Discusses learned societies: informed by Sir George Staunton of the founding of the Asiatic Society of London; anxious for the prosperity of the Linnean Society, asks if the vice-president, [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert, and [Robert] Brown communicate with Smith; laments death of Sir Joseph Banks [president of Royal Society] and reserved behaviour of Lord Aberdeen [George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen (1784-1860)], president of Antiquarian Society; requests copy of 1819 Linnean Society list.

Reported in newspaper that [George] Leathes [(1779-1836)] caught a live 'Ampelis garrulus' in his hothouse and is feeding it on grapes, juniper berries, and raisins; Cullum would like to see if it can live on misletoe berries. Just received fifth volume of [John] Latham's "[A general history of] Birds", has subscribed in friendship and knowing of his difficult financial affairs due to his son's imprudence. Asks if Smith knows what plant 'Buchu' is as the leaves of it are being advertised in a pamphlet to treat complaints of the urethra and vesica urinaria [Smith has annotated in pencil that "'Buchu' is the Hottentot name" for 'Diosma'].

[John] Denson [(fl 1820s-1870s, curator of Bury botanic garden] received parcel of seeds sent by Smith. Alarmed by account given of Smith's health, his own legs are inflamed and forming superficial abscesses. Had hoped to invite Smith to visit him in Bury on his way to London. Received letter from [Thomas] Rackett, an executor for David Garrick's widow [Eva Marie Veigel (1724-1822)], offering to show him curiosities from Garrick's estate, and given a catalogue of Garrick's soon to be auctioned library; sketches and transcribes inscription of one of Garrick's book plates and comments on it. Received letter from his son in Rome, details their intended movements around Italy.

Disappointed to not be able to attend Linnean Society dinner; cannot forget his connection to the Society. Further plans for Smith's visit to Bury. His son and family in Italy, the "unfortunate war with Spain" [Franco-Spanish War] prevents them from returning to Barèges, [France]. Details of the coaches leaving London for Bury.

[Aylmer Bourke] Lambert in "raptures" over [Augustin Pyramus] de Candolle's new work "Prodromus syst[ematis] nat[uralis]" though Cullum disappointed Candolle is unlikely to continue his "Systema Vegetabile".

Observations on changes of chemical names of medicines in the "London Pharmacopoeia" and other: 'Elettaria' has changed to 'Matonia', as recommended by Smith'; in the "Dispensatory" "cantharides" has reverted from "lyttae"; the three species of 'Arichona', the 'cordifolia', 'lancifolia', and 'oblongifolia' continued; and camphor still said to be produce of 'Laurus camphora' though [Philip] Miller told him that the best camphor comes from very large trees timber trees at Sumatra, wonders if the Dutch controllers of the trade make it from the 'Laurus' or undersized trees.

Lord [John Rous, 1st Earl of] Stradbroke [(1750-1827)] sent him specimens of the insects killing his Scotch firs for identification; thinks them 'Sirex juveneus' and reminded that some years ago several oaks were cut down in Mr Port's garden plantation at Ham, Derbyshire, because of boring 'Sirex gigas' hornets. Does not think 'Sirex' are labelled a pest of 'Pinus sylvestris' in Lambert's "[A description of the genus] Pinus". Offers to send bark specimens of Stradbroke's trees to Linnean Society.

Thanks for the two volumes of Smith's "English Flora", gratified by Smith's address to him. Intends to come to London in April.

Disappointed Smith was not at 6 May Linnean Society meeting. Bishop of Carlisle [Samuel Goodenough] was also absent because of gout and [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert infrequently attends on account of Mrs [Catherine] Lambert's ill health. Laid bark of Lord [John Rous, 1st Earl of] Stradbroke's [(1750-1827)] 'Sirex juvenus' damaged 'Pinus sylvestris' trees on table at Linnean Society. Invites Smith to breakfast with them and General [Thomas] Hardwicke when Smith comes for anniversary meeting. Delighted by reports of new arrival at Holkham Hall [birth of a son to Thomas William Coke].

Left London early for Lady Cullum's health. Missed Prince Leopold dining with the Linnean Club but [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert, Bishop of Carlisle [Samuel Goodenough], Sir Claude Scott [(1742-1830)], Mr Colebrooke, [William George] Maton, and Sir Benjamin Hobhouse [(1757-1831), politician] attended. Lambert's state of mind too unsettled for him to write to anyone unless absolutely obliged. Hopes Lambert sent Smith the continuation of his "[A description of the genus] Pinus" work. This summer possibly going to Ramsgate and Margate, [Kent], or Paris by steam vessel, and plans to visit Smith in Saxmundham, [Suffolk].

Sorry Sir James [Edward Smith] could not visit him in Bury following his own visit to Smith in Saxmundham; hopes his health is recovering. Lady Cullum's trip to Brighton did not revive her health; she is now taking ass's milk to prevent "an irregular & teazing intermittent fever". His son and daughter-in-law staying in Pisa so she can treated by the "celebrated Dr Vacca", but as the baths of Barèges, [France], and Sorrento, [Italy], doubts the worth of this. Death of Sir William Watson [(1744-1824), physician and naturalist]; recalls that when he stayed in Bath he would meet at Governor Pounal's house with Sir William, Dr Parry, [Thomas] Velley, [John] Stackhouse, Sir Thomas Frankland, Archbishop of York [William Markham (1719-1807)], and Dr Falkner, reminded of death of Sir Joseph Banks and the loss of a place where so many friends would meet together.

Will travel with Smith to London if he intends to attend Linnean Society meeting of 1 March. Hopes Smith is not amongst those citizens of Norwich speculating in "rail-roads, gas companies &c". Has noticed promotion of horticultural societies, particularly one in Brighton, of which [Thomas Andrew] Knight and Joseph Sabine are to be made Honorary Members. His son and family at Pisa, doubts Mrs Cullum will ever see England again having gained no benefit from the waters of Barèges, [France], Sorrento, and Ischia, [Italy], though they intend to return home this summer.

Invites Smith to visit this month before going down to London together. Will subscribe to [Alexander] Macleay's portrait.

Asks after Smith's recent movements and activities, including "Flora Britannica". A mild winter allowed him to gather flowering 'Vinca minor' three miles from Bury. Sends his respects to Dr [George] Shaw and [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert. Asks if Smith has heard from [Richard] Relhan, whose affairs are "deranged" in spite of a £700 subscription. Asks if new editions of [William] Withering's "Botanical Arrangement" and "Hortus Kewensis" are to appear. Will pay his lapsed Linnean Society subscription before next anniversary meeting. Asks for a copy of Sir George Staunton's "Embassy to China" to be reserved for him at White's; missed the first edition of [James] Cook's last voyage through failing to do this. A spare room always available at his house for friends.

Addition at head of recto of first folio states he fears a letter to [James] Sowerby requesting all previous numbers of his "Cryptogamia" has been lost.

Proposes accompanying Smith to London via Bury for Horticultural Society and Linnean Club meetings, and if not suitable invites him to Bury in May. Notes that in [Thaddeus Mason] Harris' [(1768-1842), American clergyman] "Natural History of the Bible" Smith is quoted as naming the "lilies of the field" 'Amaryllis lutea'. Wonders if he can find 'Ophrys aranifera' for the lack of rain; has previously found it in flower the last day of March, and expects to hear the cuckoo in a week to ten days.

Professor [Thomas] Martyn ill with a cancer in his mouth and on his face but refuses to seek medical advice. Doubts his ill daughter-in-law will derive any benefit from trying the baths at Aix-la-Chapelle, [Germany], and wishes they would return to England so she could try Mahomed's vapour bath and shampooing in Brighton, [Sussex]. Intends to spend July and August in Leamington near Warwick, and Cheltenham, [Gloucestershire]. Invites Smith to visit in June.

Heard that Smith's bad health forced him to abandon his Bristol lectures. Lady Cullum alarmingly ill with spasms of the thorax and abdomen: camphor, opium, and [ether] have gave little relief but small doses of calomel and castor oil helped, and she is now convalescing though her appetite is suppressed by an intermittent fever. On journey to Cheltenham could only briefly stop at Oxford to use stables and coach house of Dr [Martin] Routh [(1755-1854)], Master of Magdalen College, as it was race week.

Transcribes brief extract of letter from General [Thomas] Hardwicke on improvement of his health. Implores Smith not to overwork himself on "English Flora" and to forget "every thing unpleasant that passed at Cambridge" [Smith's campaign for botany professorship]. His son at Aix-la-Chapelle, [Germany], or Brussels, [Netherlands], his daughter-in-law's poor health the same despite trying so many celebrated baths in Europe.

Lady Cullum's fever now in her eyes and ears. Visited [Edward] Rudge's new house in Evesham, [Worcestershire]. His son back in England but daughter-in-law is to winter in Paris as she is too ill to travel. Met at Kimbolton, [Cambridgeshire], the late Professor [Thomas] Martyn's son, [John King Martyn], who preaches there every Sunday to a sect of Moravians and is soon to marry one of them as his fourth wife, and recounts connection between the Martyns and the Mudges who succeeded as rectors of Pertenhall, [Bedfordshire].

Reports that many members of Cambridge are dissatisfied by the election of [John Stevens] Henslow [(1796-1861)] to the Botanical Professorship. Invites Smith to Bury.

Looking forward to Smith's visit. Thanks for third volume of "English Flora"; wonders how many sheets of paper it took Smith considering [Thomas] Martyn wrote 20,000 sheets in compiling [Philip] Miller's "Gardener's Dictionary", hopes he is not overworking himself to finish it. Compliments to [Thomas Furly] and [Edward] Forster.

Wishes he could be in London to dine with friends at the Free Masons and Thatched House Tavern. Received visit from eldest son of [Thomas Andrew] Knight and on remarking on the valuable property [Richard] Payne Knight [(1750-1824), classicist] left to the British Museum received reply that his father and family had been left enough to satisfy all. Hopes the "alarming bankruptcies" are not affecting any of their friends, particularly the Forsters, though concerned the failure of Sir Peter Pole's [2nd baronet (1770-1850)] banking house has affected [Edward] Rudge as their families recently intermarried. Dawson Turner is being consulted regarding auction of [Sir Thomas] Gage's library and collection of plants and drawings, including boxes of plants from India never examined; wishes Smith could examine some of Gage's cryptogamia drawings. Dr [John] Sims intends to decline superintendence of the "Botanical Magazine". Observed 'Primula chinensis' in a lady's parlour, it seems to be 'Primula praenitens' of "Botanical Register" vol 7 plate 539.

Remarks on death of Bishop of Durham [Shute Barrington]: reread Smith's Dedication to him several times, his second wife [Jane Barrington] thinks it remarkable he underwent a lithotomy operation at thirteen years old. Will be in London for Horticultural Society and Linnean Club meetings.

Received visit from General [Thomas] Hardwicke. Advises Smith not to hurry [Francis Leggatt] Chantrey [(1781-1841), sculptor], though wishes Smith was being painted rather than sculpted. Details of coaches coming to Bury from London in anticipation of Smith's visit.

His son and family have returned from Paris but daughter-in-law still very ill despite having tried all the celebrated baths on the continent; they plan to leave again in autumn without trying Mahomed's steam baths in Brighton, [Sussex]. Plans to visit Ramsgate, [Kent]. Invites Smith to Bury on his return from London.