Discusses JS's efforts to reform the Nautical Almanac, including JS's Practical Observations on the Nautical Almanac. States that in this 'awful crisis' JS has no hostile feelings toward its superintendent, Thomas Young.

Matters relating to his calculating machine.

He has never regarded [Thomas William] Coke's marriage "in any other light than as a subject of congratulation" [in 1822 Coke married Lady Anne Amelia Keppel (1803-1844), 50 years his junior]; Coke's warm character. Observations on derivation of 'Nerium'. Expects to visit Dr [John] Bostock in London about 27 May [1822], hopes to also see Smith. Just returned from trip to Liverpool, where he left his father [John Yates (1755-1826), Unitarian minister] and the Martin family [Smith's sister] in good health.

Please forward enclosed papers.

Glad to hear Smith will visit them in May, hopes he will being Lady [Pleasance] Smith; will take him to botanise at Binfield and Virginia Water, [Berkshire]. Found many more specimens of his new 'Silene', which if not 'S. lusitanica' is a decumbent plant. Planning to publish a Flora of Berkshire with [James] Bicheno.

His daughter-in-law, Mrs Cullum, dangerously ill with a rheumatic complaint, and having been treated with lancets and blisters she is now to take the waters at Barèges, [France], for a year. Attended Linnean Society meeting and dinner in February at the Thatched House Tavern with Bishop of Carlisle [Samuel Goodenough] and [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert; Mrs [Catherine] Lambert still ill and restless. Presumes Smith has heard of Horticultural Society's plans to establish a garden; they intend to fund it by increasing by a guinea the admission fee for new member, wishes the Linnean Society would adopt a similar plan. Sorry that Smith could not visit to view Sir Thomas Gage's collections, thinks the cryptogamia curious and valuable and encloses list of the 'Orchis' and 'Ophrys' [not extant]. Hopes to see Smith in London in May.

Comments on the need to travel, and on the boredom of the meetings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh; family news.

P. L. Guinand has informed the Astronomical Society that he can make flint glass free from the usual imperfections. Would like any information from JN. One of his papers has been named as likely to receive a prize. Hears that an arithmetical machine has recently been demonstrated before the Institute. Have any details been made public?

Sends first volume of Astronomical Society's Transactions and JH's paper on aberrations ['On the Aberrations of Compound Lenses.' 1821]. Asks for geodesical results at Ã…bo.

Please forward enclosed note to Mrs. Roget [wife of P. M. Roget?]. Various items of interest.

Thanking him for poetry. Would like some more, written on a different subject and under better conditions.

Returns Smith the curious Nepalese plant as he does not preserve exotics. Smith and he agree on use of "shall" and "will" and encloses copy of home instruction for use [not extant]. Encloses copy of letter he sent to [Thomas] Rackett [extant] describing his childhood sighting of red viper near Newbury, [Berkshire], and suggests name 'Coluber chersea', to be read as response to Rackett's "Linnean Transactions" paper.

Received seeds of Bergamont mint from Peru from his son. They have great prospect of fruit; used oiled paper frames to save from cold on open wall. Attempting to have green melons for 4 June anniversary but fears will be too late. Gave away cucumbers yesterday.

[On separate folio] "On the Red Viper - in a letter &c Feb. 1822", response to Rackett's paper on the red viper [2 pp]

Thanks JH for FB becoming Associate member of Astronomical Society; FB is planning to prepare a new major star catalogue.

Received Smith's letter of 17 [April 1822]; in spite of 12-month interruption of their corresondence his regard for Smith "unaltered and unalterable". The Linnean Society blackballed a man "because he had not treated their President with the respect which he so highly deserves". [Joseph] Sabine has sent Smith a paper of his. Printing of "Linnean Transactions" goes on "very slowly", which vexes him much as he knows the Society at large will blame him for delay.

Unable to go to London tomorrow as he is suffering from one of his "old inflammatory attacks on the lungs", but hopes to be well enough to attend Linnean Society anniversary meeting by staying at Mr [Thomas] Forster's in Hackney, [Middlesex], for a week beforehand. [Thomas] Brightwell [(1787-1868), entomologist] will attend Society on Tuesday to be admitted, will bring [Joseph] Sabine's paper.

WS asks that his name be given to the Astronomical Society and attaches a copy of observation of double stars made at Dorpat. WS also inquires about copies he had previously sent to William Herschel and to the R.S.L., offering to replace them if they have been lost.

Has received the first book of the Memoirs of the Astronomical Society but had to pay duty on the packet.

All disappointed not to see Smith on 7 [May 1822], Linnean Society Council meeting adjourned until 21 May in the hope that Smith can attend. New FMLS elected.

Sending 9 plates and 2 patterns of "Flora Graeca". Asks how Smith goes on with the new "Flora Anglica" ["English Flora"], and if Smith provides a list will make up all deficiencies and a supplement to "English botany". Believes the Linnaean system "will gain ground again".

Sends a copy of a work he has written on Shipbuilding. Also sends the letter of [Robert] Seppings on circular stress.