Distress at lack of communications from England.

Will endeavour to profit by Smith's "Grammar of Botany" and though glad he has explained [Antoine Laurent de] Jussieu's system will not bother to learn it as he does not find it "more natural" and there are irreconcilables in it. Praises the book's dedication.

Has written on identification of sex of woodcocks and commissioned a nephew in Dublin for opinion of Irish sportsmen; does not recall his authority for male's exterior quill feather to be barred the whole length, but the Irish think the male is larger, has most white at the edge, yellow legs, and a much darker head and neck, and the female dark slate coloured legs. Duke of Gordon's confirmation by examining supposed male "saw the testicles most distinctly".

He has two peach trees "just now showing their habitual excitability" which had just been transplanted out from glass to the open and protected them with oiled paper frames. His son's address whilst attending Parliament.

His weekly fish from Hartlepool, [Yorkshire], just come in, including more than 2lb 1/2 of whitings but often have them as large, and has lately had smelts more than 10 inches long.

Encloses latest list of subscribers [extant] to his "History of Birds". Examined [Coenraad Jacob] Temminck's [(1778-1858), zoologist] "Manuel [d'ornithologie]" for the work, notes on new genera added to Linnaeus'. Printing expected to commence imminently. Unable to determine whether there will be any ornithology in next "Linnean Transactions", in spite of seeing a list of New Holland parrots when last in London. Asks if Smith knows whether Dr Horrfield will be publishing any of the specimens he brought from Java and Ceylon. Still awaiting news of European subscribers.

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

There is an opening for a Lay fellowship. Is JH interested? News of J. W. Whittaker's appointment.

Responds to JG's consolations [see JG's 1820-11-6] in JH's loss [Miss Gwatkin?]; comments on his commitment to astronomy, together with family news [letter completed 1821-3-12].

Pleased to hear Nichols can so easily make an index for ["A selection of the correspondence of Linnaeus" (1821)], leaves it him as his the index for the former volume of letters he published was so "peculiarly excellent".

Sorry to hear JH's father and mother are ill and cannot visit Bath. Received account of new Astronomical Society of London. Honored to be listed as member with old friend William Herschel.

Thanks for copy of Smith's "Grammar [of botany]", which "speaks the hand of a Master, concise yet full". Amused when he sees the "miserable incorrect compilations & imitations" of Smith's former work, and when Smith's "[English] Flora" is published, "the British botanist will find everything he wants in these three works of yours". If he was younger he would pursue study of the Natural Orders, and is sometimes vexed when people say the Natural System will supersede the Artificial.

He no longer has communication with Cambridge [Botanic Garden]; pleased to hear the Liverpool garden flourishes; uncertain of state of Oxford's. Pleased to see "such vast improvements" in botany and horticulture over the last 20 years, even though it renders his own work of no value. His health.

Sends concluding numbers of his "Medical Botany"; apologises for the quality of the engravings, a consequence of the "low state of the arts" in USA; engraved in aquatint and printed in colours. Thanks for naming a genus in his honour ['Bigelowia']; unknown to him until supplement of Rees' "Cyclopedia" was reprinted here; recently obtained specimen of a new 'B. pubescens' from Mr Nuttall of Louisiana; [Jean Louis Marie] Poiret [(1755-1834), botanist] has named the genus 'Forrestiera'.

Though he could qualify, he would rather not try for the fellowship as he does not require it so much as some other persons may.

Honored on being elected Foreign Member of the Astronomical Society of London. Finds that the comet he observed in January had already been seen by J. N. Nicollet and J. L. Pons. Saw the remarkable appearance on the dark part of the moon noticed by Henry Kater. Thinks Kater's theory is wrong. Will soon be bringing out a paper on the moon's volcanoes.

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Family news, JG's reduced circumstances, and public affairs.

Has received the regulations of the Astronomical Society of London—a great encouragement to astronomers. Has made observations on the orbit of the comet. Has sent two memoirs to T. M. Brisbane.

Sends John Flamsteed's Atlas and Catalogue. Discusses JH's intention to review all of William Herschel's double stars. Wants details of JH's appointment to committee.

Encloses letters for Smith detailing a disagreement concerning Smith's niece [apparently concerning a situation for her as a governess].

Sends seeds and list of desiderata.