Heard from [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert that Smith intends to reply to Professor Monck [it was thought Monck had written a critical piece on Smith regaring the Cambridge botany professorship in the "Quarterly Review"]. Glad that [Dawson] Turner has completed his "Fucus". Thanks for Mrs Turner's "beautiful" etching of Smith. Sir Joseph Banks' recovered considerably; no longer suffering constipation, no attack of gout for fifty days, and gaining strength, it is accredited to Sir Edward Hume's administering of sixty drops of Colchicum autumnale. Goodenough's daughter, Charlotte, in Coldbeck, Cumberland, ill with typhus fever, which is endemic in that town; she has been treated with an emetic, an opening medicine, and a blister. Fears the medical men adminstering too many lowering medicines, as in the south, when after the first evacuants the patient is kept up with port wine and brandy.

Goodenough's daughter, Charlotte, recovered from her typhus fever.

Informed that it was someone at Oxford, and not [James Henry] Monk [(1784-1856), Cambridge regius professor of Greek], who wrote the critical article on Smith in the "Quarterly Review", but fears Monk's party against Smith is increasing [in his campaign for botany professorship]. [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert indignant that the Linnean Dining Club continues to be held at the inferior British Coffee House. Goodenough fears the Horticultural Society comes too close to the Linnean Society and may provoke jealousies [the Horticultural Society hired rooms at the Linnean Society for a time].

Thanks for Smith's reply to [James Henry] Monk [(1784-1856), Cambridge regius professor of Greek] and Smith's critical reviewer in the "Quarterly Review" although he is now certain it was written by an Oxford man, which would exculpate [George] D'Oyly [?]. Glad Smith's Cambridge pamphlet is written with "such good temper" but thinks Smith exposes himself to attack by minutely going into the particulars of his religion [campaign for botany professorship].

The "Catholic question" in Parliament postponed by Lord Donoughmore [Richard Hely Hely-Hutchinson, 1st Earl of Donoughmore (1756-1825)] so can now attend Linnean Society elections as Smith desired.

Reports on last night's Linnean Society elections: [Augsutin Pyramus] de Candolle and [Louis Claude] Richard [(1754-1821)] elected FMLS, Lamarck and [José Antonio] Pavon were not. [Alexander] Macleay takes on great part of leading the Society. Goodenough thinks Royal and Antiquarian Societies are organised much more efficiently. There is a FMLS vacancy for Professor [Franz Karl] Mertens. Dr Douglas and Mr Brooke were ejected for not paying their dues and [Edward Berkely] Portman [(1771-1823), politican] admitted. Paper on the genus 'Antilope' [by Charles Hamilton Smith (1776-1859)] read, Goodenough wishes a better name for it had been found.

Has been visiting, confirming, and holding public days in his diocese this year; his last official duty to host a state dinner for the judges. Was recently sent a 'Lysimachia vulgaris' which turned out to be 'Lysimachia quadrifolia'. Read in the newspaper of death of Mr Walker of Liverpool, whilst awaiting delivery of parcel of plants from him, caused by an insurgent privateer firing on the pleasure boat he was travelling on. Weavers in Cumberland have returned to their work after some trouble; Goodenough would like clarification whether the "meetings of the discontented" are legal or not, believes that "our people did not think of grumbling until some incendiaries put it into their heads". Goodenough thinks it folly for [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert's brother-in-law, Mr Bennet, to contest an election in Wiltshire. Death of [Samuel] Lysons [(c 1763-1819), antiquary]; he will be "much missed and desired". Sir Joseph Banks had jaundice but recovered and Mrs Goodenough well again.

Thanks for Smith's letter of 27 August. Discusses possibilities for Smith publishing a new edition of "Flora Britannica" following the new edition of "Compendium florae Britannicae"; cannot advise on the "English Flora" not knowing anything of Smith's plan. Praises Lady Banks as "one of the best natured creatures alive" and recalls her skill in telling her "famous Lincolnshire story" and the interaction between her and Miss [Sarah Sophia] Banks [(1744-1818)]. His son Edmund appointed headmaster of Westminster School. Has always evaded staying with [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert at Boyton on account of his "irregularities"; thinks Lambert's brother-in-law Mr Benett is ruined. For Goodenough "reform is but another word for revolution". Does not recall ever seeing 'Cricus tuberosus'. Has never seen Fonthill Abbey but from a distance, amazed by its fourteen mile enclosing wall [home of William Thomas Beckford (1760-1844), novelist]. Unsurprised that trade is suffering.

Thinks his son, Edmund, is the best appointment for headmaster of Westminster School. Believes that the discontent in the country is the fault of "itinerants who [...] poison the minds of everyone" by teaching them to think "they are denied every comfort". Uncertain what has been done at Manchester but the Attorney General confident he will prove at the trials that the magistrates and yeomanry deserved praise, not censure, in defending themselves [at Peterloo Massacre of 16 August 1819 cavalry charged into a large crowd demanding parliamentary reform, killing fifteen]. A meeting of radicals presided over by [Thomas Jonathan] Wooler [(1786-1853), journalist and radical] to be held on Monday, with the Whigs calling for another meeting the following day. Not surprised by Smith's account of the Russian train with the Archdukes. One of Goodenough's young male servants died of an inflammation thirty hours after drinking cold water when hot; his father lives with Colonel Woodhouse at Witten Hall, Norfolk.

Hopes Smith received the barrels of oysters he sent. Has not seen [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert for a fortnight, a private report says that Mrs [Catherine] Lambert is "quite deranged". Sir Joseph Banks unwell. The "famous American serpent [...] of immense size and length", mentioned by Aldrovandus [(1522-1605), Italian naturalist] now ascertained to exist after being seen by 300 people at once, and will hopefully be caught soon. Calls in north-west Yorkshire for military patrols following reports of radicals going about publicly armed; Goodenough thinks this "feverish anxiety" will come to a crisis soon, especially as [William] Cobbett [(1763-1835), political writer] has just landed with bones of Thomas Paine [(1737-1809), author and revolutionary].