Thanks for hospitality at Norwich; is now the guest of [Dawson] Turner. Would like to see Smith and his willows again before leaving England.

His father [Franz Karl Mertens] suffering from a "tedious & painfull" indisposition of his eyes, so on his father's behalf thanks Smith for present of willow cuttings, but as only nine of the eighteen specimens have grown requests fresh replacements and asks that they to be sent via his brother-in-law Theodore Zimmermann. Lists those willows that grew at end of letter: 'Salix malifolia', 'Salix russelliana', 'Salix acuminata', 'Salix lanceolata', 'Salix hirta', 'Salix rubra', 'Salix purpurea', 'Salix decipiens', and 'Salix phylicifolia'.