Lacock Abbey
March 8th
My Dear Sir
I have enclosed your letter to Lord Lansdowne, <1> with a strong recommendation from myself to the same effect, but I fear much that the time of the Ministry <2> is so much taken up by politics, owing to the extremely precarious tenure of office which they have, that they will not be able to give it the due consideration which it deserves. It would be a pity indeed if Kew Gardens <3> were to be sacrificed to a pitiful & false economy.
Believe me Ever truly yours
H. F. Talbot
Notes:
1. Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780–1863), MP, WHFT’s uncle.
2. Melbourne’s second ministry (1835–1841). Lord Lansdowne was Lord president of the council. Melbourne lacked a bold programme to deal with economic depression and agricultural unrest and his cabinet became increasingly disunited.
3. The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew were in danger of being sold off. Hooker was rallying his influential friends to persuade the government to arrange their purchase for the nation.