Thanks for present of book ["The natural history of the rarer lepidopterous insects of Georgia"] and acknowledgement therein, praises Smith's work, "upon the whole it has the three great requisites to a modern publication - good letter, good paper, and showy plates". Has a pair of 'Papilio lathonia'. Until seeing Smith's cabinets at Hammersmith was unable to distinguish between 'Phalaena', 'Padella', and 'Euonymella'; concluded that 'Euonymella' was not English, but this year [Adrian Hardy] Haworth [(1768-1833) botanist and entomologist] and another have found it and it is described by [John] Ray. Believes Smith is mistaken in his naming of the fly 'Argiolus' Tab. 15.

Thanks for Smith's memoir on Ferns [published by Turin Academy]. Mortified by Dr [Robert John] Thornton's [(c 1768-1837), physician and writer on botany] rejection by Linnean Society; intends to propose him again, and if unsuccessful again will propose a change to the rules to reflect those of Royal Society. Concerned by "strong tendency" in Soho Square [home of Sir Joseph Banks] "to throw ridicule upon all persons and proceedings, except a certain set".

Sending by Mr Falconer specimen and seeds of a grass from the Cape of Good Hope, believes it to be 'Holeus saccharatus' but seeks Smith's opinion. Poor weather has prevented him from pursuing botany.

Encloses certificate proposing Lord St John as FLS. Received visit from [Thomas] Velley; discussed his and [Samuel] Goodenough's joint paper on 'Fucus'. Praises second fasciculus of [John] Stackhouse's ["Nereis Britannica"], but criticises his plan to form several genera based on microscopic observations, as Hedwig did with mosses, as being too "minute & intricate for general observers"; his own proposed criteria for separating 'Fucus' genera. Chases up copies of his and Goodenough's paper and [James] Sowerby's "Fungi".

No summary available.

A drawing belonging to George Walker of Hunter Square, Edinburgh, was mistakenly forwarded to Smith by Mr Edwards of Pall Mall; asks Smith to forward it to Walker and refers to letter of Thomas Johnes on subject [on preceeding folio of this letter].