Thanks for turkey. Interested by Smith's account of his "poisoning plan", Sir Jospeh Banks says it will "eat up plants & paper in the course of two or three years". Asks when Smith will begin publication of "Lapland Journey". Clarifies conversation relating to [Robert John] Thornton [(1768-1837) physician and writer on botany], part of a dispute involving Mr Caley publishing unprovoked assaults on Lambert in the "Imperial Review". Sends a box of "Lambert nuts", believes it to be a new species, relates how his father grew first tree in country hence their common appellation. Relates coincidence of [Jonas] Dryander and [Charles] Konig also both knowing them as "Lambert nuts" from their respective Sweden and Germany, but from the German for "long-bearded". [Peter Simon] Pallas mentions it in his "Travels in the Crimea".

Met [William] Westall [(1781-1850) painter and engraver] at Sir Joseph Banks' just returned from [Matthew] Flinders' [(1774-1814) naval officer] expedition [to circumnavigate Australia]. His plant specimens were wrecked on a sandbank but he saved his drawings. Would like Smith to arrange an introduction to Westall as he is a relative. Received seeds from Lady [Amelia] Hume. A dispute between Banks and [Robert John] Thornton [(c 1768-1837), physician and writer on botany] originating from Thornton applying for Banks' portrait [for inclusion in "New Illustration of the Sexual System of Linnaeus"]. Thornton also in a "sad scrape" with [William George] Maton for obtaining a copy of Maton's engraving of Linnaeus from his engraver.

[Letter incomplete: half of second folio cropped, presumed destroyed]