Received Smith's letter of 5 April; sorry to read of so many deaths. His son Edmund has been suffering from "this influenza". Goodenough has been housebound all winter on account of illness and bad weather. The Linnean dining clubs flourishing. Mrs [Catherine] Lambert unexpectedly recovering but [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert yet to see her. Sir Joseph Banks' stomach "fails to do its duty"; Dr [William George] Maton unsure what to do. Goodenough believes he has two octavo volumes of Linnaeus' letters. The King [George IV (1762-1830)] is "tolerably well again" but radicalism spreading; trouble in Glasgow and Paisley, hopes it will not spread to the Linnean Society, Goodenough horrified by disrespect being shown to the nobility.

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".