His infirm health and increasing debility prevent him from joining the Smiths at Holkham, [Norfolk, home of Thomas William Coke]; reflections on approaching death. Endeavouring to finish his literary work with all reasonable speed: revising his catalogue of Holkham manuscripts for last time, including Mr Madden's additions; finishing his "Mondandrian Plants" with the 15th number; and finishing his pamphlet on American penitentiary system with advocation for a system equally desireable in this country if not for its "old institutions & inveterate prejudices".

Thanks for Smith's remarks on his descriptions of Monandrian plants and assents to Smith's opinion regarding 'Renealmia'; will place in it the 'Cardamom' plant, radical flowering 'Alpinia', and other plants which according to their system are not in any other genus. Received from [William] Carey [(1761-1834)] in Serampore four flowers of 'Curcuma' preserved in spirits. Had been anxious about [Nathaniel] Wallich after hearing he had remained behind the embassy among the Burmese, but now hears he is expected in about a month with an "immense cargo" of living and dried plants including 'Curcuma' and 'Crina'; the 'Scitamineae' Wallich promised him will be too late for his purposes now.

Thanks for Smith's hospitality in England; sending specimens. Encloses sheet of queries, Smith has inserted his answers to these.

Return of David Douglas [(1799-1834), botanist] from America and his "great acquisition of new species of plants"; proposes that he be raised from ALS to FLS, with the usual fees waived, as recognition of his achievements. It would also compliment that Horticultural Society, the Linnean Society's "sister". The old Linnean Club "going on prosperously this season".

[First two and a half folios by Mary Jane Forster to Pleasance Smith]: Thanks for turkey. Glad that Smith is well enough to tend to botanical pursuits. Mildness of the weather. Family news.

[Remaining folio and a half by Edward Forster to Sir James Edward Smith]: his pleasure at introducing a banking correspondent, John Eddowes Bowman, into a botanical one; proposed him as FLS.