Introduces [John] Bradbury, who is returning to England after travelling up the Missouri river. Rafinesque asks for his papers to be returned if they are not being published in "Linnean Transactions". Requests introductions to [William Elford] Leach, [Robert] Brown, [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert, [Richard] Salisbury, and "other eminent botanists and zoologists". Criticises Pursh's "Flora America Septentrionalis" for copying names previously published himself. Dr [Samuel Latham] Mitchill of New York [(1764-1831) naturalist] has published 60 new species of fish in first volume of "Transactions of the [New York] Society" and presented them with account of reptiles, crustaceans, testaceurs etc. Rafinesque has discovered new additional species: 'Perca mucronata', 'Petromyzon xanthodon', 'Phycis marginatus', and presented memoir to New York Philosophical Society on Sturgeons of North America. Plans to explore Lakes Champlain and George, [Vermont and New York] for fish.

Constant rain in Cumberland after a substantial dry period. Admires agricultural meetings, especially when they are purely agricultural like [Thomas William] Coke's, and not politicised as they are in Cumberland. Pleased that the House of Buckingham has "so fair a promise in Lord Nugent".

Fears potential civil unrest in the countryside following the harvest as the wages of labourers have not fallen, so farmers will be forced to employ fewer hands and in consequence many will be unemployed. Goodenough thinks it better for all to be employed regardless of the conditions, notes that manufacturers' wages are uncommonly low. Does not like either the Indian or Algerian wars [Third Anglo-Maratha war, 1816-1819, and Bombardment of Algiers, 1816]; has little confidence in Lord Moira's judgement [Francis Edward Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of Hastings (1754-1826), Governor-General of India 1813-1823].

Goodenough's son, Edmund, had a troublesome rheumatic fever but is now recovered. Edmund went to Malvern where he was puzzled by the variety of 'Ervum tetrasperum' with footstalks with only one flower. Goodenough does not recollect seeing Smith's variety of '[Iris] xiphium'.

Recently stayed at Holkham, [Norfolk, home of Thomas William Coke] with Mr Barnwell and Lord Nugent [George Nugent-Grenville, 2nd Baron Nugent (1788-1850)]. Intends to see Professor [Thomas] Martyn on way to visiting Duke of Bedford [John Russell, 6th Duke] with Coke. Invites the Cullums to visit during Norfolk assize week before going to Holkham again.

Beginning of a draft response in Lady Cullum's hand at bottom of recto of second folio.

Accepts Smith's invitation to visit in Norwich. His sister, Mrs Palmer, unwell with a "great weakness" in her bowels. Hopes Smith received parcel of Cayenne plants sent by Sir Thomas Gage on leaving Hengrave, [Suffolk], for the continent.