a "dreadful" six day journey from Carlisle to London brought on gout. Discusses 'Nymphaea' as mentioned in Theophrastus, Dioscorides, and Stephen's "Thesaurus". Not surprised at [James] Donn's [(1758-1813), curator of Cambridge Botanic Garden] attacks on [George] Don if he "learned any of the tricks of Thomas Agnew, to whom he was second at Kew" [Donn had accused Don of using seeds from Cambridge to grow into plants to claim as indigenous to Scotland, see RelatedMaterial]. Thanks Smith for offer of a turkey. Has not had a chance to see the "Anti-Jacobin".

Thanks for the turkey. [James] Brodie sent a letter to Miss [Elizabeth] Hill [(c 1760-1850), algologist] via himself, in addition sent him specimens of '[Fucus] lycopodioides' and 'Brodiaea'. Received report from the Bishop of Chester [Henry Majendie (1764-1830)] that the King [George III (1738-1820)] is "perfectly well & in high spirits"; the "Jacobinical rumours" of abdication and regency border on treason. Sir Joseph Banks recovering from a slight attack of gout.

Has letter for Smith from [James] Brodie. Invites Smith to dinner before going on to the Linnean Society with [Thomas] Marsham, "the sight of the three fathers of the Society marching in together must be, as the French say, grand and magnificent". Has a copy of his sermon before the House of Lords on fast-day for Smith [see RelatedMaterial].

Uncertain where to forward [George] Don's late "lucubrations" to Smith. Finds that 'Bromus racemosus' is the most common grass in his fields, and has 'Hieracium murorum' growing upon the walls of Rose Castle; offers to send specimen to [James] Sowerby.

When reading in [George] Don's letters he is struck with "the simplicity of his style, & the acuteness of his remarks". Hopes to hear from Smith soon, wishes he would visit "this retired Philosophical spot"; one of the area's two botanists brought him specimens of 'Rubus sylvaticus' and 'Cistus heliantheum' to have planted in the garden, fears he lost his botanical standing by confusing the 'Cistus' with 'Vaccinium'.

"What an indefatigable creature is this [George] Don?". Asks if Don is right about 'Agrostis arundinacea', thinks it may be an 'Arundo epigeios'; 'Thlaspi hirtum' and 'T. incanum' appear distinct. Invites Smith to visit in August; has just discovered a botanist in his neighbourhood who is a Cambridge man and may prove more than an amateur, of which he already has two.

Constantly reminded of Smith by his "very assiduous & ever-to-be-encouraged correspondent Mr G[eorge] Don". Made to doubt his own knowledge after seeing Don's "acute observations", and wonder "where have all these things lain since the days of Adam, that no one should have noticed them before". Does not wish for Smith to be charged for any of [the Don letters and plant specimens]. Eagerly awaiting confirmation of Smith's visit.

Discusses etymology of 'Ethulia', 'Euclea', and Linnaeus' non-scholarly formation of names. Fears death of Lady Amelia Hume will remove Sir Abraham Hume from natural history. Continually asked when the fourth volume of "Flora Britannica" is out. Had told a group of country botanists in Carlisle region that Smith was coming to visit, they shall be disappointed. If Smith visits next year requests root of Smith's "pale primrose-coloured Carnation".

Thanks Smith for his intention to send the second volume of "Florae Graecae Prodromus". Smith's "Piquote pink" carnation a curious plant, the yellow one sounds "very extraordinary" and requests a flower. In a letter to him [James] Brodie confused an enclosed specimen of 'Scirpus setaceus' for a 'Carex', reminds him of the time [William] Withering sent a drawing he was sure was a new 'Carex glareosa' and was in fact 'Eriophorum angustifolium'. The 'Sedum ochroleucum' Smith sent flourishing, asks if it will survive being kept in the open air. Everyone impatient for fourth volume of "Flora Britannica".

Thanks for Smith's "great curiousity", the primrose carnation. Finds it odd that is has no smell, Mrs Goodenough recalls seeing one at Windsor which was also scentless. Received a specimen of the plant Smith wrote to Mr Weatherhead about but can not recollect what it is called, it was possibly 'Stachys' but can find nothing in Gmelin's "Systema Naturae". [Hugh] Davies and [Edward] Donovan [(1768-1837), zoologist] are still in dispute over fish: Davies' letter appeared in the "Gentleman's Magazine" two months before Donovan's response, the former writes like a Welshman and the latter an artist "who thinks all the world must be as eager as himself to cull some lucky snap which has escaped the eyes of others", discusses the grievances and fears being dragged in on account of his paper on the Porbeagle shark in "Linnean Transactions" which used a drawing of Davies' [see RelatedMaterial]. Asks Smith to look for 'Confervae' in Lowestoft. Political horizon "clouding".

Smith need not fear burdening Goodenough with his post. Sorry to see that the impudence of the Carlisle choristers has "blazened forth in the public papers" [the choristers refused to sing at services until their salaries were raised]. Asks Smith to bring native specimens of 'Ophrys corallorhiza' when he comes to London, previously received a foreign specimen of it but it is now found near to Edinburgh. Asks if Smith has figured 'Serapias latifolia', a bed of is growing wild near Rose Castle. Presumes [Hugh] Davies will rise to [Edward] Donovan's [(1768-1837), zoologist] letter in the "Gentleman's Magazine" on their dispute over fish [see RelatedMaterial]. Expecting a "fiery session" in the House of Lords this season on account of the British troops in Spain and Walcharen and Catholic Emancipation and equates the political situation to that directly before the fall of Carthage and the French Revolution.

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.

Discussion of Catholic Emancipation: Smith has great "liberality" on the subject but believes he is not fully informed and that the Dissenters are "very much deceived" if they think the Catholics will allow them to participate with them in power. Goodenough believes Catholics cannot act for themselves in anything concering religion, which is what would make them dangerous if they had power. Regrets that Oxford University have begun meddling in politics by proposing Lord Grenville [William Wyndham Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville (1759-1834), prime minister, 1806-1807] for Chancellor after he had avowed himself "the Champion of Catholic Emancipation". Goodenough hates the subject, particularly as his two sons in Christ Church have "most wantonly & contemptuously" opposed him.

Convinced 'Fucus discors' and 'Fucus abrotanifolius' are the same plant and advises Smith to consult [Elizabeth] Hill [(c 1760-1850), algologist] and [Amelia Warren] Griffiths [(1768-1858), algologist] for further details; the difference is only in the breadth of lower leaves, caused by the season of the year and depth of water. Returns Smith's drawings [of the two 'Fucus'] and thinks they are "expressive enough", showed them to Dr [George] Williams in Oxford but he is not a marine botanist. "Blepharanthis" has his full approbation.

In postscript reports on results of election for Oxford Chancellorship - Lord Grenville won by thirteen votes. Repeats that Smith's 'Fucus discors' is the 'discors' of [John] Stackhouse, Hill, Griffiths, and himself.

Discussion of Catholic Emancipation: Smith calls himself a "heretic" but Goodenough shall not apply the term, believes "moderate men of all persuasions think pretty nearly alike". Believes Roman Catholics cannot yet be trusted with power, citing the example of their College of Maynooth, [The Royal College of St Patrick, established 1795, near Dublin, Ireland]. Thinks the Irish will join Napoleon until they gain not the level but the upper hand. Forwarded Smith's letter to [Amelia Warren] Griffiths [(1768-1858), algologist]. Shocked to see [Richard] Salisbury's "surreptitious anticipation" of [Robert] Brown's paper on the New Holland plants ['Proteaceae'] under the name of [George] Hibbert's [(1757-1837), merchant] gardener, [Joseph] Knight [(c 1777-1855)]. Refused to talk to Salisbury at the Royal Society meeting. Mrs Goodenough "nearly killed" falling down the stairs.