Suffering terribly from a fit of gout but thanks Smith for turkey. [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert likes to be asked out as much as possible, as long as Mrs [Catherine] Lambert's name is not mentioned. Lambert delighted with his new assistant, [David] Don [(1799-1841), botanist], son of George Don. Lambert gave a confused account of the "famous large plant of Sumatra" which grows in elephant dung.

Wrote to Lord Sidmouth [Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth (1757-1844), Home Secretary 1812-1822] in support of Smith for Edinburgh professorship and said that success there would end the "distressing contest" at Cambridge [also for the botany professorship], but Sidmouth thinks the appointment will be Scottish. [Robert] Brown reporting he refused the professorship after it was offered to him, Goodenough thinks if this is true then if it is offered to Smith it would secure the election.