Informs WS that the Astronomical Society has voted WS a gold medal for WS's observations of double stars. Says he is now observing nebulae. Confirms receipt of WS's fourth volume of observations sent by [E. C. F.?] Knorre. Asks WS to verify [Henry] Kater's observations on black zones in Saturn's outer ring.
Discusses nebulae. Begs JH not to overwork himself. Hopes to live long enough to see JH marry; advises JH that if he can marry a 'good-natured, handsome, and sensible young lady, pray think of it, and do not wait till you are old and cross.'
Hopes that JH will find a matter [the professorship at Cambridge] not 'incompatible with your [JH's] other avocations.'
[Responding to WT's 1826-2-7], JH thanks WT for materials sent, makes suggestions regarding WT's upcoming trip to Geneva, and asks WT to deliver a book to [Alfred] Gautier.
Prevented by his poor health and incessant occupations from joining the Smiths at Holkham, [Norfolk, home of Thomas William Coke].
Asks Smith's opinion of most recent parts of his "Monandrain Plants", particularly the descriptions. His greatest difficulty has been acquiring species of 'Amomum'; none have flowered [at Liverpool Botanic Garden]; asks if there are any in the drawings Smith received from Dr [Francis] Hamilton for "Exotic Botany". Settled the boundary between 'Maranta' and 'Phrynium', excluding [Georg Friedrich Wilhelm] Meyer's 'Calathea' which he has included in 'Phrynium', though notes that [John] Lindley [(1799-1865), botanist] is trying to establish it in new edition of "Bot. Reg." and Sprengel also recognises it.
Accepts Smith's invitation to visit Norwich next year to examine Linnaeus' herbarium. Is about to visit the Ionion Islands to study the local flora, intends to take Smith's "Prodomus Florae Graecae" and asks for any other recommendations. Asks if there is any particular family or genus of plants to look out for. Collected many duplicates on his last tour of Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and Carinthia, including a 'Lilium pumilum' exactly resembling the figure in Loddiges' "Botanical Cabinet" tab 358; and 'Fritillaria lutea' of Marschall von Bieberstein at an elevation of 5000 feet in alpine meadow of Col de Tende, only place hitherto observed in Europe. Currently has a collector in Sardinia.
Wishes he could be in London to dine with friends at the Free Masons and Thatched House Tavern. Received visit from eldest son of [Thomas Andrew] Knight and on remarking on the valuable property [Richard] Payne Knight [(1750-1824), classicist] left to the British Museum received reply that his father and family had been left enough to satisfy all. Hopes the "alarming bankruptcies" are not affecting any of their friends, particularly the Forsters, though concerned the failure of Sir Peter Pole's [2nd baronet (1770-1850)] banking house has affected [Edward] Rudge as their families recently intermarried. Dawson Turner is being consulted regarding auction of [Sir Thomas] Gage's library and collection of plants and drawings, including boxes of plants from India never examined; wishes Smith could examine some of Gage's cryptogamia drawings. Dr [John] Sims intends to decline superintendence of the "Botanical Magazine". Observed 'Primula chinensis' in a lady's parlour, it seems to be 'Primula praenitens' of "Botanical Register" vol 7 plate 539.