Just come from Gerrard Street [Linnean Society anniversary meeting], all regretted Smith's absence. Bishop of Durham [Shute Barrington] unanimously elected an Honorary Member. Delivered Smith's note for [William] Borrer to [Dawson] Turner.

Condolences on death of Smith's brother, [Francis Smith]. [Thomas] Marsham better than Smith feared, though he was dangerously ill for some time, but Smith's correct that his finances are not in order, suspects his son has ruined him. [James] Sowerby is owed £18 by the Linnean Society and has refused to supply any more plates to [Robert] Brown until it is settled; offence taken at Sowerby's attitude to the Society's credit. Encloses proposal from [William George] Maton [not extant]. Latest "Linnean Transactions" volume almost complete. Proposes Edward Forster as next Society Treasurer.

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.

"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.

All disappointed that Smith could not be at Linnean Society yesterday; [John Russell, 6th] Duke of Bedford did not attend nor has he paid his admission fee; [Thomas] Marsham sent another £100 and resigned his offices of Treasurer and vice-president and his place on the Council; lists members to leave Council and proposed replacements, [Richard] Taylor [(1781-1858), printer and naturalist] unable to be considered as it would be a bad precedent to have anyone on Council employed as a tradesman by the Society.

Sorry Smith will not be at Linnean Society on Friday [for anniversary meeting]. Forwards letter from [Thomas] Marsham; surprised to find he still has a balance of £428, hopes he sends £100 on Friday and will then agree to a plan for paying the remainder. Smith should write to remind the Council he has the authority to appoint vice-presidents, and name his intended. [Richard] Salisbury's paper has not passed Council.

Everything passed "very smoothly" at [Linnean Society anniversary] meeting yesterday, and 54 attended the dinner; nothing was said of [Thomas] Marsham's absence. Asks Smith for list of his intended vice-presidents in time for next Council meeting.

Smith's list of Linnean Society vice-presidents received and entered in Council minutes; it was agreed that [Thomas] Marsham will repay his debt at intervals of 2, 4, and 7 months. Called on William Smith in Park Street to inform him that Smith is getting better.

Items for discussion at next week's Council meeting: painting of Linnean Society house, giving leave of absence for [Robert] Brown to go to Paris, and to consider a subscription to purchase [George] Caley's [(1770-1829), farrier and botanist] "collection of New Holland zoology"; asks how much Smith would subscribe, he and Sir Joseph Banks' are both giving £10.

Reports of [Thomas] Marsham's death unfounded, but fears his circumstances are not improved as he missed the last two installments of his bill to the Linnea Society; promises to pay 5 November [1816]. [Robert] Brown returned from Paris, "well pleased with his visit".

[Thomas] Marsham has "behaved very ill towards the Linnean Society"; encloses extract from minutes of Council meeting [extant] on the matter and has informed Marsham of it, warning him not to expect any further indulgence. New edition of [James] Macbride's [(1784-1817), physician, South Carolina] 'Sarracenia' paper came too late as the original had already been partly printed.

Resolution by Council that if Marsham does not pay his two bills due to the Linnean Society by 4 January [1817] they will insist on collateral security for the whole amount, otherwise they will feel themselves obliged to take "the most decisive measures for the immediate recovery of the debt".

According to Smith's request has sent papers by Sir [Justly Watson] Green [2nd baronet, (1755-1826)] on 'Phascum' and [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert on 'Cinchona'. Pleased to find the debt owed by [Thomas] Marsham is not so great as Smith feared, hopeful he will repay all by 4 January [1817], Smith misinformed as to amount of his income.

The government finds more difficulty in abolishing this office than anticipated, uncertainty over final outcome. Sir Joseph Banks recently well enough to take Royal Society chair.

Agrees with Smith that they should compound with [John] Bradbury for 10 guineas for his subscription arrears. Explains Sir [Justly Watson] Green's [2nd baronet, (1755-1826)] paper on 'Phascum'; not fit to be printed in its present state. [Thomas] Marsham has still not paid any of his debt, which he finds "so inexcusable" he has informed him he will no longer interfere on his behalf, and Marsham has written to [Edward] Forster pleading for more time.

Asks that [John] Bradbury write to Linnean Society Council requesting them to accept the 10 guineas from his as compound payment of his arrears. Uncertain what the solicitors have done with [Thomas] Marsham. The Horticultural Society propose to leave the building unless they are allowed use of the room daily for four hours. Asks when Smith is coming to London. Part of late George Anderson's [(fl 1800s-1817), plant collector] paper on 'Paeonia' read at last meeting, [Joseph] Sabine is to add a biographical sketch.

Encloses letter from [Joseph] Sabine, secretary to the Horticultural Society, for Smith's opinion on the proposal [that the Horticultural Society have daily use of Linnean Society's rooms]; doubts how far the Society ought to give the constant use of its rooms to another Society for the sake of "a few pounds".

Council unanimously rejected application of the Horticultural Society [to use Linnean rooms everyday]. [Thomas] Marsham paid £50 of his debt. Bishop of Carlisle [Samuel Goodenough] objects to Council meetings being held after General meetings, but [William George] Maton and [Edward] Forster can only attend Council in evening; believes opinion of Council members who regularly attend should be given precedence.

All disappointed Smith is not to attend Linnean Society next Tuesday but pleased he is recovering well. Agrees with Smith's nominations of Sir Christopher Pegge [(1764-1822), physician] and [Thomas Thynne, 2nd] Marquess of Bath [(1765-1837)] for Council. Only one FMLS vacancy but too late for it to be filled this season, anxious for [Alexander von] Humboldt to be the first elected.

No longer receives letters free of expense since abolition of the Transport Office. [Thomas] Marsham "so exceedingly ill" doubts the Society ever receiving anymore money from him. Does not expect to suffer from abolition of Transport Office.

Two vacancies for FMLS following deaths of [Eugen Johann Christoph] Esper [(1742-1810), entomologist] and Tingry; [Alexander von] Humboldt and [Jean] Cuvier proposed. An additional vacancy has arisen following death of [Nikolaus von] Jacquin; [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert is to propose [José Antonio] Pavon, asks if Smith has any preferences other than [Augustin] de Candolle. Sees no problem in Smith signing the FMLS certificates, Sir Joseph Banks does the same at Royal Society.

Thanks for turkey and Smith's letters of 2 and 11 [January 1818]. Requests certificate for [DeWitt] Clinton's nomination as FMLS; at the last meeting both [Augustin de] Candolle and [José Antonio] Pavon were proposed, so there are now 4 candidates for 3 vacancies; concern at Clinton not attracting enough signatures, encloses note with suggested wording for certificate [extant].

Smith misinformed as to [Thomas] Marsham being a defaulter to government, concerned that the report originated from a statement of his own and explains the situation; no doubt of who Smith heard the information from, and the "sanctuary which has been shown in that quarter against the poor unfortunate man in question has disgusted" many. Impossible nature of the situation; prison only option, which denies all the work Marsham did for the Society.

Received Smith's letter of 26 [April 1819]. Recently unable to take a Linnean Society Council meeting for want of a vice-president. In case of Smith's absence at 4 May meeting will propose that the new Council is nominated from the Society's best attendants. Candidates for FMLS are [Augustin] de Candolle, Lamarck, [José Antonio] Pavon, and [Louis Claude] Richard [(1754-1821), botanist], of whom 3 are to be elected, mentioned [Franz Karl] Mertens but [Edward] Forster only one to know of him. Uncertain of the worth of including Pavon, considering the little credit the Linnean Society receives in Europe for its foreign list, and of the nominees he is only anxious about Lamarck.

Read Smith's pamphlet ["A defence of the Church and Universities of England"] with pleasure, thinking it a "well written, cool and gentlemanly reply to the scurrilous attacks of the Greek Professor [James Henry Monk (1784-1856)] and the Quarterly Reviewer" but regrets his having published it, for fear it might do Smith harm.