Enquiry regarding the possibility of a vacancy in the position of organist at the cathedral. If there is, he knows a suitable candidate.

Further news regarding the position of organist at Hereford. Hopes JH's parents are well.

Urges JH to become an active candidate for vacant Lucasian professorship.

Informing him of the death of Isaac Milner. He should try for the Lucasian Professorship at Cambridge.

Will be going to Cambridge to try for the vacant professorship. Remarks on his reasons for applying for the post. His recent experiments with quartz.

About plans for journey to visit CB in Cornwall, and to go beyond.

Reasons why his father does not wish to become the president of the Astronomical Society. Has attended a meeting of the Philosophical Society. Please send three or four copies of the address of the Astronomical Society.

Declining invitation for William Herschel to be President of the Astronomical Society.

Has been experimenting with magnetism. Two persons wish to become Foreign Members of the [Astronomical Society?]. Regarding the Lucasian at Cambridge. Would like JH to procure the medal of [Matthew Boulton?] for him.

Fears that a letter written to him in November may not have reached him. Will send him a copy of his paper of colors. A Philosophical Society has been formed at Cambridge.

Sending all his papers on the deviations of tints, suitably amended to give DB due acknowledgement. Queries regarding some of DB's statements. Supports his theories in a new paper he has written for the Cambridge Philosophical Society.

Invitation to spend the morning with them on the day they are expecting Sir Walter Scott.

Further invitation to breakfast with them and Sir Walter Scott.

Invitation to dine with them and Sir Walter Scott.

The Lucasian professorship is vacant. Thinks JH is worthy of this position. Would like to be proposed a member of the Astronomical Society.

Of family, Walter Scott's novels, and affairs in Scotland and Spain.

Condolences to Smith and Lady Smith on death of their "very near & dear relatives", including Smith's mother, draws comparison to [John] Fraser's [(c 1750-1811), botanist] death and Smith's contribution to the science of botany.

Has been extending and examining his collection of 'Scitamineae' with use of Smith's remarks in Rees' "New Cyclopedia", and living plants of the whole Indian family sent by Dr [William] Carey [(1761-1834)] and [Nathaniel] Wallich, the latter has also sent large chests of plants for the [Liverpool] Botanic Garden, just arrived. Lists plants he is anxious about, with Latin characters: 'Hedychium gardnerianum', 'Roscoea purpurea', 'Canna napalensis'; further notes on his arrangement of 'Curcuma', 'Hedychium', and 'Roscoea'. His business arrangements almost finally arranged but has not been able to escape unjust attacks from people wishing to take advantage.

His plans for visiting London. Hopes to procure for Smith duplicates and notes of his Indian plants which would make considerable additions to Smith's "Adversaria Botanica" which he hopes Smith will set about in earnest.

Received Smith's letter of 27 [March 1820]; extremely sorry for Smith's "family distress", hopes he and Lady [Pleasance] Smith will be well enough to come to London in May. His family well, though since the death of his "poor girl" in January they have had a "good deal of sickness"; more sickness in London this winter than ever known. Thinks Sir Joseph Banks has borne the winter well; Mrs [Catherine] Lambert not expected to ever recover her "reason", [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert cannot bear name of his wife to be mentioned.

"Linnean Transactions" vol 13 progressing "very slowly", conflicting opinions on presentation of [Joseph] Smith's [(1775-1857)] paper. Linnean Society's address to the King [George IV (1762-1830)] well received and printed in the "[London] Gazette". Pleased to hear that Smith is to "stick by" the original [Linnean Dining] Club; account of the division, fears consequences of break in Society's harmony which makes him more anxious than before to resign as Secretary.

Just returned from Lowestoft, [Suffolk], "after having paid the last duties to our beloved parent" [Pleasance Smith's mother, Pleasance Reeve, née Clerke (1739-1820)]. Condolences on death of Macleay's loss [his daughter], "more afflicting, as it was not in the course of nature"; like Macleay "never lost so many friends as in the late dreadful winter".

Intends to be in London for Linnean Society meeting on 2 May [1820]. Received poor accounts of Sir Joseph Banks' health from Bishop of Carlisle [Samuel Goodenough] and [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert, but good account of Mrs [Catherine] Lambert's. Return's Joseph Smith's [(1775-1857)] paper with corrections, observations. Sorry to hear of [Linnean] Club "squabbling", which he thinks "more becoming a tavern than a literary society", but will "lend a hand to calm differences". "Sicken[s] at the thought" of Macleay resigning Secretary position.