No doubt of Sir Humphry Davy's election as President of the Royal Society. Account of first Linnean Society meeting of the season, attended in "great force", though once the reading of [William Elford] Leach's entomological paper is complete there will be a lack of papers; hopes Smith will be able to supply the gap. Proposes that the Linnean Society lease Sir Joseph Banks' house on expiry of lease of their Gerrard Street rooms; [Robert] Brown is amenable. [Alexander] Macleay detained in Scotland by illness of his daughter, who has scarlet fever. Proposes that Brown's salary is raised and attached solely to his office as Librarian, with "some inferior person" replacing his duties as Clerk.
The Linnean Club met recently but they have lost William Smith's membership, and seceders to the new club have also reduced their numbers.