Gave "5 lights" to the Great Mogul melon Smith sent seeds of from Shuckburgh, [Warwickshire], and thinks that those who admire this fruit do not know the small orange cantaloupe or Green Egyptian melons.

His garden: abundant mushrooms from mushroom house he built last spring; like most others has no peaches or nectarines on open walls this year so is now building a 43 feet long peach house; began mowing 8 July but much of the hay still out and is as black as the corn is green.

Undertook tour of England in June, travelling 654 miles: London, where the temperature was 84°F, to Wincanton, [Somerset]; Stourhead and Longleat, [Wiltshire]; Bath, [Somerset]; Rodborough, [Gloucestershire]; Cheltenham, [Gloucestershire]; Warwick and its Castle, [Warwickshire]; and Northampton, [Northamptonshire], before joining north road at Wansford, [Cambridgeshire]. Encloses plant specimen collected between Andover, [Hampshire], and Amesbury, [Wiltshire]; Smith has annotated "'Sonchus oleraceus' the prickly var[iet]y". His son failed to find local 'Burbaumia' in Tunbridge Wells, [Kent], but [James] Dickson has sent both kinds though he only requested 'B. foliosa'.

Garden developments: success of his recently constructed mushroom house, adapted from [Isaac] Oldacre's [(fl 1810s-1852), Lady Banks' gardener at Spring Grove, Isleworth, Middlesex] engraved plan but with flue above ground; explains benefits with small ink sketch. New peach house: Oldacre recommends "noblesse" and "Galande" as those which force best, but [James] Lee prefers the "Buckingham mignon"; details of the building.

Regrets missing the recent show of fruits at the Horticultural Society. Intends to try Lee's recommendation of Verdeltro grapes; reported to be very hardy and one of the grapes Madeira wine is made from. His daughter and Lady George Murray prefer the green Egyptian melon to any other. One of [Erik] Pontoppidan's [(1698-1764), Danish bishop] sea serpents "seems to have got down the American coast - to gobble up herrings!". Recently received 'Linnaea' specimen from [James] Brodie. Praises botanical zeal of Miss Murray, Lady George's unmarried daughter; she began with mosses and would walk five miles to find a 'Phuscum' and brought many mosses from Isle of Man; compares her beginning and Joseph Dalton's with 'Carex' to beginning music with thoroughbass.

Has an ear of 'Talavera' wheat from near Cirencester, [Gloucestershire], and two from Gordon Castle, [Moray]. Ate last green melon yesterday, small but excellent. Prices of apples: abundance of French apples at York imported to Hull, [Yorkshire], at 16/ per bushel; recently given 20/ for natives and 24/ at Thirsk, [Yorkshire], his gardener thinks the French "most like cur Hawthorn Dean".

Induced to part with the papers of [Sir Edward] Coke [(1552-1634), lawyer, legal writer, and politician, ancestor of Thomas William Coke] by the propriety of Coke's wish to possess the papers of the "great founder of the splendor of his family". Satisfied with the value Smith set on them.

Confirms details for payment of £100 by [Thomas William] Coke for the papers of [Sir Edward] Coke [(1552-1634), lawyer, legal writer, and politician, ancestor of Thomas William Coke]. Thanks for Smith's London invitation but his father's health prevents him from leaving Norfolk all spring. Pleased to hear of an improvement in [William] Roscoe's affairs [following a bankruptcy in 1816].

Comments that whilst the Earl of Leicester [Thomas Coke (1697-1759)] left Holkham "magnificently decorated", Coke is right to make improvements. Duke of Bedford [John Russell, 6th Duke] has done himself honour by presenting a copy of his book ["Hortus Gramineus Woburnensis" (1816)] "to the first botanist in Europe".

Sends copies of his book ["Memoires pour servir a l'histoire naturelle des Abeilles..."] for Linnean Society.

Pleased by addition Smith has made to the [Liverpool Botanic Garden] herbarium. A Botanic Garden in Glasgow is on the verge of being established, with a public subscription of £4000 to be raised, to which the College has given £2000; delighted by spread of botanic gardens to large towns and considers possibility of same in Norwich. Thanks for gift of Smith's "Compendium [florae Britannicae]"; keen to see his "historical & critical" article in [Rees'] "Encyclopedia".

[Robert] Southey [(1774-1843), poet and reviewer] is a "miserable figure" and unsure whether his letter to [William] Smith "excites more pity or disgust" [after Smith made critical remarks on Southey's youthful play "Wat Tyler", which had just been published against his will]; the world "too indulgent" of "these converts who play tricks with their personal identity"; praises Smith's rebuke. His daughter Jane fully recovered.

Read Smith's dissertation on the present systems and state of botany with great pleasure and agrees with all his opinions; compliments the content and the style. He is still interested in debate over natural and artificial systems; wishes that Smith had written in in defence of Linnaeus in "Linnean Transactions". Smith's plant specimens [for Liverpool Botanic Garden] arrived in excellent condition and at a "very reasonable a price"; directions for Smith's payment. Wrote to [Thomas William] Coke on the spread of "the diabolical spirit" in the people of Norwich to "classes far above the mob", but certain that common sense will prevail. Concerned by Smith's report on Lord [Thomas, 1st Viscount Anson (1769-1818)] and Lady [Anne Margaret (1779-1843)] Anson. Mrs [Catherine] Lambert has given birth to a daughter and is in good health.

Establishing [Liverpool Royal] Institution at Liverpool for "education & lectures on a large scale embracing the whole circle of literature, science & the arts", with a proposed capital of £30,000, to which £22,000 is already subscribed, and a building with lecture, school, and exhibition rooms has been prepared, at cost of £10,000. He is to give an introductory lecture followed by courses by Dr [Thomas Stewart] Traill [(1781-1862), physician] and Dr Gose. Solicits Smith's future interest to hold a botanical course, though the financial incentive will not be great; proposed financing of lecture courses.

Opening of [Liverpool Royal] Institution and his Introductory Lecture delayed by the "awful calamity which has involved all the country" [probably death of Princess Charlotte (1796-1817), only child of the Prince Regent, on 6 November 1817, which led to widespread grief and mourning]. Hopes Smith has seen their Report. Discusses plans for appointment of a Classical tutor and asks for Smith's and Mr Valpy's opinions and recommendations; they are also planning a Mathematical School and discussing whether to nominate professors or obtain as and when the best instructors possible; offers any future botany nomination to Smith. The Botanic Garden is in "high condition" under [John] Shepherd's [(c 1764-1836)] care.

Agrees with Smith that they should compound with [John] Bradbury for 10 guineas for his subscription arrears. Explains Sir [Justly Watson] Green's [2nd baronet, (1755-1826)] paper on 'Phascum'; not fit to be printed in its present state. [Thomas] Marsham has still not paid any of his debt, which he finds "so inexcusable" he has informed him he will no longer interfere on his behalf, and Marsham has written to [Edward] Forster pleading for more time.

Asks that [John] Bradbury write to Linnean Society Council requesting them to accept the 10 guineas from his as compound payment of his arrears. Uncertain what the solicitors have done with [Thomas] Marsham. The Horticultural Society propose to leave the building unless they are allowed use of the room daily for four hours. Asks when Smith is coming to London. Part of late George Anderson's [(fl 1800s-1817), plant collector] paper on 'Paeonia' read at last meeting, [Joseph] Sabine is to add a biographical sketch.

Encloses letter from [Joseph] Sabine, secretary to the Horticultural Society, for Smith's opinion on the proposal [that the Horticultural Society have daily use of Linnean Society's rooms]; doubts how far the Society ought to give the constant use of its rooms to another Society for the sake of "a few pounds".

Council unanimously rejected application of the Horticultural Society [to use Linnean rooms everyday]. [Thomas] Marsham paid £50 of his debt. Bishop of Carlisle [Samuel Goodenough] objects to Council meetings being held after General meetings, but [William George] Maton and [Edward] Forster can only attend Council in evening; believes opinion of Council members who regularly attend should be given precedence.

All disappointed Smith is not to attend Linnean Society next Tuesday but pleased he is recovering well. Agrees with Smith's nominations of Sir Christopher Pegge [(1764-1822), physician] and [Thomas Thynne, 2nd] Marquess of Bath [(1765-1837)] for Council. Only one FMLS vacancy but too late for it to be filled this season, anxious for [Alexander von] Humboldt to be the first elected.

No longer receives letters free of expense since abolition of the Transport Office. [Thomas] Marsham "so exceedingly ill" doubts the Society ever receiving anymore money from him. Does not expect to suffer from abolition of Transport Office.

Offers a copy of "Hortus gramineus Woburnensis" to the Linnean Society.

Pleased that the plants he sent were of use to Smith. Praises Smith's "Introduction to Botany", "Flora Britannica", "Flora Lapponica", stating that he owes his knowledge of botany to him, offers to contribute to Smith's herbarium every year in appreciation. Thanks for condolences on his father's death, quotes Horace in praise of his father. Will give notice of his forthcoming visit. Encloses specimens and requests six specimens from New Holland [not specified].

Has found 'Potentilla rupestris' in the Breiddin Hills, near border with Shropshire, which from "English Botany" he is led to believe had been presumed a doubtful native due to it not being found again, will send Smith specimens if interested. Believes the hill he found it on may be the same as where [John] Ray first discovered it. Has also found two other rare plants, in the same place, mentioned by Ray; 'Veronica hybrida' and 'Lychnis Viscaria', and 'Hieracium murorum'. Desires to fix 'Veronica hybrida' as distinct from 'Veronica spicata', compares with a description only of the latter. Hopes to see a supplementary volume to "English Botany". Describes a 'Briza' unlike any of the Enlgish species and an 'Aspidium' which does not correspond with [James] Sowerby's figures, criticises Sowerby's plates of ferns as "not sufficiently characteristic of the different species".

List of 95 species; some marked by Smith.

List of 59 species, in Smith's hand, titled "sent also".

Introduces himself and sends a few specimens from Georgia at the request of John Fraser. Also sends the root of an unknown palm from East Florida with a sample of the starch procured from it, knowledge of which having come from the Seminole Indians. Has an extensive collection of Georgian specimens but is anxious to know which plants are also native to Europe. Refers to a desiderata and requests 'Convolvulus salopa', for reason of it generally being supposed to be Michaux's 'Ipomoea macrorhiza'. From experiments has deduced that 'I. macrorhiza' possesses no purgative qualities and may be eaten like 'C. batatas'.

Encloses a letter from [Henry Thomas] Colebrooke detailing a plan for publishing [William] Roxburgh's "Flora Indica". Brown's opinion of it.