Just returned from Lowestoft, [Suffolk], "after having paid the last duties to our beloved parent" [Pleasance Smith's mother, Pleasance Reeve, née Clerke (1739-1820)]. Condolences on death of Macleay's loss [his daughter], "more afflicting, as it was not in the course of nature"; like Macleay "never lost so many friends as in the late dreadful winter".

Intends to be in London for Linnean Society meeting on 2 May [1820]. Received poor accounts of Sir Joseph Banks' health from Bishop of Carlisle [Samuel Goodenough] and [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert, but good account of Mrs [Catherine] Lambert's. Return's Joseph Smith's [(1775-1857)] paper with corrections, observations. Sorry to hear of [Linnean] Club "squabbling", which he thinks "more becoming a tavern than a literary society", but will "lend a hand to calm differences". "Sicken[s] at the thought" of Macleay resigning Secretary position.

Anticipating visit from the Smiths on 1 May. He has been ill since last July with a liver complaint; mixed health of the rest of his family.

No recovery as yet for Sir Joseph Banks; Sir Everard Home [(1756-1832), physician] says his stomach is failing but insists on eating pork, rejected Goodenough's suggestion of a milk diet. Does not think any attempt has been made to draw off attendance from the Linnean dining club held at the British Coffee House, which [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert now "disclaims entirely".

His plans for visiting London. Hopes to procure for Smith duplicates and notes of his Indian plants which would make considerable additions to Smith's "Adversaria Botanica" which he hopes Smith will set about in earnest.

Waiting for Lady Cullum to have her cataract operation before coming to London; hopes to attend meetings of Antiquarian and Horticultural Societies and Linnean Society anniversary meeting, though Smith will have to announce deaths of [John] Stackhouse and [Thomas] Woodward. The "celebrated" Arthur Young [(1741-1820)] of the Board of Agriculture died recently at Bradfield, near Bury. Introduces Mr Longstaff, bearer of this letter and an astronomcial lecturer. Hopes to attend some of Smith's Royal Institution lectures on "the affinities of plants" in May. Has grown plants of either Smith's 'Dianthus virgineus' or 'Dianthus alpinus' from his "Tour of the Continent" from seeds collected on ruins of Catullus' villa on Lake Garda. 'Tulipa sylvestris', 'Rheum undulatum', and 'Scrophularia vernalis' coming into flower soon.

Condolences to Smith and Lady Smith on death of their "very near & dear relatives", including Smith's mother, draws comparison to [John] Fraser's [(c 1750-1811), botanist] death and Smith's contribution to the science of botany.

Has been extending and examining his collection of 'Scitamineae' with use of Smith's remarks in Rees' "New Cyclopedia", and living plants of the whole Indian family sent by Dr [William] Carey [(1761-1834)] and [Nathaniel] Wallich, the latter has also sent large chests of plants for the [Liverpool] Botanic Garden, just arrived. Lists plants he is anxious about, with Latin characters: 'Hedychium gardnerianum', 'Roscoea purpurea', 'Canna napalensis'; further notes on his arrangement of 'Curcuma', 'Hedychium', and 'Roscoea'. His business arrangements almost finally arranged but has not been able to escape unjust attacks from people wishing to take advantage.

Sending proofs. Details of type, agrees about not having woodcuts. Intends to call on Nichols during his time at Thomas Furly Forster's at Clapton in May. Declines receiving any further [Emanuel Mendez] da Costa's [(1717-1791), naturalist] as they are chiefly mineralogical.

In mourning for four relatives, including his and Lady Smith's mothers. Going to Thomas Furly Forster's in Clapton, [Essex], for a week before going onto London, and then to lecture in Liverpool in May. Hopes to see Cullum at Horticultural and Linnean Society meetings in May. Laments deaths of [Thomas] Woodward and [Jeremiah] Ives [(d 1820), mayor of Norwich 1786 and 1801] of Catton, [Norfolk]. Thinks Cullum's plant is 'Dianthus virgineus', requests dried specimens of 'Tulipa sylvestris'. Has solicited for Mr Longstaff's astronomical lectures. Preparing for the press "very curious" letters from Dillenius to Linnaeus and to Dr Richardson.

Notes that although [Emanuel Mendez] da Costa's [(1717-1791), naturalist] manuscripts are chiefly concerned with mineralogy there are several on botany from [George] Edwards [(1694-1773)], [Georg Dionysius] Ehret [(1708-1770)], Knolles, [John] Martyn [(1699-1768)], [Philip] Miller, [Richard] Pulteney, and some others, and are available for Smith's use [for "A selection of the correspondence of Linnaeus" (1821)].

A chest has been sent to Smith via Captain Phillips of the Henry Porches, containing plants from Nepal, Sumatra and Penang. Portion of the Nepalese plants were collected within the first range of the Himalayas by the late Mr R Stuart, the Sumatra and Penang plants are from Mr Jack, employee of Sir Stamford Raffles [(1781-1826)]. Some of the scitamineae plants are for [William] Roscoe, pleased to hear from Roscoe that four new species of 'Roscaea' were amongst former parcels sent. Received a synoptic account of all the 'Hedychia' he has sent, by Roscoe. Hopes to gather more species of 'Hedychia' during his Nepal expedition commencing next July, intends to send regular parcels to Smith, Sir Joseph Banks, [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert, and [Henry Thomas] Colebrooke [(1765-1837), orientalist]. Was unable to send a chest of plants to the Linnean Society as he wished. Copies of first volume of [William] Roxburgh's "Flora Indica" sent for Smith and the Linnean Society. List of the plants contained in second volume of "Flora Indica", with observations.

Hopes Smith received his letters of 24 July and 6 August [1819] [not extant]. News of [Henry Lloyd] Loring [(c 1784-1822), Archdeacon of Calcutta].

Comments on Smith's delight at [Francis] Chantrey's [(1781-1841)] monument to the Dean of Lichfield's [John Woodhouse] two children, though he prefers [Louis-François] Roubiliac's [(c 1702-1762)] bust of [Alexander] Pope [(1688-1744), poet] in the British Gallery. Sorry to hear that the Dean of Lichfield is destroying old work in the cathedral and remodelling it in Roman cement, Goodenough recalls being pressured but refusing to do the same when superintendent of repairs at St George's Chapel, Windsor, and only replaced old work where it was already gone, as with the window mullions.

By coincidence witnessed the Queen's [Caroline (1768-1821), wife of George IV] entry into London to a "huzzaing" mob; describes her progress from Pall Mall, Carlton House, St James's Street, to Alderman [Matthew] Wood's house in South Audley Street, accompanied by that "young boy or man ([William] Austin)" and a three year old girl she has adopted, at the same time the King [George IV (1762-1830)] was presenting papers in Parliament instituting proceedings against her. Goodenough not taking a side. Prince Leopold [(1790-1865)] wants to become President of Royal Society, Goodenough thinks him "too far above the level of mankind".

Informs Smith of his marriage [to Mary Hardcastle, daughter of Lucy Hardcastle]; sends piece of wedding cake.

Married [Mary] Hardcastle on 3 July, a piece of wedding cake was sent to Smith. An account of the courtship, beginning with their first acquaintance in 1811, credits her mother with teaching him botany and leading him to appreciate literature, and account of his abortive attempt to return to America and devote himself solely to the study of botany.

Returns some corrected proofs. Discusses additional volumes, writing of a preface, and whether to have a contents and an index.

Note in John Bowyer Nichols' hand attached.

Thanks for Smith's letter of 13 [July 1820]; several of his friends have expressed the wish to which Smith alludes but many reasons induce him to decline [possibly an invitation to become Honorary Member of the Linnean Society following deaths of Sir Joseph Banks and Brownlow North, Bishop of Winchester].

Mrs Goodenough taken ill with constipation then diarrhea on journey to Rose Castle but successfully treated her with Calomel. Sir Joseph Banks died day before he left London, initiating a contest for Royal Society presidency: Banks named [Davies] Gilbert; [William Hyde] Wollaston [(1766-1828), chemist and physicist] and Sir Humphry Davy have declared themselves candidates; [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert and Sir Alexander Johnson are urging [Edward St Maur, 11th] Duke of Somerset [(1775-1855)] to contest; and Carlisle the surgeon is canvassing for Prince Leopold.

Sir Joseph Bank's will: [Robert] Brown given £200 per annum, a poor pittance in London; Sir Everard Home's [(1756-1832), physician] omittance extraordinary but appears Banks borrowed £4000 of him without repaying; Revesby Abbey in Lincolnshire Lady Banks' for life and afterwards Sir Edward Knatchbull's [9th baronet (1781-1849)], Lady Banks' nephew. The Queen [Caroline (1768-1821), wife of George IV] "engrosses all conversation at present", Goodenough thinks if even a small part of the rumours are true it would be shocking; Sir Humphry Davy, who lived near her abroad, has been closeted with the King [George IV (1762-1830)].

Describes places of interest on the route from Stafford to Arley, including Coalbrook Dale, the China works at Coalport, and Mr Whitmore's grounds at Apley, in anticipation of imminent visit from the Smiths.

From William Thomas Brande, Secretary of the Royal Society, inviting subscriptions for a monument to the memory of Sir Joseph Banks. Annotated by Smith, stating that he has subscribed £10, the maximum amount, and that "no one has a greater claim on his gratitude and regard than [Smith has], nor can any one be more ready to acknowledge it".

Having looked over the specimens obtained from India House has come to the conclusion that the most scientifically useful purpose would be to publish a commentaries on the "Hortus Malabaricus" and "Flora Amboinensis", details how he would go about this. Will start immediately if suitable for publication in "Linnean Transactions", with a supplement of the drawings from Mysore left with Smith and from Ava, Burma, given to Sir Joseph Banks. Drawings of 'Scitamineae' and Orchides have been lost by the Marquees of Hastings [Francis Edward Rawdon-Hastings (1754-1826) Governor-General of India, 1813-1823]. Requests Smith's opinion on this and whether it should be published all in Latin, or the commentary in English and the descriptive parts in Latin, as [Robert] Brown did in his treatise on the compositae in volume 12 of "Linnean Transactions".

Discussed with [Alexander] Macleay and [Robert] Brown the design for the ornamented page for Prince Leopold's signature in the Linnean Society Charter-book, to also be used for other royal signatures. Process by which the Prince will sign and bye-laws. Pleased Smith has not promised his vote for new Royal Society president to anyone. Brief details of Sir Joseph Banks' will: [Robert] Brown to receive the library, museum and £200 per annum for life, to afterwards go to the British Museum, and Lady Banks given whole of the landed property for life, afterwards to be divided between Colonel Stanhope and Sir Henry Howley, Banks' closest relatives. Flattered by Smith and [William] Roscoe naming ['Matonia'] after him.