Invites Smith to dinner. Recalls visiting Smith at Norwich with her cousins, the Gurneys of Earlham, when she was still Miss Galton [married 1806].

Has requested that two copies of his recently printed catalogue of heaths at Woburn Abbey, [Bedfordshire], be sent for Smith and the Linnean Society ["Hortus Ericaeus Woburnensis"]. Intends to establish a Salicetum [collection of willows], for which he will use Smith's "valuable work" on 'Salix'. His gardener, [George] Sinclair, has left his service to set himself up as a nursery gardener.

Received Smith's letter of 28 [March 1825]; sorry to hear he has been suffering from a rheumatic complaint in his eyes. Pleased Smith is satisfied with the willows he has so far gathered for his Salicetum; has not yet acquired 'Salix glauca'. Going to London at the end of the month but will be in London before Smith leaves, and hopes he will prevail on Smith to come and see the willows in full leaf, though fears there will be errors in the names. His health better than it has been for some time past, though has suffered from severity of the protracted winter.

Received Smith's letter of 24 [March 1825]. Pleased Smith approves of his "Hortus Ericaeus"; they took great pains to ensure accuracy and hope that the diagram will prove useful; Mr Hayter intends to draw up an enlarged "illustration of its uses" to present to Royal Society. Willow cuttings sent by Smith safely received; they will form foundation of the willow garden he intends to make. Will be pleased to show Smith his collection of heaths when he has leisure to visit Woburn [Abbey, Bedfordshire]. Pleased to hear Smith is busy completing the third volume of his "[English] Flora".

Enclosing Dr [Robert Kaye] Greville's Highland mosses for Smith in his Norwich parcel. Encloses specimen of 'Hypnum trifarium' gathered on a Highland excursion; observations on its habitat. Hopes to make another excursion this summer.

Only recently received Yates' letter of 10 March [1824]; his ill health last summer and almost total interruption of his literary labours and correspondence have kept him in state of estrangement from many friends, and now he is recovered his work on "English Flora" takes all his time, he "cannot write books and letters too". Explains delay in receiving Yates' letter, caused by it getting caught up in his niece Martin's "drapery". Recollections of Yates' new area of residence in Birmingham.

His illness prevented him from going to London at all in 1824, having never missed a year before. Intends to go to London in April this year, hopes to see Yates' and Mrs James Yates there. Approves of [William] Roscoe's work [see RelatedMaterial below], hopes he can go on with it. Asks after his Birmingham friends the Corries and Dr Johnstone.

Received Smith's letter of 8 January [1825]. Introduces his young friend, Howard Ryland, bearer of this letter. He and Mrs Yates would be happy to receive the Smiths as their guests. Mrs Yates is copying the account of Dr [Samuel] Parr's [(1747-1825), schoolmaster] funeral for Smith, it has appeared in some of the newspapers. Encloses sprig of a greenhouse plant they bought as a 'Linum' [Smith annotation: "'Linum arboreum'"]; observations. News of Birmingham friends: Comptons, Galtons, and Corries.

Specimen of 'Linum', wrapped.

Thanks for turkey. Compliments Smith on new part of "Flora Graeca" especially 'Dianthi' ['Dianthus'?]. [Samuel Goodenough] and himself agree with Smith on [Robert] Brown, who is making up his mind on an unspecified subject. Asks after Smith's "intersting "Flora"". Received letter from [Alexander von] Humboldt who is working on his "Geography of Plants" and complains of [Aimé] Bonpland having taken specimens. Has just obtained first part of a "Flora of Brazil".

Invites Smith to visit Boyton, Captain King, [Robert] Brown, and the two Dons are also to visit. Has appointment for assistant to Dr [Nathaniel] Wallich, a salary of £530 per annum. Offers to show Miss [Etheldred] Benett's [(1775-1845), fossil collector and geologist, Lambert's sister was married to her brother John] collection of fossils, the most scientfically arranged in the country, to Mr Reeve. Has acquired [James] Bruce's [(1730-1794) Scottish traveller] collection of 300 natural history drawings from Abyssinia direct from Kinnaird, Scotland, describes dealings with the family. In postscript tells Smith he has been raising plants from Egypt. Sir Richard Hoare has been staying. Believes that the whole of Regent's Park is to be turned into a "national botanical garden", has been asked to take an active part in it.

Introduces [William Henry Fox] Talbot of Lacock Abbey, [Wiltshire], nephew of [Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 3rd] Marquess of Lansdowne [(1780-1863)]. Asks Smith's progress on third volume of the "Flora". Mentions again his acquisition of natural history drawings of [James] Bruce [(1730-1794) Scottish traveller], which "prove him to be a very different person than the world has thought him".

[Smith has annotated] "expect to reach Boyton Oct. 5 in the even.".

Anxiously awaiting another parcel of plates of "Flora Graeca" from Sowerby. Their planned route from Bristol to London, including a visit to [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert at Boyton, [Wiltshire], expects to be in London by 15 October. Suffering from rheumatism in his legs.

Apologises for involving Smith in the misunderstandings over appointing a new Linnean Society Secretary; [James] Bicheno was surprised to hear he had apparently refused the position. Objects to [Edward] Barnard on the grounds that he is too close to [Joseph] Sabine, and if made Secretary he would act as [Alexander] Macleay did by being President in all but name. Goodenough objects to Sabine, his habit of provoking disorder in any Society he joins, as at the Athenaeum, and his ordering a committee to discuss a portrait of Macleay when he had no authority to do so. Had hoped for a Secretary no one objected to to be appointed. Believes Sabine is now the effectual manager of the Linnean Society which many will find unpalatable.

Suffering from giddiness brought on by the excessive heat of their "uncommon summer"; initially treated it as proceeding from gout but found his stomach was at fault, took purgatives to counteract the threat of constipation but has observed scybala; blames his heavy work load. The heat's effect on the garden: flowers all destroyed, apricots and peaches have not swelled nor ripened, peas and beans were ready all at once and quickly too old for the table, and oats and barley cramped by the heat, though the corn is promising. The poor manufacturing people do not have work above three days a week.

Thanks for Smith's letter of 18 August and medical advice regarding his giddiness and constipation with scybala. Cumberland weather still unaccountably hot; recalls that at this time of his first year in Cumberland there was still snow on the hills and thick ice but this year the harvest is almost complete. Not surprised Smith has found 'Senecio lividus'; recalls collecting seed of it from Oxford walls and has grown it on the walls at Rose Castle along with 'Antirrhinum cymbalaria', 'Hieracium morurm', 'Tussilago odorata', and 'Asarum europaeum'.

Unsure whether the weavers want of work is due to the manufacturers not having sufficient orders or that machinery has been brought into greater use. No indication of political contest heard yet from the new Lord Thanet [Charles Tufton, 10th Earl of Thanet (1770-1832)], who is not so "red-hot" as his late brother [Sackville Tufton, 9th Earl of Thanet (1769-1825)]. Mrs Goodenough persistent complaints compounded by her "unconquerable dislike to taking remedies & using applications".

Thanks for Smith's letter and medical advice for himself and Mrs Goodenough; she has tried the soft soap for her piles but has suffered so long doubts anything will clear them. Harvest gathered and in very good condition. Electioneering has begun following reports that Parliament is dissolved and Mr Brougham paying up bills for the last election. 'Cacalia suaveolens' grown from mysterious roots in a pot. Dean of Carlisle, [Robert] Hodgson, is a great naturalist but has no garden to cultivate and has little time for exploring. They are experiencing some showers but no sustained rain, hopes this continues for the start of the races on 27 September.

Thanks for third volume of Smith's "English Flora". Has not quite shaken the giddiness he experienced over the summer. Could not see Smith whilst they were both in London as feared aggravating his gout. Sympathises with Smith on death of [Thomas Furly] Forster.

[Alexander] Macleay appointed to the Colonial Secretaryship in Botany Bay, [New South Wales]. Goodenough and [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert propose either [Charles] Stokes [(1783-1853), stockbroker] or [James] Bicheno for Macleay's replacement as Linnean Society Secretary. Warns Smith of Joseph Sabine's "spirit of ascendancy" and his influence over [John] Lindley [(1799-1865), botanist].

Explains the enclosed "little note" [not extant] written by himself and [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert. Reports that [James] Bicheno will accept the post of Linnean Society Secretary. Thinks [Robert] Brown unsuitable for the position but believes he would make a good President should Smith die or be removed, of which measure "more than a common hint has been thrown out". Goodenough long thought [Alexander] Macleay considered himself "master of the Society" and never troubled himself about the vice-presidents, which led Goodenough to withdraw from attending for several years past. Adds that if Brown were to be Secretary in a similar style to Macleay the Society would become the "cat's paw" of the Horticultural Society.

[Robert] Brown has declined the Linnean Society Secretaryship; it would be a waste of his "great talents". Unsurpised that [Alexander] Macleay should think the Secretaryship undervalued as he made himself President whilst the position by ordering councils without consulting any of the vice-presidents, contrary to the charter. Glad that Smith approves of [James] Bicheno.

Sorry to hear of Smith's loss in India but forwarded his letter to [William] Roscoe; worries about his friends in Madras, where the has been bad cholera. Sir Thomas Raffles [(1781-1826), founder of Singapore] is fitting up Sir Humphry Davy's house to make a large display of natural history specimens. There are many candidates for Linnean Society membership though unsure whether or not they are practical naturalists; has always feared an influx of unscientific persons. Has a "sort of dread" of the Horticultural Society.

Apologises for the trouble caused by [James] Bicheno taking issue with the Council meetings, though unsure why this should be as they are flexible and rarely held [Bicheno had been offered the position of Linnean Society Secretary]. Knows nothing of [Edward] Barnard but dreads "the interference of the busy Horticulturalists". Glad Smith agrees that [Robert] Brown's abilities make him unsuitable for the Secretary position.

Everyone agreed that the Catholic Association [Roman Catholic political organisation established by Daniel O'Connell to campaign for Catholic emancipation] should be put down yet insist on talking about it "forever".