Death of Sir Joseph Banks' sister, [Sarah Sophia Banks (1744-1818)]; unsure how he and Lady Banks will cope without her as she managed everything at Soho Square. Sends two specimens for identification [not extant]; one used to be called 'Oenothera purpurea' or 'mollissima', the other like a 'Chrysanthemum'. Hears that [John] Barrow [(1764-1848), promoter of exploration] is "triumphing not a little" in the prospect [John] Ross' [(1777-1856), Arctic explorer] expedition [to find the North West Passage]. Will plant 'Corydalis' seeds next spring as Smith sent them so late. Asks if [Edward] Rudge was elected for Evesham, Worcestershire. Supposes [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert's brother-in-law, Benett, ruined through electioneering. Strife in Westmorland carrying on with "acrimony".

Encloses engraving [extant] of a fossilised tree about 30 feet high, which was standing in 1803 on cliffs at Bog Hall near Newbiggen, Northumberland; fragments of other trees, at the time the drawing was taken, were scattered on the shore. He is on his way to Oxford but had intended to call on Smith in Norwich to enquire about preserving birds with "corrosive sublimate", as practised by one of Smith's friends.

Engraving of fossilised tree.

Intends to winter in South of France and reside in Nice; requests introductions. Suffering from serious indisposition which makes him dread an English winter.