Thanks Smith's mother for turkeys. Has received pamphlets. Glad to hear of Smith's progress in arranging, and writing, papers of [John] Sibthorp. Institut Français has begun its election of foreign members, including President Jefferson of USA for political economy, Dr Hayden for belles-lettres and Banks for geometry and physics. Has heard of disputes in Linnean Society over election of foreign members.

Asks Smith to thank Mr Grave for "his magnificent present" of a swan, and Smith's mother for turkeys. Uncertain how the "sudden and unexpected concussion" caused by resignation of Prime Minister William Pitt will end, "dear old England cannot suffer much" [Pitt resigned after an impasse was reached over Catholic Emancipation].