Macleay's letter of 17 [December 1819] "but a melancholy necrology"; sorry to hear of [Erik] Acharius, but fears [Christiaan Hendrik] Persoon was in uncomfortable circumstances and had faults, "somewhat in the [Frederick] Pursh [(1774-1820), botanist] style", which made him reluctant to be "his introducer here" had he come to England as he once discussed. Arrangements for Lamarck's and [José Antonio] Pavon's FMLS certificates. Laments death of [Thomas] Reynolds. Asks after Macleay's daughter, has learned "never to despair of young people".

Comments on death of [Thomas] Marsham; asks if they can give "any favourable acc[oun]t to the [Linnean] Society".

Has prepared the entire correspondence of Linnaeus and [John] Ellis [(1710-1776)] for the press, as well as [Daniel] Solander's letters to Ellis, [Peter] Collinson's [(1694-1768)], [José Celestino Bruno] Mutis' [(1732-1808)] from South America, and almost finished with Dr [Alexander] Garden's [(1730-1792)]. Asks to borrow Nichols' "Literary Illustrations" vol 1. Will prepare a short biographical memoir for each persons' letters, and will send a fragment of each hand for engraving. Thoughts on arrangement of volume. Expects to be in Liverpool from April till 20 May.