About to leave for London. Saddened by the death of his "most steady friend & counsellor & patron", the Duke of Portland [William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland (1738-1809)].

Thanks for second volume "Florae Graecae Prodromus"; discusses etymology of Delphi therein. Sir Joseph Bank's gout and [Thomas] Marsham's absence in Warwickshire viewing an estate allowed him to sit in the chair at the Council and at the Royal Society meeting where a paper on hydrogen and oxygen by [Humphry] Davy was read. There are reports that Lord Wellesley is to join the Ministry [Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852)] and people seem confident a great naval victory has been achieved.