Smith's candidature for Botany Professorship at Cambridge University. Had feared Smith had given up Cambridge. Promises his resignation when Smith requires it, details of his own election. Support of Bishop of Ely [Bowyer Sparke (1759-1836)], Dean of Norwich [Joseph Turner (1747-1828)], College Heads, and vice-chancellor all important but the Duke of Bedford cannot do much. Warns Smith of deceit and rebuffs within the university. Notifies Smith that the professorship has no control over the Botanic Garden or rights to plants for lectures. [Philip] Miller's monument.

Introduces De Candolle ; political events forgotten ; Dawson Turner has sent 'Flora Graeca.'

Complains that letters sent to him at the Linnean Society are not forwarded quickly enough. Sends bill of lading for "most valuable present" for Linnean Society sent from America. Asks if Macleay received box of roots of Sicilian 'Orchideae' from [William] Swainson in Palermo, [Sicily], which he had arranged to be sent to Mr Anderson at Chelsea. Asks if [John Russell, 6th] Duke of Bedford and [Francis] Buchanan have been elected FLS yet.

Received Swainson's letter of 3 December; believes he knows his father. Agrees Baron [Antonino] Bivona [Bernardi] ought to be FMLS, but they are restricted from adding any more till the number is below 50; will consider moving for a relaxation of this law for the Baron.

Believes he has received the packet of dried plants Swainson mentions, will write to Bivona as soon he can examine the specimens, "but such examinations take much time, & I am often overburthened with them". Entrusted care of box of Orchideae roots sent by Swainson to William Anderson, new Curator of the Chelsea garden, "one of the best botanical gardeners of my acquaintance".

Manuscripts received from [William] Roscoe, including Caesar's "Commentaries" and "Praeses fid."; and a Livy which is apparently the actual copy sent by Cosmo de Medici to Alfonso, King of Naples, as a peace offering and mentioned in Roscoe's "Life of Lorenzo de Medici". Roscoe informs him that Mr Jones has adopted Smith's advice for a regular system of "three [book] binders besides himself constantly employed". Roscoe has sat for his portrait with [Sir Martin Archer] Shee [(1769-1850) portrait painter and writer].

Sends 160 kinds of seeds; list of desiderata.

Smith's candidature for Botany Professorship at Cambridge University. Strongly recommends having the Bishop of Ely [Bowyer Sparke (1759-1836)] canvas for Smith along with every other bishop Smith can get. Also recommends engaging the Queen [Charlotte (1744-1818), wife of George III] to interest the Regent. Believes Smith's cause is a public one, fears the university will "disgrace itself by a contemptible corporation spirit". Smith should write to every great friend of his in London. Believes the election should be put off for some time and Smith should come to Cambridge to canvas in person.

Smith's candidature for Botany Professorship at Cambridge University. Received Smith's letter informing him of [Thomas] Martyn's [prematurely reported] death, promises to vote for Smith and obtain as many other votes as possible. Dean of Lincoln [George Gordon (fl 1809-1845)] almost certain to vote for Smith.

Apologises for delay in forwarding letters to Smith; took the necessary measures for obtaining box sent from America; confirms [William] Swainson's Sicilian 'Orchideae' were sent to Mr Anderson at Chelsea. [John Russell, 6th] Duke of Bedford elected FLS at last Linnean Society meeting. "Linnean Transactions" printed, [Samuel Latham] Mitchill's paper on American fish was not included. Asks Smith's opinion of [John] Murray of Stranraer, [Scotland], and suitability to become FLS. Was unable to meet Smith's acquaintance, Dr Burke, at the Transport Office.

[Thomas] Marsham's affairs are in "a sad state"; read a letter from him at Council declaring his present inability to repay any of the £400 he owes the Society, but he hopes to pay it to his successor as Treasurer soon; the Society is to sell £400 of stock so as to be able to pay [James] Sowerby. Smith is named "Institutor and President of the Society" in published Society minutes.

Asks after Smith's "Cambridge business" [campaign for botany professorship]; was surprised to hear of Smith's new opponent, [William] Kirby, but confident he will not do anything unhandsome towards Smith. Asks if it is true that Miss Fanny Smith is to be married to his friend, the second son of [James Sinclair, 12th] Earl of Caithness [(1766-1823)]. Thanks for turkey.

Shall support Smith in his candidacy for Cambridge Botany Professorship following [Thomas] Martyn's [prematurely reported] death.

Smith's candidature for Botany Professorship at Cambridge University. Will write to his friends in support of Smith's candidacy, his son has also done the same. Has informed Lord Hardwicke [Philip Yorke, 3rd Earl of Hardwicke (1757-1834) ?] of [Thomas] Martyn's [prematurely reported] death, believes he will do everything possible for Smith. Hopes Smith will visit in the summer with [Thomas William] Coke.

Smith's candidature for Botany Professorship at Cambridge University. Confirms that the election is open rather than his previous assumption that the heads of the colleges named two out of the candidates. Experience of his own election. Ready to resign in Smith's favour, advises Smith on how to proceed from this point, advising him to begin canvassing in London to use his popularity there. Received letters from [Richard] Relhan but not in relation to professorship.

Received Smith's letter and "curious melon seed"; currently his preferred variety is the green fleshed Egyptian melon. His family: son at Brussels, Lady Frankland confined by paralytic stroke since 20 October, and his brother become incurably blind.

Arrangements for [John Russell, 6th] Duke of Bedford's first attendance at Linnean Society. His opinion of [John] Murray of Stranraer, [Scotland]; no claim to be FLS except on strength of his paper on vegetable poisons, he is "an itinerant lecturer", as [Richard] Salisbury once called [Smith]. "Far more sorry than surprised" regarding [Thomas] Marsham's financial troubles, asks Macleay to reassure Marsham of his continuing regard for him. Satisfied with title "Institutor".

Intends to have [Thomas] Martyn resign the [Cambridge botany] professorship in April, erroneous reports of Martyn's death have helped his cause; lists supporters. [William] Kirby intends to oppose him only as he [Smith] is a dissenter and not of the university; his low opinion of Kirby.

They have heard nothing of Miss Fanny Smith's intended marriage.

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.

Thanks for turkey. [Augustin Pyramus] de Candolle is in England and intends to visit Smith. Asks if Smith has seen [Edward Daniel] Clarke's new volume and Beeston's "account of St Helena". Professor [Christen] Smith [(1785-1816)] of Christiana returned from an eight month expedition to Canary Islands, has given Lambert duplicates of his whole collection, includes a 'Pinus' similar to 'Pinus pinaster', describes differences, mentioned in [Alexander von] Humboldt's first volume of "Travels". Recently stayed at Lord Blandford's [George Spencer-Churchill], his home Whiteknights, [Reading, Berkshire], the "1st of the kind in Europe".

Thanks for Smith's letter of 13 [January]. Just recovered from severe cough and inflammation on the lungs, the same as last year which Mr Williams "wilfully" misdiagnosed. Surprised and upset by failure of [William] Roscoe's bank [Roscoe was a partner in the Clarke family bank, which failed in 1816]. Fears the country is in a "miserable state" and does not know what can be done to pay the nation's creditors. He has no rents and farms thrown "on hand", wishes that [Thomas William] Coke's tenant who "set a notable example of calling out his landlord" had been "more severely punished". Would be happy to see Smith's friend Mr Lane at Lympstone, [Devon].

"Greatly surprised" to hear that [William] Kirby had put himself forward as a candidate for the [Cambridge] botanical professorship but believes he only did so as he thought the university's "shameful objection" to Smith would be fatal to Smith's cause, and thinks Smith wrong to charge him of hypocrisy. His opinion of Smith's chances and controversy surrounding him.

Recently discovered that the signature of the president is necessary before the Linnean Society seal can be affixed to anything; sends power of attorney for Smith to sign.

[William] Kirby acting contrary to Macleay's claimed reasons for his running for [Cambridge botany professorship]; he has the character of a priest, "in the bad sense, [...] essentially composed of hypocrisy & bigottry", which he distinguishes from a "Christian Divine, of whatever church or denomination". Discusses his own chances for Cambridge; has only to "try the fate of the election"; support pledged by Dean of Norwich [Joseph Turner (c 1746-1828)], Bishop of Bristol [William Lort Mansel], and "many other most orthodox clergy".

Comments on "sad event at Liverpool to poor [William] Roscoe" [whose bank failed].

Informs Smith of Lord Hardwicke's [Philip Yorke, 3rd Earl of Hardwicke (1757-1834)] support of his Cambridge candidature. Sinclair and Russell's "Hortus Gramineus Woburnensis" in the press. Recently met [Augustin Pyramys] de Candol[l]e, who is coming to Norwich and recommends Smith also meeting him