Explains further his remarks on accenting plant names. [Augustin] de Candolle's term "carpella" should be "carpelli". Cannot work out term "sepala" but thinks Smith need not use it. Prefers older name of 'Spartina' for 'Dactylis stricta' rather than newer 'Limnetis'. Franked Smith's letter to [William] Roscoe. Attended Sir Humphry Davy's conversazione but did not hear anything about [William] Swainson's application to British Museum. In reference to fifty year age difference between Thomas William Coke and his new wife [Lady Anne Amelia Keppel (1803-1844)] states that an age difference in marriage of three to ten years is "disparity enough" but as the love was from her side Coke may be excused.

Obliged to the Smiths for their condolences following the death of his daughter, Mrs Charlotte Lynn. She had nearly recovered from her long troubles with chest disorders and dangerous inflammations by taking extract of hemlock but was taken ill after drinking a glass of cold water following an exerting walk and never recovered. She has left twelve children between ages of sixteen years and six months. Two months ago he received and ignored a letter from Smith's sister, Mrs Lloyd, complaining of her husband's, Dr Lloyd, and Smith's confinement of her. Relieved that the King [George IV (1762-1830)] did not come via Carlisle on his way to or from Scotland. Thinks the current session of Parliament has gone on long enough and does not approve of the new principle of bringing every complaint, well or ill-founded, before it.

Since the death his daughter, Mrs Charlotte Lynn, Mr Lynn has not tried for pupils nor attempted to find a matron to superintend the management and education of his children. Praises character of the King [George IV (1762-1830)], who "has only to shew himself & everyone must admire him", and blames his previous foolish practices on his tutors the Bishop of Worcester and Dr Arnold. Dislikes the "idle rumours" about the attempt or design to assassinate the Duke of Wellington [Arthur Wellesley (1769-1852), soldier and statesman]. Wonders the true reason for [Thomas William] Coke giving up his agicultural meetings; [John Christian] Curwen [(1756-1828)], a great agiculturist in Cumberland, has given up his political agricultural meetings after being elected for the county, his chief aim.

Goodenough's observations on insects and birds: there have been no wasps this year compared to the multitudes last year which ate all their fruit; the last swifts left at the beginning of August, and last week during violent storms no swallows or martins were seen but with calmer skies they have returned, in fewer numbers, having already arrived late and less numerous than usual.

Is sorry to read in the papers the news of the death of William Herschel. Had he been near he would have liked to have attended the funeral.

Plagued with gout. Thanks for the "magnificent" present of game from Holkham, [Norfolk, home of Thomas William Coke]. Difficulties following the death of his daughter, Mrs Charlotte Lynn, in the summer, leaving twelve children. Lady Anne Coke [(1803-1844), wife of Thomas William Coke] pregnant. Unsure of Miss [Elizabeth] Coke's age but knows her father-in-law is Mr Spencer-Stanhope who leases an estate in Northumberland under him as Bishop of Carlisle. Hopes the world has escaped the menaced war. Asks when "Flora Britannica" will be finished.

Ordered a barrel of oysters for Smith and recovering from gout caused by the cold weather. Praises new volume of "Linnean Transactions": enjoys the publication of whole genus monographs, as with [David] Don's [(1799-1841), botanist] 'Saxifraga' paper, but wishes the Latin had been checked; thinks [Francis Hamilton's] "Commentary on Hortus Malabaricus" will prove very useful to "science at large"; thinks Sir Thomas Raffles' [(1781-1826), founder of Singapore] "descriptive catalogue" needed plates.

The Bishop of Peterborough [Herbert Marsh (1757-1839)] wrote introducing Dr Swaenchen, a German cryptogamist, but he has not called yet. [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert overjoyed at his museum being named "Lambertian Museum".

Thanks for turkey. Refused [Archibald] Menzies solicitation to support for Dr [Christian Friedrich] Schwaegrichen [(1775-1853)] as a Foreign Member of the Linnean Society; [Georg] Noehden's was the only other name. [Thomas William] Coke must be pleased at the birth of his child.

Has been ill since 13 November. Unsurprised by manoeuvres of [William] Cobbett's [(1763-1835), political writer and farmer] inflaming "the passions of the ignorant" at a meeting held in York, believes the argument about the composition of the consitution too finely drawn for the "lower orders". Glad that Smith has ordered the 'Umbellatae', a class he has previously been confused by. Has not seen anything of Professor [Christian Friedrich] Schwaegrichen [(1775-1853)] after refusing [Archibald] Menzies request to support him for a Foreign Member of the Linnean Society.

Reply to Smith's of 27 February delayed by ill health and domestic troubles, including: his confinement for the last four months by the "very awkward weather"; death of his grandchild, the eldest daughter of Mrs Charlotte Lynn who died last summer, from a cold upon her chest and illness of three other of the children; Mr Lynn's threatening to leave Keswick; and the ailing of Mrs Goodenough of Lincolnshire's two remaining children out of ten, now being treated by Sir Henry Halford [(1766-1844), physician].

Attended a rare daytime Linnean Society council meeting at which an "absurd" hoax paper about robins read at the previous meeting; Joseph Sabine proposed publicly acknowledging it at the next meeting but Goodenough persuaded them to let the matter drop, grateful the reader is not stipendiary otherwise public notice might have been made. The Society unable to commit to publishing all eleven of [Francis Hamilton's] remarks on the "Hortus Malabaricus" and should never have printed the first part; this, alongside the cock robin paper, has determined [Alexander] Macleay to resign his post.

Received Smith's letter of 30 April. Thinks Smith wise to stay in Clapton rather than London, where he would eat and drink more than he is used to. No longer has time to go over papers and only spoke of Latin errors in David Don's [(1799-1841), botanist] 'Saxifrafa' paper from first sight. Although [Richard] Taylor [(1781-1858), publisher] has exculpated himself to Smith over his reading of the hoax paper on robins Goodenough knows he had time to see it and seek advice whether to read it or not. Agrees with most of the Royal Society's statute revisions but uncertain about doubling the admission fee, supposes it may keep applications down and deter "society hunters".

Sent a barrel of oysters for Smith. [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert in high spirits but Mrs [Catherine] Lambert worse than ever and never sees anyone. Smith's distinction between 'Geum' and 'Dryas' "very satisfactory" and Goodenough had not observed it before; singular generic character of 'Icosandria' so striking it makes one examine the plants carelessly.

They had a wintry summer and kept fires in all rooms as in the depth of winter, and garden produce was badly damaged: no apples, unripe pears, flavourless strawberries and raspberries, and corn very late and still green in fields on 3 November, but they produced mulberries only the third time and enjoyed a good peach harvest at the end of October. Less radicalism in his area of Cumberland. Comments on the difficulty of filling the positions of Attorney and Solicitor Generals due to the "great dearth of profound lawyers", similar to the lack of profound scholars in several of the learned professions.

Thanks for turkey. Mrs Goodenough and himself have been ill with the "epidemic cold" common in London, she was treated "very dextrously, & most humanely" by Dr [William George] Maton. Linnean Society council meeting called for Wednesday by [Alexander] Macleay but no indication of purpose; Wednesday also the general meeting for the National Schools so unsure of his attendance. [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert just called on him "almost out of his wits" about the rarities brought from Mexico by [William] Bullock [(c 1780-1849), naturalist and antiquary] and Bullock's interviews with a great Spanish botanist, who escaped from the gallows of that country, and is the successor of D'Also "of great celebrity".

Thanks for the two volumes of "English Flora". Goodenough doubts the propriety of the Linnean Society opposing the new Asiatic Society's publication of descriptions of oriental productions to stop them from obtaining a charter as they would continue publishing without a charter, and in any case more publications excite more industry. Hopes [Alexander] Macleay did not propose it himself; suspects Joseph Sabine who is "warped by horticultural interests".

Sorry to hear Smith cannot come to London on 4 May. Spent the last three weeks confined with gout and the "epidemic cold". Sir James Graham of Netherby, his nearest Cumberland neighbour, has died after a ten day illness. [Alexander] Macleay has called a Linnean Society council meeting but not indicated its subject. Enjoying Smith's new work ["English Flora"], hopes to live to see the cryptogamia.

Sorry to hear Smith so unwell, offers to take the chair for Linnean Society anniversary meeting. Due to successively dine with [William George] Maton and [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert. Recently saw Sir [Thomas] Cullum, he is in "blooming" health and forwarded Smith's note and enclosure to him. Lambert in dispute with Rodwell and Martin regarding new edition of his work on 'Pinus' and contemplating taken the matter to the Court of King's Bench.

Linnean Society anniversary meeting "went off most pleasantly" with at least ten more in attendance than last year. [William George] Maton, [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert, Sir Thomas Cullum, Provost of Eton [Joseph Goodall (1760-1840)], President of Horticultural Society [Thomas Andrew Knight], and [Walden Henry] Hanmer all attended but Lord [Edward Smith-]Stanley did not. [William] Anderson [(1766-1846), Chelsea Physic Garden curator] exhibited some plants and [Robert] Brown attended the morning but did not dine. A small species of albatross, a penguin, and another aquatic bird were laid on the table. [Edward] Forster can inform Smith of the finances.

Informed by [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert that after the retirement of the company at the Linnean Society anniversary meeting dinner [Alexander] Macleay, Joseph Sabine, and others stayed in the room to make further speeches in spite of the numerous toasts made by Goodenough; thinks it copies "the habit of low societies [...] and utterly unworthy of the dignity of such a society as ours". Sabine has already given great offence after being chosen a member of their new club, the Athenaeum; did not invite Smith to join as he is so rarely in London but happy to propose him.

The lumbago he suffered from on his journey to Rose Castle has brought on gout. Relates an anecote relating to "the late sweet warbler" Mrs Sheridan and an apothecary. Smith must have enjoyed Sir Thomas Cullum staying.

Rose Castle gardens have suffered much, including goosberries, currants, and plums; a great loss for them living in a lone house so far from a town. Forwarded Smith's letter to Mrs Martin.

Royal Society Copley Medal awarded to Dr [John] Brinkley [(c 1763-1835), astronomer], the opponent of [John] Pond [(1767-1836), astronomer] as to the parallax of fixed stars. They [the Royal Society] cannot be accused of "any partiality to either of these great astronomers" though wishes that Pond's theory was right.

Reports that Mr Plumtree has become a member of the Athenaeum club, which now numbers 990; once 1000 has been reached members will be ballotted. [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert's parlour dog bit five of his household; the bitten parts were mostly cut out. Saw Sir Thomas Raffles [(1781-1826), founder of Singapore] yesterday; he looked as though he had not moved since they last saw him.