Received Smith's letter of 25 April. Expecting to leave [India] in two years and will bring with him a large collection, although it will not be as interesting as the one from Nepal. His collection of fish is more curious and increasing rapidly, has been unable to trace more than a few in Lacépède. This year is working in the Bhagalpur district of India. A squabble the previous year between the British and Nepalese governments has prevented him from obtaining seeds and flowering specimens of the officinal plants of the Indian Alps. Has managed to procure specimens of one genus, similar to 'Caltha', two species used for medicinal purposes and resemble either the 'Ranunculus arvensis' or 'Ranunculus acris', and another species which is one of the most violent poisons known in India and is used by the natives on their arrows.

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.

Returned [from India] at the end of August. Confusion over Smith's current location. Going to Scotland in October, stopping by the way of Bawtrey, Nottinghamshire, to drop off a little girl that came home in his charge, but would like to see Smith. Intends to settle in Edinburgh but this depends on the inclinations of his sister who may prefer to live in the country.

Received Smith's letter of 25 September. Prevented from meeting Smith but will endeavour to do so the next time both are in London. "That vain, empty creature Lord Moira" [Francis Edward Rawdon-Hastings (1754-1826) 1st Marquess of Hastings, Governor-General of India, 1813-1823] has seized all his natural history drawings made during his survey of India and disrupted his publication plans. Proposes an alternative scheme and discusses the benefits and drawbacks of writing in English or Latin. At present Edinburgh is the most eligible location for settling. Wishes to join the Linnean Society.

Received Smith's letter of 13 February. Wishes Smith success with his Cambridge professorship candidature. Unable to attend his own admittance to the Linnean Society as he is currently detained in Scotland buying land. Disgusted by the Court of the East India Company who have detained his materials. Preparing an account of the fish of the Ganges despite Lord Moira [Francis Edward Rawdon-Hastings (1754-1826) 1st Marquess of Hastings] having detained 144 of his drawings. When finished with this he will require the descriptions and drawings of Nepalese plants in order to have them published. Shall now reside near Callander.

Received Smith's letter of 2 November. Disgusted with the treatment he has received from the Court of Directors of the East India Company and the difficulty of getting even the temporary use of the natural history materials he gave them, consequently considering abandoning publication. Shall live in Leny, Stirling, from May. Preparing an account of Assam and Nepal, and a description of the fish of the Ganges. Encourages Smith to make as much use as possible of his Nepalese flora materials. Glad that Smith thinks of publishing a Mantissa, will write to India House if Buchanan's collection there would prove useful. Will use the proceeds of his account of Assam and Nepal to fund the publishing of his account of the fish. Obliged to Smith's offer to assist him with Lord Moira [Francis Edward Rawdon-Hastings (1754-1826) 1st Marquess of Hastings, Governor-General of India, 1813-1823] who took 144 drawings of fish, 20 of quadrupeds, 241of birds and 130 of plants, will send copies of the correspondence.

Happy about Smith's intention to publish a Mantissa, believes it should take precedence over translating "Flora Britannica" into English and would be the work on which "any lasting reputation must depend". Pleased to send Smith a copy of his "Hindu Genealogies". Preparing memoirs for different maps drawn by natives of Ava, Burma, to be published in the Edinburgh Philosophical Journal. His manuscript of the Gangetic fishes with the publisher. Took the name Hamilton in order to succeed to the estate of Bardowie. Wishes to procure everything that is likely to be naturalised in a narrow wooded glen and which does not already grow in Scotland.

Received Smith's letter of 10 June. Intends to come to London as soon as his leg has recovered, hopes to see Smith. Thinks Smith will find [Nathaniel] Wallich an excellent correspondent. Mentions an accident happening to boxes Smith sent to Edinburgh. Has seen little of Rees's "Encyclopedia" but hopes Smith will persist in publishing a Mantissa, urges Smith to use his collections in the East India Company's library, has no intention of using it for himself. Has had difficulties in publishing his work on fish and is disillusioned with dealers and booksellers. Also publishing his tables of the "Hindu Genealogies", hopes it will lead to a "much greater extent of historical knowledge than was thought to exist". Attempting to acclimatise foreign plants in a wooded glen near his house, asks Smith to send any seeds or roots that might be suited to such conditions, especially English orchids.