No summary available.

About the expenses of their joint publication [see GP's 1820-11-16], rumors of a vacancy in the Lucasian professorship, and about the new observatory at Cambridge.

Urging JH to come to Cambridge to examine the plans for the new observatory.

Returns proofs and sends further manuscripts. Corrects spelling of "public" to "publick", according to Dr Johnson. Corrects headlines. Will prepare specimens for the engraved autographs.

Cataloguing the Holkham manuscripts [home of Thomas William Coke] taking longer than expected but has revealed the collection's importance; believes a published catalogue would be well received. Lady [Anne Margaret (1779-1843), née Coke] is making copies of some illuminations. Constant use of Codington's balsam has improved his rheumatism from when Smith was here. Duke of Gloucester [Prince William Frederick (1776-1834)] and Duke of Sussex [Prince Augustus Frederick (1773-1843)] expected, current visitors include Sir Ronald Ferguson [(1773-1841), army officer and politician].

Postscript in margin of verso of first folio: beauty of the Coke ladies.

Since last letter received four male woodcocks from an outkeeper and has not seen one dead or alive since. Favourable season for his son's shrub planting; tempertature 52°F today. His son went to York nursery recently and found 'Menziesia caerulea'; proprieter says it is difficult to keep alive. Stopped Duke of Gordon's factotum [James Hoy], brother to [Thomas] Hoy [(c 1750-1822)], the Sion gardener, getting anything from the 'Menziesia caerulea' growing at Inverness.

Asks Smith to recommend a "Genera plantarum" more recent than his Vienna 1767 edition. Request to [James] Dickson for price of cut asparagus 3 November met with "almost a doubt of the possibility of having it so early", but they cut 274 this morning in addition to a regular supply since they began, and in addition it is sweeter than that raised by common process as the pigeon holed frames keeps the manure detached from the bed.

Accepts Smith's invitation to Norwich, [Norfolk], and will be happy to also see [William] Roscoe, depending on the date. They have lost a "much valued friend" in death of [Thomas] Woodward.

Pleased to hear of Roscoe's work at Holkham [cataloguing Thomas William Coke's manuscript collection] and his plan to visit them in Norwich; proposes date so that he can meet the Fountaines and will also invite the Bishop [of Norwich, Henry Bathurst (c 1744-1837)] and the Southwells. Asks whether the Duke of Sussex [Prince Augustus Frederick (1773-1843)] is visiting Holkham and if they will attend the Fox dinner at Norwich. Busy with [Albrecht von] Haller's [(1708-1777), botanist] "very curious" letters to Linnaeus [for "A selection of the correspondence of Linnaeus.." (1821)]. Received "chests upon chests" of dried plants from [Nathaniel] Wallich, he speaks highly of Roscoe. Regards to Coke's family.

Sends list of subscribers to his "History of Birds" [extant]; he has received permission to dedicate it to the King [George IV (1762-1830)]. He will commence printing as soon as subscribers reach 150. Criticises [Coenraad Jacob] Temminck's [(1778-1858), zoologist] work [probably "Manuel d'ornithologie" (1815)]. Looking forward to Smith's "Linnaean correspondence".

Written on printed prospectus and list of subscribers for "Latham's History of Birds".

No summary available.

Giving him instructions arising from the recent meeting of the Astronomical Society. Gives details of JH's books he has in his possession. Has been experimenting with the game of noughts and crosses. Gives a problem in analysis. Regarding a paper by JH on numbers.

Arrived in London the first night of popular celebrations and illuminations for the Queen [Caroline (1768-1821), wife of George IV]; the people were "quite besides themselves, knowing nothing & hearing nothing but merely bragging that they had got the day" [following announcement on 10 November 1820 that the bill brought against her would not proceed to House of Commons].

Suffered an attack of gout shortly after arriving. Sir Humphry Davy elected president of Royal Society in spite of last minute canvassing by Mr Croker of the Admiralty for Lord Colchester [Charles Abbot, 1st Baron Colchester (1757-1829), statesman]. Lady Banks has left Soho Square and the house is let for £200 per annum by [Robert] Brown, doubling his still inadequate income. Equates the tumults in Parliament to those of "poor Charles I's time". Sent a barrel of oysters for Smith.

[This letter appears to be a later copy and is not in Smith's hand]

Sends manuscripts, hopes to send a large part of the remained of the second volume [of "A selection of the correspondence of Linnaeus" (1821)] after the holidays. Encloses samples for engraving of autographs.

Remarks on the R.S.L. Has written to J. B. Biot. Regarding the annual report. Needs a new council for the Astronomical Society. Please send him some copies of the rules. Meeting of Society of Arts. His recent chemical experiments. James South was with him last week and carried out observations.

About observatory plans and possible vacancies at Cambridge.

Father died. Consoles JH on loss of Mrs. Beckwith. Will always remember kindness shown by Herschel family when EW was attending Eton.

Suggestions for the wording of the annual report of the Astronomical Society. Wishes to propose a medal to be awarded for the theory of Saturn's satellites. Regarding the Lucasian professorship at Cambridge.

Nearly finished with his [cataloguing of Thomas William Coke's manuscript collection] at Holkham but thinks the project may have been beyond his capabilities. Ill-health caused the Duke of Sussex [Prince Augustus Frederick (1773-1843)] to defer his visit to Holkham. Dawson Turner visited and assisted with the manuscripts and has invited him to stay. Urges Smith not to invite too many people when he comes to Norwich as he is anxious for some rest following his two month stay at Holkham and the constant succession of guests. Mortal illness of Mrs Blackwell. Anxious about circumstances in Liverpool but confident he will not be called away.

Thanks for turkey. Corrêa de Serra is staying with him for a few days before going to Brazil via Paris. Pleased to hear of Smith's progress with publishing Linnaeus' letters. Found 'Silene lusitanica' in Berkshire, and 'Campanula patula' in East Hampstead. Truncated postscript enquiring whether Lady Smith left items at their house the last time they stayed.

[Letter incomplete: sections cropped, including part of Forster's postscript, presumed destroyed]

Regrets that he will no longer be able to visit Smith whilst [William] Roscoe is also visiting, and proposes next month instead.