Glasgow.
May 4th 1836
My dear Sir
I have seen John Reid <1> this morning & he holds himself engaged to you from the time you expressed in your letter. Your former letter in which the terms were fully expressed I gave to Mr Murray, <2> who does not feel quite sure that he has taken care of it; but he thinks he has. Perhaps however it will be better for you to repeat them & then there can be no mistake. Whenever you summons him he will be ready to start.
I shall be able to give you some information about the structure of the Pollen of the Pines: but I only reached home the day before yesterday & have already begun my Lectures & have no time just now to spare to hunt up the references. But depend upon it I will not forget the subject.
Have you seen the very beautiful Book of Specimens of British Mosses <3> just published by Mr Gardner? The same Naturalist is now going to collect in Brazil.
I wish I could have found you at home when I did myself the pleasure of calling upon you in Sackville St. <4> I should have been delighted to have been introduced to Mr Strangways. <5> I have much to thank him for, particularly for a set of Mosses he has just been so good as to forward to me from Vienna. Have the goodness to present to him my most respectful Compts.
Most faithfully Yours,
W. J. Hooker.
H. F. Talbot Esqre
31. Sackville street
Notes:
1. See Doc. No: 03223.
2. Stewart M Murray (1789-1858), first Curator of the Glasgow Botanic Gardens. [See Doc. No: 00262].
3. George Gardner (1812–1849), Musci Britannici, or pocket herbarium of British mosses, Glasgow, lithographed by Allan & Ferguson, 1836. Gardner set out for Brazil in May 1836.
4. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT.
5. William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways, 4th Earl of Ilchester (1795–1865), botanist, art collector & diplomat.