Sends a paper on mother of pearl; apologizes for confused state of paper on hyposulfurous acid.

Received Smith's letter of 10 June. Intends to come to London as soon as his leg has recovered, hopes to see Smith. Thinks Smith will find [Nathaniel] Wallich an excellent correspondent. Mentions an accident happening to boxes Smith sent to Edinburgh. Has seen little of Rees's "Encyclopedia" but hopes Smith will persist in publishing a Mantissa, urges Smith to use his collections in the East India Company's library, has no intention of using it for himself. Has had difficulties in publishing his work on fish and is disillusioned with dealers and booksellers. Also publishing his tables of the "Hindu Genealogies", hopes it will lead to a "much greater extent of historical knowledge than was thought to exist". Attempting to acclimatise foreign plants in a wooded glen near his house, asks Smith to send any seeds or roots that might be suited to such conditions, especially English orchids.

Has just returned from Lincolnshire. Will shortly be visiting Torquay. Would like to call on him if convenient. Has heard of a vacant professorship at Edinburgh University and may try for it. Gives an equation of W. H. Wollaston's.

Received JH's profile. Glad William Herschel's portrait is taken. WW has one from forty years ago. Lady Watson not well. Requests information about 'the comet.' Happy for account of Beckwiths.

Is going to Edinburgh to apply for the post left vacant by John Playfair's death. Would JH and his father give him certificates and references? [Note by Mrs. CB to the effect that her husband has heard that James Ivory will not be contesting the professorship at Edinburgh].

JH understands CB to be a candidate for a professorial chair, and JH writes a warm letter of support.

Has made his own experiments on growth of wood similar to those of [Jean-Baptiste] Du Hamel as described by Smith in "Introduction to Botany" and offers one to the Linnean Society. Also offers a specimen of petrified moss.

Apologizes for the long delay in answering his letter. Relates experiences and hopes of success in his effort to obtain the position of professor at the University.

About Charles Babbage's hopes for a position, and joint publication ventures.

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.

Wishes to meet Smith and see the Linnaean herbarium..

Has heard from Charles Babbage that JH has sent him the article on hyposulfurous acid, but he has not in fact received it. Has seen Babbage a lot recently. Candidates for the Mathematical chair. Regarding colored rings in Carbonate of Potash. Has reserved his paper on Series for number 3.

Of Charles Babbage's visit, family news, and lawsuits.

Business affairs keeping him very busy but keeping as clear as possible from politics, and is not attending this evening's meeting of the Liverpool Reformers to address the Prince Regent for reform; his literary undertakings have also been neglected. Following the receipt at the [Liverpool] Botanic Garden of many 'Scitamineae' plants from the East Indies he has begun reexamining the family; many are mentioned by [William] Roxburgh and are new to this country; convinced 'Canna' will expand from 12 to 20 distinct species. Hopes Smith enquired of [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert about his '[Canna] iridiflora', still a desiderata for them.

Following study of 'Maranta' and Smith's article on 'Thalia' in [Abraham] Rees' "New Cyclopedia"drops his proposal of a new genus detached from 'Maranta' and concedes they all belong to 'Thalia', referring to 'Maranta casupo' and 'M. casupito' of Jacquin "Fragmenta Botanica" tab 63, 64, 69, 70; 'M. gracilis' and 'M. obliqua' of [Edward] Rudge; 'M. lutea' of Jacquin; and a plant in [Etienne Ventenat's] "Jardin de Malmaison".

Slow progress at the Liverpool Royal Institution but the classical and mathematical schools are respectable and a natural history collection is being established under [William] Swainson, who has promised a collection of insects, and they are hopeful for a course of botany lectures by Smith.

Sorry to hear of his failure at Edinburgh. Inviting him to Slough. Enquiring about the people CB met at Edinburgh.

Received Smith's letter of 30 [August] enclosing his son's sketch of 'Lepas anatifera'; was not aware of such an accumulation of shells but should have known at first sight and happy to hear of his son's short interview with Smith. His son and daughter-in-law have a 9 month old daughter, latter "makes herself mistress of whatever subject she undertakes by reading & retaining all"; she makes out botany genera "with great acuteness" and his son shapes his pursuits to hers and the garden benefiting from their attention to it.

Pest control: plagued with wasps this summer and they tried destroying every nest and also hung 100 opodeldoe phials baited with treacle, but the most effective solution were small Scotch gauze landing nets with an iron wire bow held under attacked fruit and gently shaken, sketch in ink of trap. Flies now attacking semi-ripe nectarines. 'Hoya' and yew berries do not attract wasps. Scotch gauze bags do not protect grapes but foundation muslin bags do, and saved many large moonpark apricots by covering each with tow which in addition equalises heat and ripens the fruit more perfectly.

Exotic seeds and plants: his recent exchange of correspondence with [Sir Joseph] Banks after sending Banks seeds from Lima, [Peru], sent by his nephew, Commodore Bowles, including 'Araucaria imbricata' which is described "as growing as high as St Paul's". Sowed seeds received from his vicar's married sister in Bombay: 'Poinciana pulcherrima' (Geal Mohr), 'Ipomoea quamoclit' (Chinese creeper), 'Annona squamosa' (custard apple), Blue convoloulus his gardener thinks 'Dolichos', and 'Abrus precatorius' as scarlet pea. Also sent from Lima: many air plants but only one is alive, at Southampton Botanical Garden, and it is just flowering; received five seeds of 'Annona tripetala' and raised three, gave other two to Banks who intends to send them to Malta; Circassian beads ('Adenanthera pavonia') and both 'Ipomoea' came in last parcel, Banks ascertained species in difficult cases; the seeds were collected by [Aimé Jacques Alexandre] Bonpland [(1773-1858)]; raised amongst the Lima plants 'Apocynum androsaemifolium'.

Chastises JH for misbehavior along with Charles Babbage, discusses the parlous state of the country's affairs, expresses interest in the history of astronomy, and sends family news [letter completed 1819-10-8].

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.

Regarding refraction in various crystals and comparison with Newton's tables. Suggests a joint paper on the subject. His parcel has never arrived. Is working on a paper on rotating phenomena.

Account of his journey from Norwich, [Norfolk], to Birmingham: unwittingly shared the coach from Newmarket to Cambridge with Mr Hustler of Trinity [College], one of the adverse tutors [to Smith's Cambridge professorship candidacy]; delight at seeing the Beauchamp Chapel in St Mary's Church, Warwick; Birmingham feels a dirty and close town. His first lecture at 7 this evening; no anxiety; the room not painted for fear of his inconvenience; attended sermons and meeting by Dr [James] Yates and Mr S W Brown