Informs Smith of his marriage [to Mary Hardcastle, daughter of Lucy Hardcastle]; sends piece of wedding cake.

Married [Mary] Hardcastle on 3 July, a piece of wedding cake was sent to Smith. An account of the courtship, beginning with their first acquaintance in 1811, credits her mother with teaching him botany and leading him to appreciate literature, and account of his abortive attempt to return to America and devote himself solely to the study of botany.

Returns some corrected proofs. Discusses additional volumes, writing of a preface, and whether to have a contents and an index.

Note in John Bowyer Nichols' hand attached.

Thanks for Smith's letter of 13 [July 1820]; several of his friends have expressed the wish to which Smith alludes but many reasons induce him to decline [possibly an invitation to become Honorary Member of the Linnean Society following deaths of Sir Joseph Banks and Brownlow North, Bishop of Winchester].

Mrs Goodenough taken ill with constipation then diarrhea on journey to Rose Castle but successfully treated her with Calomel. Sir Joseph Banks died day before he left London, initiating a contest for Royal Society presidency: Banks named [Davies] Gilbert; [William Hyde] Wollaston [(1766-1828), chemist and physicist] and Sir Humphry Davy have declared themselves candidates; [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert and Sir Alexander Johnson are urging [Edward St Maur, 11th] Duke of Somerset [(1775-1855)] to contest; and Carlisle the surgeon is canvassing for Prince Leopold.

Sir Joseph Bank's will: [Robert] Brown given £200 per annum, a poor pittance in London; Sir Everard Home's [(1756-1832), physician] omittance extraordinary but appears Banks borrowed £4000 of him without repaying; Revesby Abbey in Lincolnshire Lady Banks' for life and afterwards Sir Edward Knatchbull's [9th baronet (1781-1849)], Lady Banks' nephew. The Queen [Caroline (1768-1821), wife of George IV] "engrosses all conversation at present", Goodenough thinks if even a small part of the rumours are true it would be shocking; Sir Humphry Davy, who lived near her abroad, has been closeted with the King [George IV (1762-1830)].

Describes places of interest on the route from Stafford to Arley, including Coalbrook Dale, the China works at Coalport, and Mr Whitmore's grounds at Apley, in anticipation of imminent visit from the Smiths.

From William Thomas Brande, Secretary of the Royal Society, inviting subscriptions for a monument to the memory of Sir Joseph Banks. Annotated by Smith, stating that he has subscribed £10, the maximum amount, and that "no one has a greater claim on his gratitude and regard than [Smith has], nor can any one be more ready to acknowledge it".

Having looked over the specimens obtained from India House has come to the conclusion that the most scientifically useful purpose would be to publish a commentaries on the "Hortus Malabaricus" and "Flora Amboinensis", details how he would go about this. Will start immediately if suitable for publication in "Linnean Transactions", with a supplement of the drawings from Mysore left with Smith and from Ava, Burma, given to Sir Joseph Banks. Drawings of 'Scitamineae' and Orchides have been lost by the Marquees of Hastings [Francis Edward Rawdon-Hastings (1754-1826) Governor-General of India, 1813-1823]. Requests Smith's opinion on this and whether it should be published all in Latin, or the commentary in English and the descriptive parts in Latin, as [Robert] Brown did in his treatise on the compositae in volume 12 of "Linnean Transactions".

Discussed with [Alexander] Macleay and [Robert] Brown the design for the ornamented page for Prince Leopold's signature in the Linnean Society Charter-book, to also be used for other royal signatures. Process by which the Prince will sign and bye-laws. Pleased Smith has not promised his vote for new Royal Society president to anyone. Brief details of Sir Joseph Banks' will: [Robert] Brown to receive the library, museum and £200 per annum for life, to afterwards go to the British Museum, and Lady Banks given whole of the landed property for life, afterwards to be divided between Colonel Stanhope and Sir Henry Howley, Banks' closest relatives. Flattered by Smith and [William] Roscoe naming ['Matonia'] after him.

Visiting Lord Mountnorris [George Annesley], who is anxious to correspond with Roscoe and [John] Shepherd [(c 1764-1836, curator Liverpool Botanic Garden] and have them visit his botanic garden; Mountnorris has a large collection of hardy and other plants not at Liverpool, but lacks 'Scitamineae', so it could be a mutually beneficial correspondence, in addition he corresponds with [Nathaniel] Wallich and has excellent plants from Brazil, including 'Orchideae'. Mountnorris has sent, for Roscoe's examination and use, drawings made for him by Indian artists on banks of the Gogra in Lucknow, on the frontiers of Nepal, including 'Zingiber', 'Alpinia' and 'Matonia'. Wishes that a new 'Scitamineae' genus could be found to be named 'Anneslaea'.

The Prince de Butera, a Sicilian nobleman, desires to be an honorary member of the Linnean Society. Informed by the Prince of a good botanic garden at Palermo, Sicily, comments on complete disorder of Naples. Has not yet met [Michele] Tenore but he is publishing a "Crambe recota" of indiginous and foreign plants cultivated in his garden. Petayna, [Vincenzo ?] Stellati [(1780-1852)] and [Vincenzo ?] Briganti [(1766-1836)] are the only naturalists of note in his location and nothing is published. Has found 'Ophrys speculum' and 'Ophrys distoma' of Bivona. Recommends a "Flora of Rome" published by Sebastiani and Mauri. Difficulties of establishing botany; part of the garden at Farnesina has been given over for a botanic garden but not the means of putting it in order, when in England even Bury St Edmunds has one. Has collected around 2000 insects, comments on slow progress of entomology and implores [William] Kirby, [William] Spence [(c 1783-1860)], [Thomas] Marsham and McLane to rectify this. Laments death of Sir Joseph Banks. Feels secure "though living in the midst of a revolution" [failed 1820 movement against Bourbon government], comments on the "attention paid to public security".