Comments on a variety of topics about various scientific persons on the Continent, on JH's travels in Europe, on ways to send packets between England and Europe, and on FZ's copy of the Nautical Almanac, which FZ has not yet received. Makes comparisons between his and JH's barometer, offers some comet observations, and talks about the appropriate date for Easter. Awaits JH's double star observations.

Sends drawings associated with WW's paper and passed by [R.S.L.] Council for printing, and memoir from M. A. Pictet.

[Robert] Brown has declined the Linnean Society Secretaryship; it would be a waste of his "great talents". Unsurpised that [Alexander] Macleay should think the Secretaryship undervalued as he made himself President whilst the position by ordering councils without consulting any of the vice-presidents, contrary to the charter. Glad that Smith approves of [James] Bicheno.

Sorry to hear of Smith's loss in India but forwarded his letter to [William] Roscoe; worries about his friends in Madras, where the has been bad cholera. Sir Thomas Raffles [(1781-1826), founder of Singapore] is fitting up Sir Humphry Davy's house to make a large display of natural history specimens. There are many candidates for Linnean Society membership though unsure whether or not they are practical naturalists; has always feared an influx of unscientific persons. Has a "sort of dread" of the Horticultural Society.

Giving details of Giuseppe Bianchi's barometer. Regarding the experiments of Leopoldo Nobili on the electrization of mercury. Gives tables of star observations.

Thanks for Christmas turkey. Will ask [James] Bicheno what Smith said respecting Turner's explusion. Requested further information from [William] Borrer on 'Salix tetrapla' Walker. Wished to proposes Mertens as FMLS but afraid to in consequence of Dawson Turner's "slander", will attempt again next year.

Expects Smith will have trouble with cryptogamia; thinks the public expects Smith to give the whole vegetable kingdom ["English Flora"].

About lodgings in London [see JG's 1824-12-31], JG's writing, and his 'love affairs.'

Apologises for the trouble caused by [James] Bicheno taking issue with the Council meetings, though unsure why this should be as they are flexible and rarely held [Bicheno had been offered the position of Linnean Society Secretary]. Knows nothing of [Edward] Barnard but dreads "the interference of the busy Horticulturalists". Glad Smith agrees that [Robert] Brown's abilities make him unsuitable for the Secretary position.

Everyone agreed that the Catholic Association [Roman Catholic political organisation established by Daniel O'Connell to campaign for Catholic emancipation] should be put down yet insist on talking about it "forever".

Regarding his own experiments with revolving balls.

Sends letter via Dr [William Jackson] and Mrs Hooker. Thanks for Smith's letter of 28 January; sorry to hear of death of his "excellent nephew" in India and comments on the "numerous instances" of similar losses of "our young & adventurous friends in the Western world".

Overwhelmed by the literary work he has undertaken, even though he has almost finished work on [Alexander] Pope [(1688-1744), poet] and the third part on "penal jurisprudence". Third and fourth parts of his "Monandrian Plants" about to appear; notes on 'Maranta', 'Phrynium', and 'Thalia', settled by communications from West Indies; 'Myrosma' cultivated abundantly in Martinique and they expect it at [Liverpool] Botanic Garden, worries it might be a 'Phrynium'; an 'Alpinia auriculata' appearing in his next number, along with figure of [Robert] Brown's 'Hellenia cerulea'. Thanks for Smith's good wishes respecting his son, Thomas, who has settled indepently with his "little family" in Camden Town.

[Letter possibly incomplete: no signature or valediction]

Clarifies that [James] Bicheno never meant to refuse the Linnean Society Secretaryship. Cannot believe the report that [Edward] Barnard is to be appointed as he is too close to [Joseph] Sabine. Informed by [Alexander] Macleay that [Thomas] Marsham escaped repaying "his shameful fraud" in part by Macleay's ordering of Councils so late at night that Goodenough could not attend. Goodenough affronted by Sabine's request to subscribe to Macleay's portrait and a summons to the Society to arrange for it, as he has no authority to do so. Thinks Barnard will do as Sabine directs him.

On instruction of Legislature of Jamaica encloses copies of a Report of the House of Assembly and Resolution of the House on establishment of a botanic garden in Jamaica [extant]. Investigations to be carried out on how the soil of the island will support new vegetable cultivation or further of indigo, tobacco, and mulberry; lists skills required of curator of the garden, requests Smith's opinions.

Manuscript copies encloses copy of report of the House of Assembly, 14 December 1824, and resolution of the House Assembly, 16 December 1824, on establishment of a botanic garden.

Has requested that two copies of his recently printed catalogue of heaths at Woburn Abbey, [Bedfordshire], be sent for Smith and the Linnean Society ["Hortus Ericaeus Woburnensis"]. Intends to establish a Salicetum [collection of willows], for which he will use Smith's "valuable work" on 'Salix'. His gardener, [George] Sinclair, has left his service to set himself up as a nursery gardener.

Will present alterations of WR's paper to R.S.L. [see JH's 1825-1-27]. Asks if he may describe the similarities between WR's photometer and an instrument JH used in Italy and Sicily.

Will travel with Smith to London if he intends to attend Linnean Society meeting of 1 March. Hopes Smith is not amongst those citizens of Norwich speculating in "rail-roads, gas companies &c". Has noticed promotion of horticultural societies, particularly one in Brighton, of which [Thomas Andrew] Knight and Joseph Sabine are to be made Honorary Members. His son and family at Pisa, doubts Mrs Cullum will ever see England again having gained no benefit from the waters of Barèges, [France], Sorrento, and Ischia, [Italy], though they intend to return home this summer.

Apologises for involving Smith in the misunderstandings over appointing a new Linnean Society Secretary; [James] Bicheno was surprised to hear he had apparently refused the position. Objects to [Edward] Barnard on the grounds that he is too close to [Joseph] Sabine, and if made Secretary he would act as [Alexander] Macleay did by being President in all but name. Goodenough objects to Sabine, his habit of provoking disorder in any Society he joins, as at the Athenaeum, and his ordering a committee to discuss a portrait of Macleay when he had no authority to do so. Had hoped for a Secretary no one objected to to be appointed. Believes Sabine is now the effectual manager of the Linnean Society which many will find unpalatable.

More about lodgings in London [see JG's 1825-2-14], and about books JG and JH have read [letter completed 1825-3-9].

Enclosing Dr [Robert Kaye] Greville's Highland mosses for Smith in his Norwich parcel. Encloses specimen of 'Hypnum trifarium' gathered on a Highland excursion; observations on its habitat. Hopes to make another excursion this summer.

Sending moss specimens he has lately described. Awaiting specimens of 'Hypnum alpestre' and 'H. trifariense' for his "Scottish work"; 'H. halleri' is engraved. Found 'Splachnum rugosum' of "English botany" on Ben Lawers; believes it distinct from 'S. vasculosum', which he is drawing at the moment. He and [George] Arnott have been applying Smith's "favourite maxim" in classifying the splachnoid mosses, in doing so have overturned much of the previous work by other authors; observations on the genus. Regrets calling the work a new arrangement.

Since last writing 'Senecio tenuifolius' has been added to flora of Scotland. [William Jackson] Hooker on his journey to London and Paris. Received letter from Revd Lewis de Schweinitz [(1780-1834), botanist] of Pennsylvannia, who has raised number of American fungi to 2000. Requests specimen of 'Daltonia splachnoides'.

EAD thinks it a pity if CD does not go to Cambridge, but it will be very pleasant for them to be together at Edinburgh, where they should go as soon as possible and read. EAD is getting "case-hardened" in anatomy.

Reports on some observations from JS's observatory near Paris and on his contacts with the Paris Observatory. Relays to JH a request from Alexander von Humboldt for barometric observations. Invites JH to visit.