Busy writing and delivering his zoological and botanical lectures, teaching Lady [Amelia] Hume, and preparing his "Icones ineditae" and "Icones pictae". Thanks for chamois horns and seeds. Discusses Davall's marriage and wife; he himself has been unlucky in love although there is one woman who would make him happy. [Edward] Forster's marriage. His servant François [Borone] has returned to England but not currently placed with him.

Plants and drawings safely arrived but will wait for his zoological lectures to finish before commencing study. This year intends to bring out new edition of "Systema Vegetabilium" and a journal of his tour of the continent. Will inform [James] Sowerby of Davall's directions for the drawings. Davall should change name of 'Scirpus supinus' if certain it is Linnaeus' plant, otherwise call it 'Scirpus elongatus'. Received three proofs of Davall's work from Sowerby: the 'Spartium', 'Sisymbrium', and 'Crepis'. Davall's 'Scirpus triqueter' correct.

Numbered observations on some of the plants Davall sent him. Lady Rockingham has been ill but now recovered. Intends to bring out "Syst. Veg." next winter followed by "Obs[ervationes] Bot[anicae]". Warns Davall not to be cheated by [Albrecht von] Haller [(1758-1823)] and [Jacob] Wyttenbach and to bring out his book as soon as possible, approves of title "Illustrationes Hallerianae". Received Davall's box sent via [Charles St Clair, 13th] Lord Sinclair [(1768-1863)]; thanks for 'Lichen cucullatus', forwarded parcel to [William] Curtis. Spoke to [James] Sowerby about copying 'Protea mellifera'. '[Tussilago] paradoxa' called 'Tussilago spuria' of [Anders Jahan] Retzius [(1742-1821)]. His 'Senecio nemorensis' has "eight or nine rays". Knows no good figure of 'Carex saxatilis'.

Flattered that Davall should wish him to be godfather to his child but could not promise to bring it up in the Church of England as he finds it too close to popery and "believes no nonsense under the specious name of mystery"; explains his own religious beliefs.

Smith writes on 11 July: Suffered a slight pleuratic attack. [Edward] Forster's wife's sister, Mrs Wishaw, is dying after being improperly managed by Mrs Williams following birth of her child, eating beef steaks and drinking wine not being permitted to suckle her child; the abundance of milk has induced a milk fever and is now in hopeless state.

Thanks for Davall's assistance in determining 'Geranium molle', 'Geranium pyrenaicum', 'Geranium puscillum', and 'Geranium rotundifolium'. Responds to points in Davall's previous letters: happy to keep 'Schoenus ferrugineus'; 'Lamium laevigatum' not yet in seed; Davall can say what he pleases about 'Phaca alpina'; Davall's 'Stellaria biflora' correct, and also correct about [Anders Jahan] Retzius' [(1742-1821)] 'Tassilago'; will get hold of 'Onopordum dettoides' for him; Lady Rockingham recovered; [Jacques] Dorthes busy taking a degree.

Smith writes on 14 July: thanks for Davall's packet [mentioned in his letter of 31 May 1790] containing books, views, and plants. Responds to points in Davall's letter of 29 June 1790: all the names for his plates acceptable and [James] Sowerby has commenced work on them; has done nothing with 'Phytenma' so returning it; approves of Davall's title for his book; approves of Davall's differentia specifica; exhorts Davall to publish as soon as possible and before [Jacob] Wyttenbach and [Albrecht von] Haller [(1758-1823)] [new edition of the elder Haller's "Icones plantarum Helvetiae"]; fears [Werner de] Lechanel's letter to him has been lost. Mrs Wishaw, Forster's sister, has died, and Miss Lee has returned home to die of a "deep consumption".

Numbered observations on remainder of Davall's former packet: 'Cistus marifolius' HL, 'Anemone sulphurea', 'Mentha aquatica', 'Galeopris villosa' Hudson, 'Sonchus plumierii', 'Hypochaeris helvetica', 'Achillea moschata', 'Micropus erectus', 'Betula incana', 'Quercus cerris', and 'Fontinalis pennata'.

Numbered observations on packet of plants just received: 'Inula oculus-christi', 'Thymus vulgaris', 'Galeopsis villosa' Hudson, 'Aria flexuosa', 'Mespilus cotoneaster', 'Carduus crispus' HL, 'Carduus rivularis' Jacquin, 'Lathyrus latifolius' HL, 'Sisymbrium tanacetifolium', 'Dentaria pinnata', 'Draba fladnizensis' Jacquin, '[Dentaria] verna', 'Androsace villosa', 'Androsace lactea', 'Androsace obtusifolia' Allioni, 'Dianthus glaucus' Hudson, 'Tribulus terrestris', fungus on 'Euphorbia', 'Euphorbia', 'Carex argentea', 'Cheiranthus fruticulosus' HL, 'Lamium maculatum', and 'Euphorbia palustris' HL.

Numbered observations on packet of plants of 27 February 1790: 'Valeriana montana', 'Crocus vernus', 'Scirpus supinus', 'Phalaris alpina', 'Aria subspicata' HL, 'Briza eragrostis' HL, 'Poa eragrostis' HL, '[Festuca] duriuscula', 'Stipa juncea', 'Stipa capillata', 'Avena versicolor', 'Potamogeton retusum', 'Cerinthe minor', 'Lonicera nigra', 'Lonicera caerulea' HL, 'Lonicera symphoricarpos', 'Chenopodium atriplicis', 'Chenopodium murale', 'Bupleurum angulosum' or 'B. ranunculoides', 'Selinum chabraei', 'Laserpitium', 'Aethusa bunius' HL, 'Pencedanum silars', 'Juncus pediformis' Villars, 'Rumex lunaria' HL, 'Rumex aurens' J Banks, 'Saxifraga sedoides', 'Saxifraga biflora' Allioni, 'Sedum saxatile' Wiggers, 'Cerastiums', '[Euphorbia] gerardiana', 'Prunus padus', 'Crataegus chamaemespilus', 'Potentilla aurea', 'Potentilla minima' Davall, 'Potentilla subacaulis', and 'Papaver alpinum'.

Davall's 'Carex' is published as 'Carex bellardi' in [James] Dickson's "dried plants" and it would vex [Carlo Antonio] Bellardi to change it. Distributed Davall's seeds amongst [John] Fairbairn, Dickson, [James] Lee, [William] Curtis, and [Samuel] Goodenough, but forgot [William] Aiton; desperate to make peace with him as Aiton is secretely jealous of his ["Icones pictae plantarum rariorum..."]. Sending seeds of 'Angelica archangelica'; bulbs of 'Dentaria bulbifera' from Dickson; 'Cineraria palustris', 'Artemisia carerulescens', 'Smyrnium olusatrum', and 'Holosteum umbellatum' from [Edward] Forster; and second fasciculi of Dickson's dried plants and ["Fasciculus plantarum cryptogamicarum Britannia"]. For forseeable future must labour for his support as he is too much of a burden for his "most indulgent father" who thinks physic would be more profitable, he himself knows "nothing is to be got by a young physician in London". Sending spare copy of Burman's "[Specimen botanicum] de Geraniis".

Smith writes to Edmund Davall: Glad Davall's health is better; warns him not to fatigue himself with botanical pursuits. Charmed with letter from Davall's wife. Responds to Davall's letter of 27 April: pleased with the 'Lichen cucullatus', thinks 'Stellaria biflora' correct, Davall should publish 'Phytenma' if he thinks it new, his "Systema Vegetabilium" ["English Botany"] not out before March. Responds to Davall's letters [of 29 June and 14 September 1790]: thanks for trouble he took over 'Satyrium repens'; recovered from his cold; Davall should pay Sowerby when he can, although they both have little money having "drained their purses" to bring out their "great work without being under the thumbs of booksellers"; warns Davall not to lend his plates to [Jacob] Wyttenbach and [Albrecht von] Haller [(1758-1823)] [for their new edition of the elder Haller's "Icones plantarum Helvetiae"]; Davall should concentrate on completing his book and he can reserve new plants and observations for a second edition; responds to points on 'Hypericum', 'Arenaria grandiflora' and 'Arenaria triflora'; thought Bauhin's 'Arenaria laricifolia' was 'Arenaria striata', though Davall may be right to think it 'Arenaria liniflora'; assents to Davall's new 'Cerinthe'; 'Allium senescens'; agrees with Davall on 'Salsola prostiata' and 'Euphorbia gerardiana'; confusion over 'Crepis virens' and 'Lapsana capillaris'.

Smith writes to Henriette Davall, in French: [description to follow].

Davall is in danger of relapsing and overstraining his eyes: prescribes half an ounce of camphor dissolved in half a pint of rectified spirit of wine for bathing the temples; "an admirable thing for strengthening the eyes". Thanks for packet of plant specimens, 'Ribes petraeum' "surely right". Lady Rockingham sends Davall a large paper copy of his "Icones pictae" and invites him to see her 'Portlandia'; it frequently exhibits fifteen flowers "in full perfection" besides buds. Pleased Davall refused to allow his plates to go to [Jacob] Wyttenbach [for new edition of Albrecht von Haller's "Icones plantarum Helvetiae"]. Thanks for 'Schoenus ferrugineus'. Confirms Davall's order for Sowerby for coloured plates of 'Limodorum' and 'Strelitzia' and drawing of Miss Lee's 'Protea'. Editing a new edition of "Flora Lapponica" for White & Son, shall add new plants and put the trivial names to all, the original plates bought in Holland. Desires Davall's opinion of new number of "English Botany", currently writing it anonymously to gauge reaction but thinks it excels [William] Curtis' "Botanical Magazine" and it may also hurt Curtis' "Flora [Londinensis]" if he does not exert himself.