Describes the difficulty of [P. Laplace's] Mécanique céleste. Has a new pupil. Discusses proper boundary of a front view mirror.

Requests Smith's support in his candidature for the [Trinity College, Dublin] botany professorship. Method of election and the other candidates, considers himself in a strong position.

Reminds Smith he previously sent flowering specimens 'Pterogonium sciuroides', after Smith remarked in figure of same in "English botany" the rarity of finding it so. Asks after publication of "Compendium florae britannicae".

a "dreadful" six day journey from Carlisle to London brought on gout. Discusses 'Nymphaea' as mentioned in Theophrastus, Dioscorides, and Stephen's "Thesaurus". Not surprised at [James] Donn's [(1758-1813), curator of Cambridge Botanic Garden] attacks on [George] Don if he "learned any of the tricks of Thomas Agnew, to whom he was second at Kew" [Donn had accused Don of using seeds from Cambridge to grow into plants to claim as indigenous to Scotland, see RelatedMaterial]. Thanks Smith for offer of a turkey. Has not had a chance to see the "Anti-Jacobin".

Encloses drawing of next engraving [for "Lachesis Lapponica"]; asks whether it is to be copied exactly from the manuscript and for any other changes.

Sends roots and runners of a grass called 'Fiorin' which [William] Richardson has written on with intention of making it a valuable animal foodstock, suspects it may be 'Agrostis stolonifera'. Has been bound to his bedroom since beginning of January. A vast fish, 55 feet [16.7m] long and 12 feet [3.7m] in circumference, that was washed up on the Orkney Islands is a cartilaginous fish and not a whale, as was supposed.

A new paper on the Cardamom [White's 'Botanical Description and Natural History of the Malabar Cardamom'] which authorises it as a new genus. Had named it 'Garcia cardamomum' in the new edition of the London Pharmacopoeia, but [Martin] Vahl [(1749-1804)] and [Carl Ludwig] Willdenow had made prior claims on the name, asks Smith's assistance in determining a new name.

Thanks for the turkey. [James] Brodie sent a letter to Miss [Elizabeth] Hill [(c 1760-1850), algologist] via himself, in addition sent him specimens of '[Fucus] lycopodioides' and 'Brodiaea'. Received report from the Bishop of Chester [Henry Majendie (1764-1830)] that the King [George III (1738-1820)] is "perfectly well & in high spirits"; the "Jacobinical rumours" of abdication and regency border on treason. Sir Joseph Banks recovering from a slight attack of gout.

Thanks Smith for attention to his paper [probably on 'Juncus', see RelatedMaterial]. Thanks Smith for offer to interpose with [Edward] Donovan [(1768-1837), zoologist] who has accused Davies of falsity in a dispute over [Thomas] Pennant's "British Zoology", as well as criticising Samuel Goodenough's paper for "Linnean Transactions" on the "Porbeagle Shark". Sending a package containing: ten species of 'Salix' for identification; 'Schoenus rufus' and 'Festuca uniglumis' for Smith's friends; a 'Oenanthe' that differs from 'Oenanthe pimpinelloides'; some specimens of 'Potamogeton' previously mentioned; and two foreign ferns.

Sending 'Lichens', sent duplicates to [James] Sowerby except 'Parmelia perforata', also sent Sowerby those which he and [William Jackson] Hooker collected in Scotland last year.

Lists lichens sent to Sowerby, with habitats and other remarks: 'Pulveraria chlorina', 'Endocarpon leptophyllum', 'Endocarpon tephroides', 'Parmelia erythrella', 'Parmelia squamulosa', 'Parmelia sarmentosa', 'Picta crocata', and 'Cetraria nivalis'.

Delivered all proofs [for "Lachesis Lapponica"] to Mr White except number 26; queries over several other engravings.

Thanks for 'Salix' specimens. Still working on 'Fucus' but thinks he has almost exhausted the coast here; has recently "converted" to [Erik] Acharius' system, and though there is much confusion, the arrangement is good. Encloses [cryptogamic] specimen from James Hoy's, of Gordon Castle, collection; it is not, as Hoy states, 'Lichen hebraicus', nor 'Verrucaria purpurescens'. His opinion of Hoy's character and appearance.

Criticises Smith for doing "so much good" with "Flora Britannica", and then ceasing when "the whole scientific world" is in expectation of more.