Two pages of [James] Sowerby's account with Smith, the first dated 23 January 1794 and written by James Smith, detailing monies owed to Sowerby, and the second covering 1798-1799 and written by James Edward Smith's, detailing monies owed to Smith.
Asks Smith to enquire after the bird-mounter he recommended her, as he has not returned her birds at the promised time, which include the Argos pheasant.
Wyatt [bird-mounter] has returned the birds but considers the charges too high; requests Smith's opinion.
Asks Smith's advice on pricing the remaining copies of his "Amoenitates Academicae" translation and manuscript of a second volume, which a gentlemen in Norwich has offered to buy, and on insertion of [Benjamin] Stillingfleet's [(1702-1771)] essays to make it a good library book for English naturalists.
Thanks for Smith's advice [on sale of copies of Brand's "Amoenitates Academicae" translation and manuscript of second volume]; he was only offered 13 guineas so intends to offer it in London. Details of the second volume, which includes: essay on hybrid plants; two abridged dissertations of Koebrenter on 'Lychni cuculoalus' and 'Digitalis hybriae'; a complete Herbatio Anglica from Hudson's 1778 edition, details of arrangement. Requests advice on selling remaining copies of first volume. Has a system for mechanically arranging species of complicated genera by the shortest character of a species; believes some of the genera in "Systema Naturae" were arranged by a similar system.
Asks Smith's advice regarding making a deal with a London bookseller [to sell copies of his translation of "Amoenitates Academicae"]; desires an interview with Smith when in London and to see his "superb museum". Has applied to become one of the "Jackalls" to [William] Kirby, "the lion of entomologists".
Revised his system for arranging complicated genera by the shortest species character; history of the system, first used in conjunction with characters of [William] Hudson's 'Fucus' species; provides example based on 'Festuca' and determined with parcel of slips he also encloses. Requests name of another bookseller should White decline his book [second volume of his "Amoenitates Academicae" translation].
Proposes Dr [Marcus Elieser] Bloch [(1723-1799), physician and naturalist], of Berlin, with whom he has been in correspondence, as a FMLS. Recommends Bloch's work on fish [see RelatedMaterial below]. Bloch has invited him to become member of the Societé des Scrutateurs de la Nature at Berlin. Intends to send him "Linnean Transactions", requests copies of first and second volumes, so as to also send to Dr Walther of Erlang.
Transcribes supporting statement made by Dr Godfry Christian Reich of Erlangen in support of his FMLS application, in which he offers to translate Smith's "Tour of the Continent" into German. Requests Smith's opinion and response. Recommends [Johan Christian] Fabricius' "Entomologia systematica emendata et aucta".
Has recommended Dr Godfry Christian Reich as a FMLS. Dr Meyer requested to publish a new [German] edition of his "Index [Ornithologicus]", which he declined; believes Reich will be a capable translator of Smith's "Tour of the continent". Will write for copy of [Johan Christian] Fabricius' last work for Smith from his German contact. Intends to send Recih copies of "Linnean Transactions" and Smith's "Tour".
Encloses book for Smith [unspecified but probably Fabricius' "Entomologia systematica"], though disappointed to find it contains only half the "Lepidepture", the other in a forthcoming volume. Advocates proposal to make [Thomas] Pennant an Honorary Member of the Linnean Society.
No longer needs copies of "Linnean Transactions" vols 1 and 2 for Dr [Marcus Elieser] Bloch [(1723-1799), physician and naturalist], but requests copy of vol 2 for [Godfry Christian] Reich. Elected member of Societé des Scrutateurs de la Nature de Berlin. Will request shells from Boys.
Received letter from Dr Bechstein with copy of his German translation of his [Latham's] "General synopsis" and request for copy of "Index [ornithologicus]" for translation, with which he will comply. Dr [Godfry Christian] Reich sending natural history dissertations, including on 'Lichen islandicus' and . Requests specimen of 'Trochus imperialis' for friend of Reich's, who is willing to offer £4 for it, as well as 'Trochus cookii', 'Bulla vulva', [James] Dickson's "Hortus siccus britannicus", and plants from Smith's "Spicilegium botanicum". His acquaintance with German naturalists.
Arrangements for sending items to Dr [Godfry Christian] Reich. Requests Dr [Marcus Elieser] Bloch's [(1723-1799), physician and naturalist] FMLS certificate as soon as he is elected, so as to send it. Just received news of illness of [Anders] Sparrman [(1748-1820)].
Received request from Revd [George] Gleig [(1753-1840), Primus of Scottish Episcopal Church] to quote some of his "Linnean Transactions" work in "Encyclopedia Britannica", requests Smith's opinion. Notes that his work had previously been "plundered" by "Encyclopedia Britannica" and that there is nothing to stop them plundering the text of "Linnean Transactions" and even undated plates.
Has obtained a copy of [Johan Christian] Fabricius' "Entomologia systematica emendata et aucta" for Smith.
Sent books to Smith [Fabricius' "Entomologia systematica emendata et aucta"]; expects final volume in 1795, payment details. Dr [Godfry Christian] Reich is sending German translation of botanical part of "Linnean Transactions" vol 1 and paper on 'Tringa hypochondriara', he intends to propose Smith as member of Society of Ratisbone, he has also requested anything on the "English sweating sickness".
Asks when he will be able to send Dr [Godfry Christian] Reich's FMLS certificate. Details of package of books being sent by Reich. Requested by Dr Griener to send anything on "our sweating sickness".
Remarks on the 'Carex laevigata' Smith gave him this morning: may be [William] Hudson's 'C. inflata', observations. Criticises [Samuel] Goodenough's quoting of Hudson's 'C. inflata' for his 'C. vescicaria'. Offers Smith specimens of 'C. axillaris'.
Glad Smith has received "Flora Oxoniensis", explains its rushed production and how it only contains plants he has seen. In his opinion latter classes of Linnaean system benefit from being "melted down amongst the others" but concern that in Germany the mixing has "almost spoiled its shape and form", disliking especially Gmelin's mixing of 'Icosandria' and 'Polyandria'. Was ill in Constantinople with a bilious fever and colic but has since conducted a full botanical exploration of the Bosphorus, woods of Belgrade, and sands of Domusderi on Black Sea. Has observed nearly 800 plants and obtained seeds of 'Daphne pontica' and 'Convolvulus persicus'. Queries 'Epimedium alpinum', ubiquitous in Belgrade woods which are barley mountainous. Frustration at custom of burning of forests, "very unfriendly to researches of the Cryptogamist", has only observed 'Boletus lucidus' the 'Boletus marginalis' of [Pehr Forsskål (1732-1763)]. 'Rosa centifolia' grows wild, pleasant odour from its mixing with 'Smilax'. Shores of Bosphorus poor in 'Fucus' and 'Testacea'. Collected fifty species of fish, many species of 'Labrus' present, inferior flavour of 'Julus' which is often sold in markets. Dolphins playful in the Bosphorus, gulls are as tame as pigeons. 'Procellaria puffinus' known locally as "souls of the damned". A 'Percnopterus' [Egyptian vulture] perched in the tree he was reading under, "I could not resist, not having the fear of the Egyptians before my eyes, to shoot it". Insects limited to scorpions, mosquitos, bugs and 'Conops calcitrans'. [John] Hawkins is in "high preservation" and has "huge mustaches, which he is nursing" for a Syrian and Egyptian tour. Travelling with Hawkins in Greece to Thessaly, Attica and the Peloponnesus and wintering in Zante. In short postscript states that [François] Borone is in good health, "in action quite a Le Fleur".