Sending plants from Jacob Bigelow by coach. Introduces himself; brother of the Mr Boott who has occasionally transmitted plants to Smith; will be resident in Britain for 2 to 3 years, during which he will devote himself to botany in his free time so as to be useful in this area on return to USA; would like to establish correspondence with interested people though admits Bigelow the most knowledgeable on American flora. He has left the 'Salicorna' and bark at Sir Joseph Banks'.

Brought a "very superior" collection of drawings of fungi by Mrs [Lucy] Hardcastle [(fl 1760s-1830s] to Banks'; believes some are new species.

According to Smith's request has sent papers by Sir [Justly Watson] Green [2nd baronet, (1755-1826)] on 'Phascum' and [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert on 'Cinchona'. Pleased to find the debt owed by [Thomas] Marsham is not so great as Smith feared, hopeful he will repay all by 4 January [1817], Smith misinformed as to amount of his income.

The government finds more difficulty in abolishing this office than anticipated, uncertainty over final outcome. Sir Joseph Banks recently well enough to take Royal Society chair.

Apologises for trouble caused by leaving 'Salicorna' bark [sent by Jacob Bigelow] with Sir Joseph Banks. Forwards pamphlets from Bigelow, who has been elected Rumford Professor at Harvard College; Bigelow's annual course of lectures will be on connections between arts and sciences. Suggests Bigelow's election to Linnean Society; his attributes, including Correa naming him the second best naturalist in America after Muhlenberg

Thanks Smith for the new Compendium. Had a successful trip to Paris and met all the principal botanists except [Charles-François Brisseau de] Mirbel and [Christiaan Hendrik] Persoon. [René Louiche] Desfontaines and [André] Thouin enquired after Smith's health and [Antoine Laurent de] Jussieu is preparing a second edition of his "Genera". Papers on 'Sarancenia' and 'Lycopodium' not read. Sir Joseph Banks in good health. Sending Dunal's "two works on 'Solanum'", an American edition of Smith's "Introduction to Botany" and will separately forward specimens of 'Salicornia'.

Thanks for Smith's congratulations and refers him to Mr Martin [Smith's brother-in-law] for all information on subject [presumably a recovery in his affairs]. A reconciliation has occured between them and their friends at Greenbank, renewing friendship of 30 years.

Everything Smith said of [Thomas William Coke] has been fulfilled, and still hopes to meet Smith at Holkham, [Norfolk, Coke's home]. His studies and pursuits have been interrupted by the dispersal of his library, though he has long suspected that collecting literary and artistic curiosities has an unfavourable effect on original efforts, and now plans to focus on several unfinished labours.

Thanks for Smith's letter; has nothing to add in reference to [Sir Edward] Coke's papers [(1552-1634), lawyer, legal writer, and politician, ancestor of Thomas William Coke, to whom the papers were being sold] manuscripts and they are ready for collection. Regretted to hear Coke had been in great danger of losing one of his eyes, observes that individuals "in these large shooting parties" are in constant risk of being shot. Glad to hear of [Thomas] Woodward's good health in his seventy-third year.