States that the [Cambridge Philosophical Society] meeting went well. Charges against council were proven unfounded with the help of a letter from [Webster?]. James Cumming has been experimenting with magneticogalvanic phenomena.
Please write [H. J. Temple, Viscount] Palmerston on behalf of Fearon Fallows, candidate for director of future observatory at Cape of Good Hope.
Invitation to dine with them; Sir Walter Scott is expected as well.
Had planned to attend Linnean Society and Club on his way to Liverpool with Lady [Pleasance] Smith but forced to cancel this on account of Lady Smith's mother, "whose death is hourly expected". Now intends to come to London with Lady Smith at beginning of May, before proceeding to Liverpool. "Almost afraid to enquire the state of [Macleay's] family". He has been unusually well "this severe weather", but in the last two months the deaths of his mother and several other "dear friends" have brought on his usual headaches, eager to change the scene.
Regarding his stove for his experiments. Problem with crystals. Printing of his book in Paris.
Recommends Fearon Fallows for position as astronomer at Cape of Good Hope. Praises FF for his mathematical ability.
Has been experimenting with magnetism. Two persons wish to become Foreign Members of the [Astronomical Society?]. Regarding the Lucasian at Cambridge. Would like JH to procure the medal of [Matthew Boulton?] for him.
Received Smith's letter of 27 [March 1820]; extremely sorry for Smith's "family distress", hopes he and Lady [Pleasance] Smith will be well enough to come to London in May. His family well, though since the death of his "poor girl" in January they have had a "good deal of sickness"; more sickness in London this winter than ever known. Thinks Sir Joseph Banks has borne the winter well; Mrs [Catherine] Lambert not expected to ever recover her "reason", [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert cannot bear name of his wife to be mentioned.
"Linnean Transactions" vol 13 progressing "very slowly", conflicting opinions on presentation of [Joseph] Smith's [(1775-1857)] paper. Linnean Society's address to the King [George IV (1762-1830)] well received and printed in the "[London] Gazette". Pleased to hear that Smith is to "stick by" the original [Linnean Dining] Club; account of the division, fears consequences of break in Society's harmony which makes him more anxious than before to resign as Secretary.
Informing him of the death of Isaac Milner. He should try for the Lucasian Professorship at Cambridge.
Urges JH to become an active candidate for vacant Lucasian professorship.
Sorry to hear of Smith's literary disputes being "so afflictingly interrupted". Thanks for Smith's congratulations on reaching 75 years of age. Smith's manuscripts are received and printing has commenced [presumably "A selection of the correspondence of Linnaeus" (1821)].
The Lucasian professorship is vacant. Thinks JH is worthy of this position. Would like to be proposed a member of the Astronomical Society.
Invitation to spend the morning with them on the day they are expecting Sir Walter Scott.
Will be going to Cambridge to try for the vacant professorship. Remarks on his reasons for applying for the post. His recent experiments with quartz.
Of family, Walter Scott's novels, and affairs in Scotland and Spain.
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.
Condolences on death of Pleasance Smith's mother. Comments on the "havock" death has wreaked on their "N" friends since he came to know them, refers to death of another and approaching death of Smith's niece. Called at [William] Wilberforce's [(1759-1833), abolitionist] to see [Isaac] Milner [(1750-1820), natural philosopher and dean of Carlisle], who had been ill there for several weeks; he died the next day. Remarks on "how gloriously are things going in Spain" [the Trienio Liberal, period of three years of liberal government in Spain following the revolution of 1820]. The Board of Longitude are commissioning an observatory at the Cape [of Good Hope].
Invitation to dine with them and Sir Walter Scott.
Just returned from Lowestoft, [Suffolk], "after having paid the last duties to our beloved parent" [Pleasance Smith's mother, Pleasance Reeve, née Clerke (1739-1820)]. Condolences on death of Macleay's loss [his daughter], "more afflicting, as it was not in the course of nature"; like Macleay "never lost so many friends as in the late dreadful winter".
Intends to be in London for Linnean Society meeting on 2 May [1820]. Received poor accounts of Sir Joseph Banks' health from Bishop of Carlisle [Samuel Goodenough] and [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert, but good account of Mrs [Catherine] Lambert's. Return's Joseph Smith's [(1775-1857)] paper with corrections, observations. Sorry to hear of [Linnean] Club "squabbling", which he thinks "more becoming a tavern than a literary society", but will "lend a hand to calm differences". "Sicken[s] at the thought" of Macleay resigning Secretary position.
About plans for journey to visit CB in Cornwall, and to go beyond.