Smith's candidature for Botany Professorship at Cambridge University. Will do all he can to promote Smith's candidacy and advises him to apply for Roger Wilbraham's assistance in obtaining votes.
Invites Smith to Holkham to meet the Duke of Gloucester [Prince William (1776-1834), chancellor of Cambridge University]; certain a personal introduction will further his interests at Cambridge.
Just received copy of [William] Roscoe's "Leo X"; thanks Smith for introducing them to each other and praises Roscoe's character. Intends to visit Roscoe at Allerton [Hall, Roscoe's home near Liverpool, Lancashire] this September or October, asks Smith to accompany him. Has given Roscoe four dozen manuscripts to be bound.
Relates events after being confronted by "an awkward mob with bad intentions" [following an address he made in Norwich in favour of the Corn Law].
Developments following his encounter with an anti-corn law mob in March. Sorry that Smith's friendly feelings towards him could mark him out to a "deluded populace", and had hoped that the feeling against him would have subsided by this time.
Hopes Smith can spend a day at Holkham to look over the manuscripts bound and annotated by Rosoce before they depart [on visit to Roscoe in Lancashire].
Manuscripts received from [William] Roscoe, including Caesar's "Commentaries" and "Praeses fid."; and a Livy which is apparently the actual copy sent by Cosmo de Medici to Alfonso, King of Naples, as a peace offering and mentioned in Roscoe's "Life of Lorenzo de Medici". Roscoe informs him that Mr Jones has adopted Smith's advice for a regular system of "three [book] binders besides himself constantly employed". Roscoe has sat for his portrait with [Sir Martin Archer] Shee [(1769-1850) portrait painter and writer].
Laments [William] Roscoe's misfortunes [collapse of his business interests in 1816]. [Dawson] Turner, his wife and family have promised to visit.
Purchased the following at [William] Roscoe's sale of pictures: Leo's "the Head of the Christ"; Michelangelo's "Chiaroscuro"; Giorgione's "Portrait of a Venetian Lady and her Son"; a "Holy Family" by Vinci.
Smith's "rebuff" a "disgrace upon Cambridge" [Smith's failed campaign to be appointed to Botany Chair]. Comments on Lord Spencer, his wife would like to meet Smith.