Discusses Smith's campaign for Cambridge botany professorship: unfortunate that Smith has to win over the powerful vice-chancellor, Professor [Isaac] Pennington [(1745-1817), physician and chemist], and Professor [Busick] Harwood [(1750-1814), anatomist], for Dr [Richard] Walker's [(1679-1764)] lectureship. Begs Smith to become a member of the university first to remove obstacles other candidates will take advantage of. In comparison to the expense of the knighthood it would be a minor cost, and as the Linnean Society already has a Duke, Earls, Viscounts, Bishops, and Lords, it is no great favour for the President to have an honorary distinction.