Smith "the only orthodox botanist in Europe" and the "Lord-Treasurer of Botany", on account of his possession of the Linnaean collections. Compliments Smith's "Introduction to Botany", which he has translated into German, on allowing him to save the blushes of virgins when explaining the sexual system in his lectures. Bemoans proliferation of "poets" in botany who are either ignorant of the grammar of the science or of Greek and Latin. The struggle to maintain the Linnaean sexual system as the premier natural system in Germany. Asks what happened to the publication of [Abraham] Rees' "Cyclopedia". Discusses his adherence to Linnaean nomenclature. Asks for Smith's assistance in obtaining a Calcutta correspondent.