London
22d Feb. 1834
Dear Sir
I will certainly try if, during the Easter Holidays, <1> I cannot draw up a little account <2> for you of the Ionian plants, and also send some specimens of them.
At present there is such an overwhelming quantity of business before parliament that it almost bewilders one: last night the house sat till a quarter past three A.M. and the discussions <3> were so important that I could not think of absenting myself from the division, but such a great sacrifice of time (if often repeated) interferes wholly with one’s ordinary occupations & habits – I am glad you approve of my plan for facilitating communication with men of science abroad <4> – I believe I could not myself petition the H. of Commons without irregularity, being a member; <5> but, if you will engage your Scientific friends to do so, I will present it, & enforce it to the best of my ability – If you would like to draw up a sketch of a petition, embodying some feasible plan, I would endeavour to get some of the Londoners as Lindley, <6> Bentham <7> &c. to take up the idea – Without a beginning, nothing is ever accomplished –
The French Flora of the Morea is contained in the great work, the Scientific description <8> of that country now publishing. I don’t suppose it can be had separate – It is interspersed with all sorts of things zoology, antiquities, maps plans views of scenery, engravings of ruined temples &c &c.
I am going to put up the 3 Nos of Bertoloni’s work <9> for you & send them to Hunneman <10> to go in his next parcel to you –
I remain, Dear Sir Yours very truly
H. F. Talbot
Notes:
1. The Easter parliamentary recess.
2. See Doc. No: 02816.
3. On the night of 21 February 1834 the House debated the Brighton Guardian and libel law; agricultural distress; and the conduct of Baron Smith. Sir William Cusac Smith (1766–1836), baronet, was an eccentric Irish judge who had offended Daniel O’Connell, the Irish Nationalist MP. O’Connell raised a motion, carried by MPs on 13 February 1834, to appoint a select committee ‘to enquire into the conduct of Baron Smith in respect of his neglect of duty as a judge, and the introduction of political topics in his charges to grand juries.’ On 21 February there was an important debate on the matter, and the resolution to appoint the committee was rescinded by a majority of six. [See also Doc. No: 02824].
4. See Doc. No: 02806.
5. Of the Linnean Society, London.
6. Prof John Lindley (1799–1865), botanist.
7. George Bentham (1800–1884), philosopher & botanist.
8. Jean-Baptiste George Marie Bory de Saint-Vincent (1780–1846), French naturalist, Relation du voyage de la Commission Scientifique de Morée … (Paris; Strasburg: F. G. Levrault, 1836–1838). [See also Doc. No: 02806].
9. Prof Antoine Bertoloni (1793–1868), Italian botanist, Flora italica … (Bologna: R. Masio, 1833–1854). [See Doc. No: 02806].
10. James Hunneman, London nurseryman.