Smith's additional remarks on his "Introductory Discourse" came too late to be included in [L'Abbé Gregoire] Fontana's translation of it. Introduces Dr Valli in advance, who is walking from Pavia to London. Description of [Luigi] Galvani's discoveries in animal electricity [(1737-1798), Italian physician]. Appreciation of Smith's biography of [Giovanni Antonio] Scopoli and its exposure of the slander surrounding Scopoli.

Introduces Dr Rasori, the bearer of this letter, who is in London to compliment his medical studies and brings copies of the Italian translation of Smith's "Introductory Discourse". Rasori has translated into Italian the work of the late Brown [John Brown (1735-1788), Scottish physician ?], it is a valuable work but resisted by older doctors. Requests introductions to Mr Simmons, Hunter, and Crookshank for Rasori.

Introduces Dr [John] Lanigan [(1758-1828), Irish biblical scholar and historian], bearer of this letter and professor of theology at University of Pavia, who is visiting his family and avoiding the invasion of Milan by the French. Pleased by the comments on Pavia in Smith's "Tour on the Continent" and Smith's defence of [Antonio Giovanni] Scopoli, which has been reprinted in many languages. The box of copies of his "Tavole sui nervi dei Precordi" ["Tabulae neurologicae" (1794)?] he sent for the Royal Society and others in England has been seized by the French.

Introduces himself. Discovered 'Convallaria verticillata' on recent tour of the Highlands, the first time it has been found in Scotland; observations.

Received Smith's letter of 22 October [1792]. Comments on 'Convallaria verticillata' as being indigenous; sends specimens of the 'inculata' and 'alarise' submersed. Smith's information on 'Pyrola uniflora' new to him. Has found no further new Scottish plants but has found rare 'Astragalus uralensis', 'Orobus sylvaticus', 'Anagallis tenella', and 'Trientalis europaea', habitats detailed, which justify Smith's expectations of 'Linnaea borealis' being found.

Edinburgh Natural History Society continues to "flourish"; for some time "chemical pursuits" have engrossed the medical students, so a chemical paper is now also discussed weekly. News of Charles Stewart.

[Notes in pencil on recto of second folio on plants]

Received Smith's letter of 22 January [1793]. Sending papers on natural history of the mole and meteorological phenomena in Perthshire [see RelatedMaterial below].

Received Smith's letter of 19 [May 1797]; glad specimens reached him. Congratulates Smith on his move to Norwich and his marriage. Feels his advancing age; offers to bequeath his herbarium to Smith. News of Dr Woolcombe and Mr McRitchie. Rejoices at prosperity of Linnean Society and success of "Linnean Transactions".

Thanks for Smith's letter of 18 June [1797]; gratified by Smith's acceptance of offer of his herbarium on his death. Recently visited Fife, Dumfermline; account of a gelatinous marine plant. Satisfaction at "Linnean Transactions" and papers on 'Fucus' and 'Carex' in third and second volumes. Encloses specimens from Mrs Roget [extant]. Smith's description of [Nicholas] Gwyn makes him think of "some majestic oak" now mouldering away. All in expectation of Smith's "Flora Britannica". Supposes his Scottish 'Silene amoena' and the Welsh are the same.

Two specimens, labelled by Smith "'Orobus tuberosa' narrow leaved" and "'Valeriana rubra' dwarf".

His Highland tour cancelled due to bad weather. Account of the harvest, which is progressing well; agricultural unrest. Intends to send a paper on the original breed of black cattle.

Replies to Smith's letter of 9 August 1798. Working on long delayed paper [on cattle]. Spent time in Fifeshire, Perthshire, and Roxburghshire last year, found no new acquisitions but saw 'Oenanthe fistulosa', 'Sison inundatum', 'Pilularia globulifera', 'Convallaria polygonatum', 'Euonymus europaeus', 'Utricularia', roots of 'Serapies longifolia', 'Valeriana diocia'.

"Flora Britannica" much anticipated. Recently received specimens from Lady Ashburton, in Devon, of 'Scilla autumnalis', 'Convolvulus soldanella', 'Colyledon umbil.', 'Crithmum maritimum', and species of 'Geranium'. Natural History Society of Edinburgh recovering from late treasurer, Mr Cunningham's, insolvency and loss of their funds; they have committed all funds and secretaryship to himself. His solitary mode of life. Smith's labours on British grasses will be much appreciated. Thanks for specimens from Smith.

Encloses paper for the Linnean Society [on cattle].

Sends memoirs on various subjects; news.

Thanks for election as F.M.L.S.; sends memoirs.

Plants found in the last month in Westport, County Mayo, [Ireland]: 'Andromeda daboecia', 'Empetrum nigrum', and 'Saxifraga umbrosa', remarking of the latter "the London Pride not in Hudson" ["Flora Anglica"]. Hopes to send an account of Mayo plants. Met Patrick Browne [(c 1720-1790) Irish botanist], "quite a cripple with old age" who showed him a copy of his "Flora Hibernica", believes it not much more than a catalogue [this remained unpublished until 1995]. Browne discussed Jamaican plants [Browne's "The civil and natural history of Jamaica"] and his correspondence with Linnaeus. At Lord Altamont's saw a "true Irish wolf dog", the seven Altamont owns are the only ones left in Ireland. The sheets of a botanical work left with Smith are from [Walter] Wade's intended "Flora Dubliniensi". Parliament have given £300 for Wade's campaign to establish Dublin botanic garden. Wade would like to correspond with Linnean Society and establish an Irish counterpart, requests copy of rules. Hopes [John] Fairbairn received West Indies seeds he sent. Will return to County Mayo for a few more months. Found 'Andromeda polifolia' growing in a bog near Althone.

Sends copy of "Bauer's drawing done by Ennis" [not extant]. Asks is Smith intends a paper on the new genera he mentioned [unnamed]. Sir Joseph Banks has undertaken direction of the engravings [for Lambert's book "Description of the genus Pinus"] after being shown the drawings. Asks if 'Pinus orientalis' is in the Linnaean collections or anything else worth observing, and whether there is any information in Peter Collinson's [(1694-1768) botanist] letters, mentions Smith's intention of publishing them. Presided at Linnean Society, paper read on "the zoology of Leith" by Robert Jameson. Mungo Park [(1771-1806) surgeon and traveller] has returned from Africa "with great discoveries".

Thanks for Smith's letter; account of their recent movements. [Johann Georg Adam] Forster's [(1754-1794), botanist] herbarium has now arrived in London for him, the original herbarium of "Florulae Insularum Australium Prodromus", details of arrangement; some of the New Zealand plants could be similar to their New South Wales plants, useful for Smith's "New Holland Prodromus".

Received [William] Sole's book on mints, and fresh specimens of all his species, anxious to hear Smith's opinion on them. Received confirmation that Sole's 'Mentha pratensis' is a garden escape. Asks if Smith received two copies of Jacquin's "Hortus Schoembrunensis". Requests specimens of all Smith's new genera in "Linnean Transactions" vol 4. Asks after [William] Roxburgh. Sent [James] Sowerby 'Polypodium oreopteris' of [James] Dickson.

Introduces Jean Rasovi, a doctor and surgeon from Parma who is coming to England to learn about new medicine developments, he translated the work of Dr Brown of Edinburgh into Italian. Has heard that the new colony in Sierra Leone is struggling to establish itself and may break up, [Luigi] Borone is anxious about not having heard any news of his son [François Borone] who is there [with Adam Afzelius].

Oriani writes: Grief of Luigi Borone and family at death of his son François, received the news from Smith's letter of 10 February. Borone grateful to [John] Sibthorp, the Consul and other Englishmen who ensured his proper burial. Luigi Borone leaves François's herbarium to Smith and asks him to sell the rest of his London belongings, find out the whereabouts of his savings, and send on the money.

Borone writes: Intense grief at death of his son, asks for a copy of Smith's portrait of him.

Proposes a system of English scientific nomenclature in which the genus is Linnaean and the species English, with the benefit of encouraging more people to use such names. Sets out how the method would be adopted, with examples of the Linnaean name, scientific name, and common name, prescribing that the common English name be mentioned in any work on English plants as in [William] Withering's "Botanical Arrangement".

Thanks Smith for sending mint plants; if number 11 of the mints is easily procured he would like it to complete the set. Hopes the people of Norwich are raising subscriptions for relief of the poor "at this distressing time", as is happening here; his sister and Mr Dixon have set up a soup shop at Henham selling it at 1d a quart. Encloses plates of his 'Peziza [cuticulosa]' [extant] for Smith to send Persoon, will search for specimens.

Plate of 'Peziza cuticulosa'; description and engraving.