Received Smith's parcel as he was leaving for Bulstrode [home of Duke of Portland in Buckinghamshire]. Discussion of 'Carex': has not been able to run through Smith's synonyms; there are two synonyms referred to in [Pier Antonio] Micheli's [(1679-1737)] plate which Goodenough quoted for 'C. rigida'; believes Smith's 'C. binervis' grows near Hastings, Sussex, had always thought it different from 'C. distans'; Smith's 'C. micheliana' "a good species"; asks Smith to rename his 'C. vesicaria' as there are "cogent reasons" for the existing 'C. vesicaria' name; believes Linnaeus' 'C. vesicara' was 'C. sylvatica'. Astonished that [Robert John] Thornton's [(c 1768-1837), physician and writer on botany] work is now printing ["A new illustration of the sexual system of Linnaeus"]. Desperate for Smith's "Flora [Britannica]" to come out; believes under Smith's "correct auspices [botany will] stride on to perfection". Sending Smith's corrected manuscripts to [John] White [publisher] but asks who "Hull." often quoted by Smith is; suggests alternatives for the words "scrotiforme" and "genitalia" to spare Smith's "character for delicacy". Eager for Scottish specimens of Smith's new 'Carex' species, particularly 'Carex incurva'.

On verso of second folio Goodenough notes that "Enchiridion" would be a good name for Smith's "Epitome" but as there is already a work under that title suggests "Synopsis" instead.

In Exmouth on account of his daughter; she has been unwell for months and recently more so though believes her lungs are not affected and that the disorder is nervous. His sister has received great benefit from taking foxglove under Dr Moncrieffe though just received letter that a fresh tubercule is inflaming. Beddoes currently has five ladies under his care, each in a hammock in a close room with an Alderney cow.

Will send any marine plants he finds to [James] Sowerby though presently none are washed up and the rocks are barren except for 'Fucus vesiculorus' and 'Ulva compressa', 'Rubia' on cliffs, and '[Calystegia] soldanella', 'Crygium campestre', 'Cuphorbia' and he supposes [William] Hudson's 'Ononis repens' on sand banks between cliffs and beach. Complains that having expected to live on John Dory can get nothing but small whitings and herrings every two or three days.