca scoparia'.

Snowed in; responding to Smith's letter of 7 September 1782 and account of his visit to the Lakes. Reflections on Edinburgh, effects of winter and snow on the imagination, and snow pancakes. Asks after Smith's medical studies, reflects on tendency for charismatic physicians to be better regarded than those with deep knowledge and recommends Smith to "cultivate these lesser but not less material requisites", the "great school for this kind of learning is the company of ladies". Suggests Smith practice as a physician in this part of Norfolk, which is too far away to be effectively covered by Norwich physicians. Discusses local physicians. Norwich gossip, a pamphlet by Morgan that overleapt "the bounds of decency".

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.

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.

His English is suffering due to time he has to dedicate to St George's bank, almost believes it better to give his place in the Linnean Society to Dr Canestri of the Turin Academy who would be better able to supply papers. Believes if Smith becomes a physician in London it will be to the detriment of botany and science. Has had a small picture of 'Linnaea' that appears in a bust of Linnaeus copied in marble.

Introduces Mr Cooper, who has left the Church of England to study physic. Asks if Dr [William] Cullen [(1710-1790), chemist and physician] proposes publishing another volume of his "First Lines [of the Practice of Physic" (1777-1784)]; asks after progress of Ferguson's ["History of the Progress and Termination of the Roman Republic" (1783)] and Dr [William] Robertson's [(1721-1793), historian and Church of Scotland minister] "History of America" [(1777)]. Comments on "savage" Bruno. Norwich news.

Introduces Davall; news.

Davall; congratulations on founding Linnean Society; minerals collected in the Alps; list of plants found; future places.

Captain Cook's and other expeditions rich in results; expected return of Desfontaines; Lamarck's collections.

Thanks for election as FMLS; list of desiderata.

Forster; insanity of Le Breton.

Botanical losses by severe frost; details of temperatures; high opinion of Forster.

Encloses account to be read at the Linnean Society [unstated].

Glad to hear of recovery of Smith's health. Sending specimen of a variety of eel or other, found in stagnant waters and believed by the "vulgar" to be "an animated horsehair"; observations. Offers to send Smith a 'Gwiniad' [fish]. Unable to make anything of insects 'Cimex lacustris' and 'C. stagnorum' of Linnaeus. Has sent Smith 'Lichen furfuraceus'.

Reports on condition of local crops: oats in poor condition, the wheat is promising, and the barley likely to be destroyed by weeds, particularly 'Galeopsis tetrahit'. Fruit trees almost destroyed by small green worm, probably 'Lepidopterous' larvae; observations. All hawthorn flowers destroyed by 'Scurabens horticola', and ash, oak, fir, and plane trees similarly infertile; 'Prunus padus' and 'Ulmus campestris' the only trees to flourish. Meadows have an abundance of 'Trollius'.

Sends specimens of 'Lichen burgessii'. Not convinced that the "horse-hair insect" is 'Gordius aquaticus', though it may be of that genus; observations. Whilst botanising at Solway Firth found 'Fucus pygmaeus' Lightfoot above the high water market, asks whether it is a 'Lichen'. 'Sampire' common on rocks and 'Alisma ranunculoides' and 'Sison verticellatum' in every meadow. Mineralogy of country between rivers Nith and Orr; granite unfavourable to growth of lichens and other cryptogamia. Curious effect of a great storm in Scotland and England on the tide. Account of a meteor. Account of his time at Leadhills, home of Lord Hopeton, the highest inhabited ground in Britain. Encloses oak leaf with possible new 'Lichen' growing on it, similar to 'Byssus aurea'; observations. Mr Stuart is publishing the "Pentatench" in Gaelic.

Received Smith's letter from [William] Young; pleased to hear he is still prosecuting his favourite study; Smith's paper to the [Natural History] Society gave great pleasure. He is about to commence his medical studies. Asks if the aquatic lichen he sent Smith has been determined yet; he has found it in great quantities in Lanarkshire growing with 'Tremella verrucosa'.; found 'Tremella nossoc'. Small sketch and description of an unidentified "thing" he recently gathered on the shore [an egg case or mermaid's purse].