Recent meetings and dinners, including with: Mrs Weddell and Mr and Mrs Marsden at C Scott's; Sir Abraham Hume; the David Martineaus; Mr and Mrs Hanbury, G Kett and his wife, two of the Hoares, some Barclays, and Mr Carlisle at Mr Barclay's; William Smith; R Westall's; Edward Forster; C Weston and Revd J Ives; Bishop of Winchester [Brownlow North], best of all his bishop friends, and his "amiable though unhappily deformed daughter". Received Red Sea shells and bottle of true Balsam of Mecca or Balm of Gilead from Lord Valentia [George Annesley]; a party at Valentia's; Valentia's odious enemy Gawler looked on much like [Richard] Salisbury; Bishop of Durham [Shute Barrington] says Salisbury has no chance of getting either the Roxburgh estate or title he is trying for.

Future visits to see Lord Elgin's "fine statues" brought from Athens; Mr Vere's garden at Kensington; Mr Cure; and Thomas Forster. Letter from Fanny [Smith's sister] expresses their highest satisfaction for Smith's letter on Salisbury, to which all concur. [John] Shepherd [(c 1764-1836, curator Liverpool Botanic Garden], the gardener, has lost his only son to a fever in Jamaica. Intends to go to Liverpool after return to Norwich. Thinks report in May issue of "Monthly Magazine" "very handsome & amicable" to himself and "very severe" on Salisbury.

[Letter incomplete: last lines of second folio cropped, presumed destroyed]

Accouunt of a dinner at William Smith's. Attending Linnean Society anniversary meeting. Lord Valentia [George Annesley] has given him many new shells. His future plans, including visits to Blackheath, and giving 6 more lectures, ending on 14 June.

Account of Linnean Society anniversary meeting; [Richard] Salisbury and others did not vote; the dinner attended by 63 people, the largest number yet, including Bishops of Winchester and Carlisle [respectively Brownlow North and Samuel Goodenough], Lord Valentia [George Annesley], Sir Abraham Hume, Sir Thomas Gage, and [John] Symmons. A toast was made to him by Valentia, stating that whatever the Linnean Society is or has been is owed to Smith, and he presented Goodenough and [Thomas] Marsham as being with him the first 3 projectors of the Society.

Visited Sir Joseph Banks this morning and was discussing botany with [Jonas] Dryander and [Robert] Brown when Salisbury entered; his "Paradisus [Londinensis]" stopped for want of money, though Banks gave Hooker £50; spoke civilly to Salisbury at Linnean Society about a 'Narcissus' that was there; Salisbury looks thin and pale, and Brown "cannot abide him". Thinks his and [James] Sowerby's new work will proceed; details. His "Introduction [to Botany]" praised by all the people he most depends on. Attended opera with [James] Crowe and family. Future visits to Blackheath and Kew; [William Townsend] Aiton was at the dinner.

Letter scented with balm of Gilad.