Royal Society Copley Medal awarded to Dr [John] Brinkley [(c 1763-1835), astronomer], the opponent of [John] Pond [(1767-1836), astronomer] as to the parallax of fixed stars. They [the Royal Society] cannot be accused of "any partiality to either of these great astronomers" though wishes that Pond's theory was right.

Reports that Mr Plumtree has become a member of the Athenaeum club, which now numbers 990; once 1000 has been reached members will be ballotted. [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert's parlour dog bit five of his household; the bitten parts were mostly cut out. Saw Sir Thomas Raffles [(1781-1826), founder of Singapore] yesterday; he looked as though he had not moved since they last saw him.

Invites Smith to lecture at the Bristol Institution next spring; requests terms. Smith can obtain plants for demonstration from nursery garden of Mr Miller, late of Sweets & Miller, just outside Bristol; his collection of hardy and tender exotic plants equals any for sale.

Happy to hear Smith has recovered from his "long and severe indisposition". Asks of probability of Smith being in London before May. Asks after [Francis Leggatt] Chantrey's [(1781-1841), sculptor] bust of Smith. Bishop of Carlisle [Samuel Goodenough] in London, has had a slight attack of gout. [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert unwell after one of his dogs went mad and bit three of his servants. Asks if Smith has seen new their new volume ["Linnean Transactions" vol 13 issue 2], which is "very thin" for want of matter. Asks if they are ever to receive any paper from Smith.

Thanks for Smith's letter of 24 [November 1824], pleased to good account of his health. Unable to sign Mr Maund's nomination certificate for Linnean Society.

Pleased that he has presented Smith with a "new & important idea on the effects of a religious establishment"; he has been working on a now 500 page manuscript tract for 30 years, but considers himself "as good a Christian as any in Christendom".

Hopes to bring all his fungi to Norwich before Smith reaches them [in "English Flora"]; he has found hundreds of species since publishing first volume of his "Midland Flora", and [Robert Kaye] Greville, "in his admirable work", makes his descriptions too detailed to be followed.

Agrees with Smith that [William Jackson] Hooker "has rather mistaken the willows" ['Salix'], and thinks that "Flora Scotia" was rushed; points out errors. Has sent [Joseph] Sabine roses ['Rosa']; discussion of 'R. sabini' and 'R. mollis'; Sabine says the specimens he sent are both varities of 'R. doniana'.