Nov 30 1840
My Dear Sir
The cover of this will inform you that I have thought it advisable to organize a London Newspaper, <1> and I hope you will think so too. If you do perhaps you may be disposed to send me occasional contributions; not upon grave matters, unless your taste leads you that way, but upon trifles that as they amuse you may also amuse others.
For instance you I know have some good things to say about nomenclature, and could if you would, show up us of the naming trade. I wish you send me such criticisms and <illegible> they wd be useful & your name shall be Hermes <2> or anything as you like better.
In your hands such matters would be treated well, & might lead to an improvement in the barbaric language of systematical writers.
Of course I dont want to give you much trouble. But we all have our idle hours and one or two of yours now & then are all I dare to ask for
Vy truly yours
John Lindley
Notes:
1. In 1841, Lindley, with Joseph Paxton and others, founded the Gardener’s Chronicle and became its principal editor.
2. See Hermes: or Classical and Antiquarian Researches, No. 1. (London: Longman, Orme, Green, Brown & Longman, 1838).