JDH has been to Edinburgh with Colvile & visited his sister Mrs Maria McGilvray nee Hooker, [John Hutton] Balfour & Dickson. Isaac [Bayley Balfour] had already left for Glasgow. Describes the sickness of [Charles Wyville?] Thomson, it was a complaint of the kidneys but he is not so ill now that they should be talking about his successor [for Chair of Natural History at Ediburgh University]. Reports that John Sadler [Curator] is keeping the Edinburgh Botanic Garden in good order & making many improvements, he particularly mentions the palm house, rock garden & well named plants. JDH suggests that they send a private note to [Algernon Freeman-]Mitford, Secretary to the Office of Works, about Taylor & Wilkie's shortcomings rather than lodging an official complaint. If there is good weather JDH will go to Stirling & the Trossachs.