Sorry to receive Smith's confirmation of the report that [Thomas] Marsham had appropriated £600 of funds from the Linnean Society for his own use. The report was first brought to him by [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert, who received it from [William Elford] Leach, and after questioning Leach learns that the loss is not as great as £600 and Marsham has since paid £300 for renewing the lease of the Society's building. Goodenough proposes a fundraising subscription to save the Society and a "great entrenchment of finances", starting with employing an additional person to justify [Robert] Brown's excessive salary for eight hours of attendance a week as librarian. Laments Smith's absence as Lambert does not have the experience to deal with the situation.

In a postscript Goodenough writes that Marsham's son attended a Council called to discuss the matter, and said that the money would be forthcoming; confusion over whether Marsham had resigned as Treasurer. Goodenough refused [William] Kirby's canvassing letter.

Had to delay forwarding Smith's letter to [Francis] Boott. [Alexander] Macleay confident that [Thomas] Marsham will repay the money but [Robert] Brown not sure, concern that the affair will bring the Linnean Society into "great discredit". Brown thinks [Edward] Rudge has exagerated the business. [William Elford] Leach did not at first state that Marsham had paid £300 for the lease of the Society's Gerard Street house. Marsham's debt found to be £700, not the £600 originally stated by others, including [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert.

Just returned from Oxford address; unable to attend Linnean Society on 7 May due to prior engagement.

Heard from [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert that Smith is unwell, hopes he can still attend Linnean Society anniversary meeting. The royal couple [newly wed Princess Charlotte (1796-1817), daughter of George IV, and Prince Leopold (1790-1865), later Leopold I of Belgium] were meant to have moved into Camelford House on Thursday but it was not ready; Goodenough thinks it an unsuitable home for them and that Lord Grenville oversold it [William Wyndham Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville (1759-1834), prime minister 1806-1807]. Sorry to hear of the death of [Thomas] Johnes. Informed by Lady and [Sarah Sophia] Banks [(1744-1818), collector of antiquarian items] that Sir Joseph is better, they talked about Prince Leopold's visit to Spring Grove [Banks' Middlesex country house]. [Thomas] Marsham has repaid another £100, and will have the remaining £200 for when a new Treasurer is appointed.

Hopes [Thomas] Marsham will repay the remaining money he owes by Linnean Society anniversary to avoid setting a precedent regarding the duty and responsibility of members. Brief remarks on use of Latin. Goodenough thinks Camelford House is a "poor confined habitation for royalty to inhabit" [the house stood at junction of Oxford Street and Park Lane and was purchased for the newly married Princess Charlotte (1796-1817), daughter of George IV, and Prince Leopold (1790-1865)].

Informed by [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert that Smith agrees to increasing the number of FMLS to allow five new members; requests Smith's own opinion.

Reports from morning part of Linnean Society anniversary meeting: convinced [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert that the Society's rules would not allow five new FMLS; [Thomas] Marsham only paid £28 of his debt but proposes to repay the remaining £400 in two, three, and four month installments; Goodenough asked [Alexander] Macleay to consider not toasting Marsham's name at the dinner.

Reports from evening part of Linnean Society anniversary meeting: fifty-four members present, including: [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert, Lord [Edward Smith-]Stanley, [William George] Maton, Sir Thomas Cullum, [Thomas Andrew] Knight, Mr Greenough, two Forsters, Mr Simmonds, [James] Dickson, [Thomas] Hoy [(c 1750-1822)], Holmes, Mr Burchall, [Thomas] Rackett, and [William] Kirby. [Thomas] Marsham apologised by letter for not repaying the £100 as intended and proposed to repay the remainder in installments. Goodenough advised [Alexander] Macleay not to publicise this so as to avoid further disappointment. Marsham's name was not mentioned during the toasts at the dinner, and by accident Sir Joseph Banks and the honorary members were also overlooked.

President of the Horticultural Society [Thomas Andrew Knight] offended by [Patrick] Keith's treatment of him in "Physiology of Plants" ["A system of physiological botany"]. Shocked to see how old Kirby looks and how "amazingly distended" Hoy's chest is. Believes it would be better to reduce rather than increase number of FMLS, cites example of Royal Society who are reducing their foreign members to thirty; thinks forty is sufficiently large for Linnean Society, and proposes keeping ten spaces free for emergencies. In postscript states that whenever Marsham's name was mentioned there was silence.

Constant rain in Cumberland after a substantial dry period. Admires agricultural meetings, especially when they are purely agricultural like [Thomas William] Coke's, and not politicised as they are in Cumberland. Pleased that the House of Buckingham has "so fair a promise in Lord Nugent".

Fears potential civil unrest in the countryside following the harvest as the wages of labourers have not fallen, so farmers will be forced to employ fewer hands and in consequence many will be unemployed. Goodenough thinks it better for all to be employed regardless of the conditions, notes that manufacturers' wages are uncommonly low. Does not like either the Indian or Algerian wars [Third Anglo-Maratha war, 1816-1819, and Bombardment of Algiers, 1816]; has little confidence in Lord Moira's judgement [Francis Edward Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of Hastings (1754-1826), Governor-General of India 1813-1823].

Goodenough's son, Edmund, had a troublesome rheumatic fever but is now recovered. Edmund went to Malvern where he was puzzled by the variety of 'Ervum tetrasperum' with footstalks with only one flower. Goodenough does not recollect seeing Smith's variety of '[Iris] xiphium'.

Saw 'Rubus chamaemorus' in fruit on the mountains near Bewcastle, Cumberland. Doubts whether 'Galium witheringii' is distinct from 'Galium uliginosum' having found 'G. witheringii' growing very similar to 'G. uliginosum' in ditches. Specimen of 'G. witheringii' enclosed [extant].

Specimen, labelled 'G. witheringii'.

Replying to Smith's letter of 29 August. Forwarded Smith's letter to [Elizabeth] Hill [(c 1760-1850), algologist]. A bad summer in Cumberland: very few flowers on their numerous carnations and for the first time he has ever known 'Lathyrus latifolius' also failed to flower, 'Orobus sylvaticus' and 'Cistus helianthemum' did flower. Vouches for Sir Thomas Frankland's reliability in condemning 'Carabus vulgaris'. Accepts Smith's offer to send new volume of "[Florae Graecae] Prodroumus" and new edition of "Compendium [florae Britannicae]". Knows nothing of Cambridge university politics and equates Smith's campaign [for botany professorship] to a game of chess; warns against moving the [Thomas] Martyn pawn at the wrong time [Martyn was the incumbent professor]. Pleased that Lord Exmouth Sir Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth, (1757-1833)] ended the Algerian war "at a stroke" [ Bombardment of Algiers, 1816]. Very poor harvest in Goodenough's parish, only fifty acres of eleven square miles have been brought in. Has been employing the poor when he can, and not just buying their idleness with money as fears is mistakenly done in London.

Frustrated by [Thomas] Marsham's delays in repaying his debts to the Linnean Society; blames those members who pitied and continued to think well of him and thinks Smith correct to call a Council, although uncertain if he can attend himself. Hopes that [Alexander] Macleay will be recompensed following break up of the Transport Board; he has spoken of leaving Queens Square. Bad harvest: the wheat in Cumberland is "very damaged" and none of the flowers in his garden had their usual rich odours, including the carnations, sweet peas, mignonette, but the 'Rosa semperflorens' was not affected by the weather; an example of its thorough hardiness, asks what its natural latitude is.

Hopes there are "no riotous doings" at Norwich, a "pefect system of terror prevails in Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire", thinks it a pity that Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire should have been destroyed by Luddites [there were rumours that a fire at the castle was arson]. Isaac Milner [(c 1750-1820), Dean of Carlisle] is going to Cambridge, Goodenough has told him that Smith is the "most scientific naturalist extant" [Smith's campaign for botany professorship]. According to a letter from Ealing Sir Joseph Banks very ill.

Account of his seven day journey from Carlisle to London. Glad that the [Thomas] Marsham affair has so far been dealt with without his interference but believes it is necessary to cease shielding Marsham; if the money is not brought forward the Linnean Society's consistency and credit will be ruined. Criticises the Society's habit of holding Council meetings late in the evening. Looking forward to seeing Smith's "Compendium [florae Britannicae]" and final part of "Prodromus florae Graecae". Sir Joseph Banks was very ill but now recovering quickly. [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert back in London sooner than anticipated.