Had to delay forwarding Smith's letter to [Francis] Boott. [Alexander] Macleay confident that [Thomas] Marsham will repay the money but [Robert] Brown not sure, concern that the affair will bring the Linnean Society into "great discredit". Brown thinks [Edward] Rudge has exagerated the business. [William Elford] Leach did not at first state that Marsham had paid £300 for the lease of the Society's Gerard Street house. Marsham's debt found to be £700, not the £600 originally stated by others, including [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert.

Was surprised not to hear anything from Cullum during "the great stir" caused by [Thomas] Martyn's [erroneously reported] death; certain it has not damaged his campaign for the Cambridge botany professorship. The Duke of Bedford [John Russell, 6th Duke], Lord Hardwicke [Philip Yorke, 3rd Earl of Hardwicke (1757-1834)], Lord Spencer [George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer], [Viscount] Althorp [John Charles Spencer (1782-1845)], [Marquess of] Tavistock [Francis Russell (1788-1861)], [Lord] John Thynne [(1772-1849)], Dean of Lincoln [George Gordon] and others have all come out in support of Smith. Will canvas at Cambridge for a week with Dr [Martin] Davy, and if the conditions are right and the vice-chancellor approves will ask Martyn to resign the professorship and hold the election. Edward [Hall] Alderson [(1787-1857)] of the Temple has a committee sitting for him. Will or has recently seen [William] Webb and [William] Kirby. Both the Bishop of Bristol [William Mansel] and Lord John Thynne convinced Smith will succeed. Plans to be at Linnean Society on 2 April to admit the Duke of Bedford a FLS.

Attended a dinner at Clare Hall, Cambridge, with [William] Webb and Dr [Martin] Davy, who hopes for Smith's success [in campaign for Cambridge botany professorship]; neither [George] Leathes [(1779-1836)] or Davies were mentioned [Smith's rivals for professorship]. The university divided on mode of election as there has not been one for a botanical professor for fifty years, and whether the college heads can reduce the number of candidates to two.

Attended Linnean Club dinner; [Alexander] Macleay in chair supported by [William] Smith and [Joseph] Sabine, William Webb admitted a FLS by Sabine, [Edward and Thomas Furly] Forster also present, [William George] Maton absent on account of death of his father, and [Thomas] Marsham absent until "times are better with him". Sir Everard Home [(1756-1832), physician], took chair at Royal Society as Sir Joseph Banks too ill, two archdukes who wanted to become FRS announced and duly elected. A botanical publication brought from Paris by Bowater for [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert seized with the contraband items it was packed with. [William Elford] Leach, "the great zoological reformer", has been elected FRS and Duke of Norfolk [Bernard Howard (1765-1842)] nominated by Banks. Presumes Smith and the Council will propose a plan for amending Linnean Society finances.

Hopes [William Elford] Leach's long paper in the new volume of "Linnean Transactions" ['A tabular View of the external Characters of Four Classes of Animals'] will not lead the Society to be called the "Crabby, or Crusty Society".