Death of [Richard] Pulteney. Plans to republish Pulteney's ["A general view of the writings of Linnaeus"] possibly using the manuscripts bequeathed to him, and to include a new biographical preface on Pulteney.

Requests information from Smith on Linnaeus' unpublished manuscripts for new edition of [Richard] Pulteney's "A general view of the writings of Linnaeus". Planning to include diary of Linnaeus and some original unpublished letters if he succeeds in purchasing them. Requests Smith's knowledge on the medical part of Linnaeus' writings.

Questions Smith on Linnaeus' published works, his acquisiton of the Linnaean collections, and progress of the Linnaean system in Britain, for new edition of [Richard] Pulteney's "A general view of the writings of Linnaeus". Intends to include a diary of Linnaeus he recently purchased. Asks if Smith is publishing "Lachesis Lapponica".

Concerned Smith's copy of his edition of [Richard] Pulteney's ["A general view of the writings of Linnaeus"] has miscarried. Remarks on the book, including his decision not to explain the Linnaean system and not to discuss the collections in depth.

Jokes that Smith is suffering from two afflictions, erysipelas and [Richard] Salisbury. Linnean Society settled in new premises [9 Gerard Street, Soho, London]. [Robert] Brown still undecided on offering himself for the new office [of Clerk, Librarian and Housekeeper]. Plants brought back by Brown [from Australia] deposited in Soho Square [home of Sir Joseph Banks]. Compliments first numbers of [Alexander von] Humboldt's "South American plants" but complains that there is no clarification of 'Cortex peruvianus' [Jesuit's Bark, remedy for malaria] in the remarks on 'Cinchona', so unable to fully advise the committee of the College of Physicians revising the London Pharmacopoeia on this. Royal Society's Copley medal awarded to [Humphry] Davy.

Working with London College of Physicians revising their Pharmacopoeia, queries botanical names with Smith: discusses different specimens of 'Melaleuca leucadendra' sent by Christopher Smith [(d 1807) East India Company botanist], from one of which cajeput oil is obtained; whether officinal juice is obtained from 'Aconitum napellus' or 'Aconitum neomontanum' of [Carl Ludwig] Willdenow; whether Smith has given a trivial name to the 'Alpinia' which yields cardamom; unsure whether the fruit of 'Laurus nobilis' is a bacca or drupa; and terminology for describing hops. Smith has annotated brief responses to each query.

Has named 'Malaleuca cajuputi'. Lack of papers at Linnean Society for reading at meetings. Smith's paper on the vitellus of seeds well regarded. Reading Smith's latest publication ["Introduction to Botany"], asks when an English "Lachesis Lapponica" is to be published.

A new paper on the Cardamom [White's 'Botanical Description and Natural History of the Malabar Cardamom'] which authorises it as a new genus. Had named it 'Garcia cardamomum' in the new edition of the London Pharmacopoeia, but [Martin] Vahl [(1749-1804)] and [Carl Ludwig] Willdenow had made prior claims on the name, asks Smith's assistance in determining a new name.

Intends to subjoin some remarks in [David] White's paper on the Malabar Cardamom explaining the name for new genus of the plant, 'Elettaria', and correcting errors in Linnaeus' 'Amomum cardamomum', describes some of them and asks Smith to examine Linnaeus' specimen. Unsure on how to proceed with publication of the note.