Delighted to hear of Lady Cullum's successful operation. Sending seeds from Paris to [Nathaniel Shirley] Hodson [(fl 1800s-1830s), founder of Bury botanic garden] but will not subscribe to the garden. Discusses the confusion between 'Atropa belladonna' and 'Datura' in second edition of [John] Ray's "Synopsis" caused by repetition of an error by Dillenius. Confirms he gathered 'Dianthus virgineus' on Mount Cenis exactly like in "Botanical Magazine" t.1740. Unable to accept Cullum's invitation to Bury. Last saw Sir Joseph Banks a month before he died and he was "quite easy about the event, which he knew could not be far distant". Received letter from Sir Thomas Gage from Castel a Mare, near Naples, they are in "perfect safety, though living in the midst of a revolution". Mrs [Catherine] Lambert not better since moving into the country.

Planning to study the herbariums in Oxford before coming to London. Has heard nothing of the Linnean Society taking rooms at the late Sir Joseph Banks' home. Will send Cullum a coloured copy of his "Grammar of Botany".

Thanks for copy of Smith's "Grammar of Botany", hopes it will show the Horticultural Society "the usefulness of scientific botany". Hopes it is true that the Linnean Society are to take rooms in Soho Square [home of late Sir Joseph Banks]. Expects to see "Councillor Gage" at their assizes next week, he is an entertaining man but doubts he will succeed as a public speaker at the bar. Will feel the loss of Banks when he is next in London. The waters at Bath did not relieve his son's wife twelve-month long "rheumatic and gouty complaint".

Received call from Lady Mary Ann Gage, widow of Sir Thomas Gage, who said that Gage wished for his friends and Smith to have any duplicates from his considerable natural history collections. Invites Smith to visit so he can look over the collections at Hengrave, [Suffolk].

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.

[John] Denson [(fl 1820s-1870s, curator of Bury botanic garden] sent him thirty specimens to examine and a copy of his catalogue [of plants in Bury botanic garden]. Found 'Aurum dracunculus' "flowering & stinking" in his garden though not as tall as Cullum's. Cullum's parakeet is 'Gingi psittacus' as figured in the "Planches Enluminées". Experiencing an improvement in health and walked to Mrs Crowe's; the willows all growing well. Placed all of Lady Gage's insects in his cabinet. Sends Cullum copies of Linnaeus' "Orbis eruditi judicium" and "Observationes in Regnum Lapideum". Resuming work on his "English Flora", Edward Forster approves of that already done.

Thanks Smith for Hull Botanic Garden account, which he shall bind with [William] Roscoe's Liverpool and [William] Curtis' 1778 proposal for a subscription for a London botanic garden at Lambeth Marsh. His sister's health very precarious but he intends to tour Suffolk and Norfolk before end of summer. His daughter-in-law recovered a little from taking the waters at Barèges, [France], they intend to winter in Italy. Reports that Mr Grigby of Drinkston, Suffolk, was seized with a paralytic affection of his lower extremities whilst walking.

Received gift of four curious gold coins from Mr Barnwell. Has lately visited Lowestoft, Birmingham, and Holkham, [Norfolk, home of Thomas William Coke] but suffering from a pulmonary attack brought on by the travelling. Miss [Elizabeth] Coke engaged to [John] Spencer-Stanhope [(1787-1873)] of Cannon Hall, Yorkshire. Pleased with the society of Birmingham.

Cullum writes: augmented Dawson Turner's "amazing" collection of autographs with letters from [Thomas] Pennant, Gough, Granger, Huddersford, Percy, [John] Latham, and others, Turner is considering publishing them. [James] Sowerby's death "a loss to science". Recently suffered a severe attack of vertigo and faintness which has been treated with leeches to the temples, blood letting from his arm, and two blisters on his back, but now on laying down has a general sinking uneasiness in the thorax and abdomen.

Transcribes paragraph from letter dated 9 January 1809 sent to him by Charles Miller [(c 1739-1817)], only son of Philip Miller, of the positive effects he gained from "friction or rather what in the East is called shampooing" following a paralytic stroke. Transcribes paragraph from a letter dated 28 February 1785 sent to him by his brother [Sir John Cullum, 6th baronet (1733-1785)], recounting a meeting with Smith shortly after his purchase of the Linnaean collections. [Joseph] Sabine intending to publish an account of [James] Dickson; recalls his first meeting and early memories of Dickson. Had hoped [Thomas] Rackett would receive a considerable legacy from old Mrs Garrick [Eva Marie Veigel (1724-1822), wife of the actor David Garrick] but it will not exceed £100.

F H Bathwell writes: thanks Smith for his letter, and is gratified that Smith is pleased with what has been done on his part.

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.

Intends to visit Cullum in Bury after visiting his Kindersley cousins at Sunning Hill. Three hundred people attended Horticultural Society dinner. Has the book "Menagiana" mentioned by Cullum, amused and informed by it.

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.

Had hoped to send Cullum his "[English] Flora" for his patronage but held up by 'Rosa' and 'Rubus', has doubled the number of species of latter. Has now completed more than half his work on "Flora Graeca". Yet to receive [Augustin Pyramus] de Candolle's new work ["Prodromus systematis naturalis..."] but observed many errors in characters and references his "[Regni vegetabilis] Systema [naturale]" and his adoption of names according to date means he cannot be an authority.

Cullum correct about the two species of 'Sirex'. Received seeds and roots from [John] Denson [(fl 1820s-1870s, curator of Bury botanic garden], and intends to send Cullum willow cuttings from Mrs Crowe's. Dr [Martin] Davy of Caius [College, Cambridge], [William] Roscoe, the Duke of Sussex [Prince Augustus Frederick (1773-1843)], and [John Dunn] Hunter [(c 1798-1827)], an American brought up "among the wild Indians", whose narrative he recommends ["Memoirs of a captivity among the Indians of North America..." (1823)], all at Holkham, [Norfolk, home of Thomas William Coke] during his last visit.

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].

Still weak from a "tedious illness" but to visit Saxmundham, [Suffolk], to see Lady Smith's aunt. Would like to visit Cullum in August. Received bad shock from the peripneumony which followed bad fit of influenza, and overwhelmed by business letters.

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.