Invites Smith to Holkham to meet the Duke of Gloucester [Prince William (1776-1834), chancellor of Cambridge University]; certain a personal introduction will further his interests at Cambridge.

Received Smith's letter of 7 May. Remarks on Indian weather and seasons. Has visited Agra and Allahabad. Now in the Gorakhpur district, where he plans to finish his survey, followed by a short trip to Hurdwar and then returning to England via Calcutta next year. Has been collecting the flowers of 'Scitamineae' orchids and 'asclepiades' in spirits as dried specimens are not satisfactory and the want of an appropriate terminology prevents a full description. His collection is large and various, eager to show Smith so as to have a new terminology for fructification developed. Concerned its bulkiness will result in high duties but hopeful of meeting with a Lord of the Treasury as obliging as the Marquess of Blandford was on the last occasion.

Writes on introduction of Corrêa. Necessity of European correspondence to supply defect of books during the present "imperfect state of science" in the USA; his sense of honour in having access to the "head sources of the science". Discusses botany of New England, little explored by European botanists; remarks that there are many small differences between American and European species, citing 'Salicornia herbacea', 'Callitriche aquatica', and 'Athusa cyanpium' of which he encloses seeds. Difficulty of exchanging specimens during the present war [War of 1812, conflict between USA and Britain 1812-1815]. Sends seeds of an 'Iris' and another unidentified plant; observations and small ink sketches of components. Printing an edition of Smith's "Introduction to Botany" for his students; not yet enough botanists in USA to induce booksellers to publish large works.

Botany still in its infancy in America, with only a scattering of amateurs and European "travelling gardeners" collecting for the gardens and nurseries of Europe. Introduces [Jacob] Bigelow, only botanist of merit he has met in his two years in America, except for [Henry] Muhlenberg.

Anxious for Smith's success at Cambridge [candidature for Botany Professorship] and regrets inability to assist. Thinks it "very handsome" of the Duke of Gloucester [Prince William Frederick (1776-1834), chancellor of Cambridge University] to remain neutral, he is the only member of the royal family he feels attached to. His mother recently died, though she had long been lost to him through the "machinations & lies of others", and only found out accidently through an acquaintance, and not his family. Offers to try and acquire Welsh votes for Smith.

Does not think any minister will "dare to continue a war in support of the Bourbons", otherwise fears war at home, and comments on what a fall Napoleon has had. Thinks that Napoleon's brother Lucien "has chosen a wider plan"; hears great things of his poem "Charlemagne" and a female acquaintance of his is translating it into English. They had a wet autumn but now frost setting in.

Sends handwritten extract from "Mem. de l'Institut", 1807 4, on [Étienne Pierre] Ventenat's genus 'Poiretia'. His name 'Hovea' is after the Polish traveller Anthony Pantaleon Hove, a friend of William [Townsend] Aiton who has collected for Sir Joseph Banks' herbarium. Hopes Smith has a productive visit to Holkham, [Norfolk, home of Thomas William Coke]. [William Elford] Leach to succeed the late [George] Shaw at the British Museum. Banks in good health but has lost the use of his legs.

Thanks for present of game. Enquires after Smith's canvassing for Cambridge Botany Professorship. Awarded Gold Medal by the Royal Academy of Sciences of Stockholm for his edition of [Richard] Pulteney's "A general view of the writings of Linnaeus" although whereabouts of the actual medal is unknown.

Thanks for basket of game. [Thomas] Nuttall [(1786-1859)] admitted a member of Linnean Society and Lord Louvain proposed.

Using leeches on his bad knee again. Cataloguing his books. Pleased to hear that Smith met the Duke of Gloucester [Prince William Frederick (1776-1834), chancellor of Cambridge University] at Holkham [home of Thomas William Coke]; the Duke's character and his efforts to interest him to Smith's Cambridge candidature [for botany professorship]. Concerned to hear of Coke's illness.

Sending Smith a full critique of [William] Roxburgh's 'Sciatmineae' paper in 11th volume of "Asiastic Researches". Thanks for East India seeds. Will write to Dr [Martin] Davy of Cambridge recommending Smith's candidature. Has little to say on his "wind-plough" as yet, it will be finished next month and is a scheme of his bailiff, Stannard.

Wishes Smith success with his Cambridge candidature. Agrees with Smith that "the small 'Circaea'" is 'Circaea alpina' but thinks it differs from that in "English Botany". Has not made any further observations on 'Rubus'. 'Glechoma hederacea' is known in his neighbourhood as "ground ivy" and "robin-run-in-the-hedge", a tea is made from it for "scorbutic complaints".

Regret at imminent end of "English botany": errors to correct, including 'Conferva dissilieus' [see RelatedMaterial below]. Sending his Caithness specimen of 'Fucus crista' to [James] Sowerby.

Has not heard from from Smith or any of his other botanical correspondents for a long time, "botany has suffered much [...] by the unhappy interruption of mutual communications" [War of 1812, conflict between the US and Britain in North America, 1812-1815]. The President has given permission for Mr Whiston to travel to England to return with plants "for the use of science", Whiston introduced the [medicinal?] use of 'Urtica' and 'Asclepias' to America. Sending with him copies of his pocket book "Catalogus plantarum Americae septentrionalis", complains of difficulty of getting it or similar published. Hopes Smith and Sir Joseph Banks will assist Whiston. No book on fungi with figures in any of the public libraries of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, or Charlestown, asks [Dawson] Turner's book can be sent, or if specimens could be sent for comparisons with his own collection. Intends to send Turner specimens once navigation reopens. Would like observations on the 'Solidago' specimens he previously sent.

Encloses copy of his report on the "Fishes of New York"; brief notes on composition and general findings. "Valuable" "Linnean Transactions" are in their library. Offers to send copies of his report to [George] Shaw and [Edward] Donovan [(1768-1837), zoologist].