Announces new Astronomical Society. Invites WO to become associate.

Announces new Astronomical Society. Invites HW to become associate. Mentions planned observatory at Cape of Good Hope.

Asks WH to contribute to a fund to place a bust of Edward Troughton in Greenwich Observatory. Introduces himself to WH.

Will see JH on Friday; hoping for clear weather.

Asks if FB is willing to be proposed as an Associate member of the Astronomical Society.

Announces formation of the Astronomical Society. Will be pleased to propose [CG] as an associate.

Has received letter of 3 June 1820 reporting on the new circle at Göttingen Observatory. Will read it to the Astronomical Society and propose CG as associate. Sends some JH publications.

Requests FB's paper on the eclipse and the reports on observations of the eclipse that JH has received. Discusses criteria to be used in deciding what to print in the Astronomical Society's journal.

Is grateful for his paper, which he has communicated to A. J. Fresnel. Health has been bad so has confined his researches to physiology. Has won the prize of the Academy for his paper on vertebrates. Will send JH a copy. Not much happening as everyone is in the country.

Pleased to hear of his election to the Astronomical Society. No further news of the projected observatory at Cambridge. Has JH any news of the Observatory to be erected at the Cape? Would JH add his name to his certificate for the R.S.L. Is he interested in the Plumian Professorship?

Would like him to come to dinner next Saturday.

Intended to write earlier but has been delayed by various causes. Their old friend the Dean of Hereford has just died. Comments on political situation in Sicily. New philosophical society started in Cambridge. Plans also for an observatory there.

Has read of Mr. Annesley's death. Will be staying at Stocks until November and would welcome a visit from JH. His parents are quite well and hopes JH's are as well. Is grateful for his comments on Sicily.

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

Recollections of this house JG has just sold.

Of religious matters, accusations against the Queen, and of Charles Babbage [letter completed 1820-11-4].

Offers JH the consolations of religion to deal with his unhappiness.

Pleased Smith had such an agreeable tour. His wife died 19 May; "a bitter affliction" to be separated from his companion of 45 years but considering the complaint in her breast, paralysis of left side, and digestion and appetite gone it was a "desireable blessing".

Attended Horticultural Society anniversary meeting and invited by Sir Joseph Banks to visit Spring Grove [Isleworth, Middlesex]. Bank's successor at Royal Society: not canvassed by any candidate; initially objected to Prince Leopold as he lived too far away to be easily consulted and though convinced by his promises to keep a librarian at Marlborough House, to have dinners and evening meetings, and to dedicate £4000 a year to the Society it is said that enmity from "a certain quarter" has induced Leopold to give up his campaign. In London received ten air plants from his nephew, Commodore Bowles, but neglected them and only three are alive, two are 'Epidendrum cochleatum' and other a 'Tillandsia'; saw many at Leddiges but they have no great beauty. Raised several plants from Buenos Aires, [Argentina], but [James] Lee says they are not new having been collected by [Aimé Jacques Alexandre] Bonpland [(1773-1858)] travelling with [Alexander von] Humboldt.

A "profusion of peaches" and his favourite green fleshed Egyptian melon, which he exhibited at Horticultural Society and were so admired that he is saving seed for members. Immediately looked at 'Hypnum resognitum' in [James] Sowerby, the name a good one from singular circumstance of Smith's "refinding it". Dwarf apple trees 4 feet high with fruit brances supported by stakes, chiefly Hemick codlings and Hawthorn clean.

Received Smith's letter from Holkham, [Norfolk, home of Sir Thomas William Coke]. Supposes Smith occupied "by the business which has so long disgraced the house of Lords, but more so everyone of those who have brought such foul matters before them" [probably "trial" of Queen Caroline], his opinion same as Lord Harewood's speech in today's paper and regardless of whatever party is more in the wrong the business in hand is "insanity & is more likely to shake the government than the attempts of the Radicals". Prince Leopold seems to have had "some tiff" with the King [George III (1738-1820)] lately.

His son and daughter-in-law have been placing single trees and shrubs on the lawn "so zealously that the Lady carries various articles, & even digs". His son has renounced foxhunting. His own health generally good but debility and rheumatism leave him helpless at hedges and when shooting has to be pulled through.

His garden thriving: had asparagus on the 3rd and peas today, the former raised in a "pigeon holed frame" invented by McPhail which prevents manure vapours affecting the bed so the produce is sweeter. Disapproves of [Thomas] A[ndrew] Knight's "filthy practice of drenching [his] fig, & his pines, with a mixture of piegons' dung & water the colour of Porter" to guarantee multiple crops from his fig tree, received a letter reporting nine crops in fifteen months. Too few woodcocks this season to prove his theory that only males come over in first flight; encloses exterior quill feathers [not extant] of the male as example, females have a white line running most of the way from the quill to the extremity, small ink sketch illustrating this.

Copying and "tearing out likenesses in paper"; there is much chance in tracing them, encloses example of "old Mrs Warburton, well known in the society at York 30 or 40 years ago", requests its return. Just requested specimen of 'Menziesia caerulea' from Scotland and will attempt to procure 'Menziesia polifolia' through his sister, Lady Roche, in Dublin.

Since last letter received four male woodcocks from an outkeeper and has not seen one dead or alive since. Favourable season for his son's shrub planting; tempertature 52°F today. His son went to York nursery recently and found 'Menziesia caerulea'; proprieter says it is difficult to keep alive. Stopped Duke of Gordon's factotum [James Hoy], brother to [Thomas] Hoy [(c 1750-1822)], the Sion gardener, getting anything from the 'Menziesia caerulea' growing at Inverness.

Asks Smith to recommend a "Genera plantarum" more recent than his Vienna 1767 edition. Request to [James] Dickson for price of cut asparagus 3 November met with "almost a doubt of the possibility of having it so early", but they cut 274 this morning in addition to a regular supply since they began, and in addition it is sweeter than that raised by common process as the pigeon holed frames keeps the manure detached from the bed.