Received Smith's letter of 13 February. Wishes Smith success with his Cambridge professorship candidature. Unable to attend his own admittance to the Linnean Society as he is currently detained in Scotland buying land. Disgusted by the Court of the East India Company who have detained his materials. Preparing an account of the fish of the Ganges despite Lord Moira [Francis Edward Rawdon-Hastings (1754-1826) 1st Marquess of Hastings] having detained 144 of his drawings. When finished with this he will require the descriptions and drawings of Nepalese plants in order to have them published. Shall now reside near Callander.

Received Smith's letter of 2 November. Disgusted with the treatment he has received from the Court of Directors of the East India Company and the difficulty of getting even the temporary use of the natural history materials he gave them, consequently considering abandoning publication. Shall live in Leny, Stirling, from May. Preparing an account of Assam and Nepal, and a description of the fish of the Ganges. Encourages Smith to make as much use as possible of his Nepalese flora materials. Glad that Smith thinks of publishing a Mantissa, will write to India House if Buchanan's collection there would prove useful. Will use the proceeds of his account of Assam and Nepal to fund the publishing of his account of the fish. Obliged to Smith's offer to assist him with Lord Moira [Francis Edward Rawdon-Hastings (1754-1826) 1st Marquess of Hastings, Governor-General of India, 1813-1823] who took 144 drawings of fish, 20 of quadrupeds, 241of birds and 130 of plants, will send copies of the correspondence.