Thanks for turkey. Received letter from [Michel Felix] Dunal [(1789-1856) French botanist] on seeds and specimens for his work on 'Solanum'. Received letters and specimens from unknown doctors in New York. Received letter from [Thomas] Nuttall [(1786-1859)] in Charlestown, USA. [Sir Stamford] Raffles [(1781-1826)], late governor of Java, in London, "quite the lion of naturalists" has brought back vast collections, Raffles' house in Bernes Street "is quite a museum", his collector Dr [Thomas] Horsfield [(1773-1859)] is still in Java. The Duchess of Somerset requested an introduction to Raffles from Lambert for the Duke [Edward Adolphus Seymour] and herself to see the collections. Raffles hosted a party of Fellows of the Royal Society, "a magnificent set-out, top was a soup of swallows' nests", Raffles has brought back several boxes of them. [George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough's (1739-1817)] will: the Duchess will receive £10,000 per annum; the present Marquess and Lady Caroline £3000 per annum each; everything belonging to Blenheim [Palace] left to trustees; the family to live there with £30,000 per annum. Thanks Smith for "Compendium".

Looking forward to reading Smith's "Life of Tournefort" [probably for Rees' "Cyclopedia"]. Has a full grown specimen of the 'Myrospermum' Smith mentions in the new fascicle of "Flora Graeca". Also has specimen of 'Passiflora tiliifolia' which Smith mentions in the "Encyclopedia" [Abraham Rees' "Cyclopedia"]. Believes the current "rage for publishing plants according to natural families, like the present situation of the Crown Prince of Sweden" is due to "two of the very few remaining effects of a French Revolution".

Thanks for turkey. Received letter and new work from [Augustin Pyramus] de Candolle who plans to come to England in May or June. Expecting sixth part of [Alexander von] Humboldt's "Nova genera et species", Humboldt planning to come to England in February. Asks after his paper on 'Cinchona' he sent Smith as he has additional observations to add.