Thinks Smith has a massive task with his "English Flora" if it encompasses all he proposes. As the object of the work is botanical determination advises accenting generic and specific names throughout and offers a system. Does not advise giving etymology of generic and specific names. Attended a rare daytime Linnean Society council meeting, believes that if it is always held in day attendance would be sufficient. Thinks there is "something undoubtedly very preposterous" in Thomas William Coke's marriage [to Lady Anne Amelia Keppel (1803-1844), fifty years his junior]; many people are talking about it. It is expected that Mrs Coutts will distribute Mr Coutts property as he intended after leaving everything to her to avoid legacy tax.

Explains further his remarks on accenting plant names. [Augustin] de Candolle's term "carpella" should be "carpelli". Cannot work out term "sepala" but thinks Smith need not use it. Prefers older name of 'Spartina' for 'Dactylis stricta' rather than newer 'Limnetis'. Franked Smith's letter to [William] Roscoe. Attended Sir Humphry Davy's conversazione but did not hear anything about [William] Swainson's application to British Museum. In reference to fifty year age difference between Thomas William Coke and his new wife [Lady Anne Amelia Keppel (1803-1844)] states that an age difference in marriage of three to ten years is "disparity enough" but as the love was from her side Coke may be excused.

Obliged to the Smiths for their condolences following the death of his daughter, Mrs Charlotte Lynn. She had nearly recovered from her long troubles with chest disorders and dangerous inflammations by taking extract of hemlock but was taken ill after drinking a glass of cold water following an exerting walk and never recovered. She has left twelve children between ages of sixteen years and six months. Two months ago he received and ignored a letter from Smith's sister, Mrs Lloyd, complaining of her husband's, Dr Lloyd, and Smith's confinement of her. Relieved that the King [George IV (1762-1830)] did not come via Carlisle on his way to or from Scotland. Thinks the current session of Parliament has gone on long enough and does not approve of the new principle of bringing every complaint, well or ill-founded, before it.

Since the death his daughter, Mrs Charlotte Lynn, Mr Lynn has not tried for pupils nor attempted to find a matron to superintend the management and education of his children. Praises character of the King [George IV (1762-1830)], who "has only to shew himself & everyone must admire him", and blames his previous foolish practices on his tutors the Bishop of Worcester and Dr Arnold. Dislikes the "idle rumours" about the attempt or design to assassinate the Duke of Wellington [Arthur Wellesley (1769-1852), soldier and statesman]. Wonders the true reason for [Thomas William] Coke giving up his agicultural meetings; [John Christian] Curwen [(1756-1828)], a great agiculturist in Cumberland, has given up his political agricultural meetings after being elected for the county, his chief aim.

Goodenough's observations on insects and birds: there have been no wasps this year compared to the multitudes last year which ate all their fruit; the last swifts left at the beginning of August, and last week during violent storms no swallows or martins were seen but with calmer skies they have returned, in fewer numbers, having already arrived late and less numerous than usual.

Plagued with gout. Thanks for the "magnificent" present of game from Holkham, [Norfolk, home of Thomas William Coke]. Difficulties following the death of his daughter, Mrs Charlotte Lynn, in the summer, leaving twelve children. Lady Anne Coke [(1803-1844), wife of Thomas William Coke] pregnant. Unsure of Miss [Elizabeth] Coke's age but knows her father-in-law is Mr Spencer-Stanhope who leases an estate in Northumberland under him as Bishop of Carlisle. Hopes the world has escaped the menaced war. Asks when "Flora Britannica" will be finished.

Ordered a barrel of oysters for Smith and recovering from gout caused by the cold weather. Praises new volume of "Linnean Transactions": enjoys the publication of whole genus monographs, as with [David] Don's [(1799-1841), botanist] 'Saxifraga' paper, but wishes the Latin had been checked; thinks [Francis Hamilton's] "Commentary on Hortus Malabaricus" will prove very useful to "science at large"; thinks Sir Thomas Raffles' [(1781-1826), founder of Singapore] "descriptive catalogue" needed plates.

The Bishop of Peterborough [Herbert Marsh (1757-1839)] wrote introducing Dr Swaenchen, a German cryptogamist, but he has not called yet. [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert overjoyed at his museum being named "Lambertian Museum".

Thanks for turkey. Refused [Archibald] Menzies solicitation to support for Dr [Christian Friedrich] Schwaegrichen [(1775-1853)] as a Foreign Member of the Linnean Society; [Georg] Noehden's was the only other name. [Thomas William] Coke must be pleased at the birth of his child.

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.

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.

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.

Sends two copies of his book ["Beitrage zur chorographischen Kenntniss des Flussgebiets" (1822)]. He is commissioned by the King to produce a "Flora Hannoverana"; intends to arrange it on example of "Flora Danica". Requests exchange of "interesting and rare plants of England" in return for "several rare and new species of African plants"; he has a large collection from last 17 years.

Apologises for being unable to send Smith Essequebo plants as he had already given his duplicates to [Joseph Franz] Jacquin. Proposes a German edition of "English botany", regarding which he has already written to [James] Sowerby requesting the plates; few copies of the original in Germany owing to its high price; if Smith agrees requests critical notes on the species.

Error in his recently published third volume of "Midland Flora"; found that his 'Trichia rubiformis' is not the 'T. rubiformis' of Persoon's "Synopsis methodica fungorum"; difficulty of making correct references from descriptions alone, for which reason he has preserved every specimen he could; observations on Persoon's species, confirmed in another Persoon work ["Tentamen Disp. Meth. Fungorum"]. Wishes he had seen [Robert Kaye] Greville's "Monograph of the Genus 'Erineum'" before publishing his third volume.

Asks Smith's opinion of [Samuel Frederick] Gray's work ["A natural arrangement of British plants" (1821)].