From Thomas Coates   25 February 1831

Sir,

The Committee of the Society for diffusion of useful Knowledge direct me to thank you very sincerely for the trouble that you have taken in communicating to them your opinion of Vegetable Physiology II, a task which they would not have imposed on you, if they had not thought that their duty to the public ought to be preferred to an courtesy towards their Colleague, whose work however they have had much reluctance in rejecting.

I am Sir your very faithful | Servant | Thomas Coates