Appoints Bishop of Carlisle [Samuel Goodenough], [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert, [William George] Maton, and [Edward Smith-]Stanley as Vice-Presidents of the Linnean Society.

Thanks for Pleasance's letter. Weather "very hot", and he is going on with his "[English] Flora". Asks that Pleasance give "dear little Pleasy some kisses for [him]". Comments on flowers in the garden, including 'Coreopsis tinctroia', 'Agapanthus', and 'Balsam'. His plans for the next few days.

[Note by Pleasance Smith on recto of second folio] "I think this is my dear James's last letter!".

Pestered with many letters, Roscoe's excepted. After returning to Norwich he will spend a fortnight finishing fourth volume of "English Flora", interrupted by Muscial Festival, and ending with a trip to Holkham where they expect to see Roscoe; he does not want to go later and encounter shooting parties and hopes to meet "a most amiable & accomplished young man of fortune, Mr Edw[ar]d Lombe, MP" [(1799-1852), landowner and philanthropist], who longs to know Roscoe.

Pleased Roscoe's ["Monandrian Plants"] has succeeded so well. Agrees with the character of 'Matonia' but discusses difficulty of establishing it over the 'Renealmia' established by Linnaeus, which he thought an 'Alpinia', and the new 'Renealmia' established by [Robert] Brown. Rejoices that in parting with 'Matonia' they can also legally get rid of 'Elettaria'; Decandolle, "with all his wrong-headed zeal", will not attempt to uphold this, though 'Elettaria' is an old name as he professes to keep all of Linnaeus' names, as 'Renealmia' is.

Thanks for Roscoe's sympathies. Suffering from rheumatism in his eyes, as last winter. Must soon continue work on "Flora Graeca". Never published a figure of 'Costus speciosus', though Jacquin has it in his "Icones [plantarum rariorum]", and he published the characters in "Linnean Transactions" vol 1[see RelatedMaterial below]. Roscoe's gardeners will make 'Costus speciosus' and 'Alpinia malaccensis' flower with great heat, drought, or starvation.

Laments death of Bishop of Carlisle [Samuel Goodenough]; [John] Latham and himself now the only surviving original members of the Linnean Society. Has not come to London this year as suffering from severe rheumatism in the same eye that suffered from erysipelas twenty-five years ago; asks Cullum to consult Mr Alexander for him. Recently received from Kent the true Swiss 'Ophrys arachnites' figured in [Albrecht von] Haller [(1708-1777), Swiss botanist].

Thanks for Christy's letter, spent the last three weeks in Suffolk. Christy's plant is the real 'Cistus surrejanus', refers him to "English Flora" vol 3, p25, will quote Christy's new observations in corrections and additions of the fourth volume. 'Dianthus barbatus' cannot be supposed wild in Britain.

Thanks Cullum for consulting Mr Alexander for his eye affliction, gives further details of the symptoms. Alexander's prescription has provided no relief, asks Alexander whether he can resort to his usual practice of bathing the bad eyelid and temple with camphorated spirit of wine and cold water, and if he would recommend a blister on the temple or behind the ear.

Appoints Robert Brown to be a Vice-President in place of the late Bishop of Carlisle [Samuel Goodenough].

Complaint in both his eyes has obliged him to be "quite idle for some days".

His brother[-in-law] Mr Martin has not succeeded. Pleased to hear Roscoe so close to end of his ["Monandrian Plants"], which is "one of the few really original, valuable & learned works in Botany that this age has seen"; wishes he could review it in Taylor's "Philosophical Magazine". "English Flora" nearly printed and about to start work on "Flora Graeca".

Debilitated by a low catarrhous complaint which ended in a serious and painful ophthalmia. Sorry Roscoe could not visit this year; he himself could not go to Holkham, [Norfolk, home of Thomas William Coke]. Glad Roscoe accedes to 'Renealmia', as Reneaulme "deserved a good genus"; has his "very curious" book which the [Bauhins] never quote, which is commented on by Linnaeus, should Roscoe also wish to.

Finished fourth volume of "English Flora" except for the printing, and now working on continuing "Flora Graeca"; hopes to reach the conclusion during the winter. His eyes have recovered. [Thomas William Coke] expecting them both to visit Holkham in the spring, Dawson Turner is currently there. Sorry to hear of Roscoe's health problems; his own.