27 Inverleith Row
Edinburgh
11 April 1863

My Dear Sir

I have received the notice of your papers ^<1> for the meeting of the Royal Society ^<2> on the 20^th. I have much pleasure in inserting them in the Billet. ^<3>

I am glad that you were pleased with the plants in the Botanic gardens & I hope you will be able to report favourably to the Earl of Ilchester ^<4>

I shall be glad if I can aid him in his Horticultural work by giving him a small Palm or two If you let me know what the Earl wants ^<5> I shall try to do something for him

This is a remarkable season – We are nearly a month in advance. I trust that there will be no check to the onward progress of vegetation.

I am yours sincerely
J. H. Balfour

[envelope:]
H. Fox Talbot Esq
11 Great Stuart Street

---

Notes:

1. See Doc. No: 08682, to which this is the reply.

2. Royal Society of Edinburgh.

3. The programme or newsletter.

4. William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways, 4^th Earl of Ilchester (1795–1865), botanist, art collector & diplomat.

5. See Doc. No: 08682 and Doc. No: 00285.