Glasgow.
1838.
My dear Sir
I am extremely obliged to you for so kindly recommending me to Lord Lansdown <1> in connection with the subject of Kew Gardens. <2> The matter has been much on my mind ever since, & the Duke of Bedford <3> has just me [sic] in confidence with Mr Edwd Ellice, <4> one of the Commissioners for Kew. His letter to me I wish you to see, because you will be able to suggest some measures perhaps which if followed up may induce Ministers to resolve upon renovating Kew Gardens. Have the kindness however to return the letter of Mr Ellice to me when you have done with it. You will see that gentleman suggests that the Colleges should send a representation to Parliament. But in the first place they are very difficult bodies to move & in the 2d they are not what are most interested in the matter. Our Colleges have Gardens of their own, which suffice for their wants. It strikes me that it is the public generally throughout the kingdom who are interested in such an establishment; & that, if such representations as Mr Ellice alludes to, are at all required they should come in the first place from the Noblemen & gentlemen of good family connections who have encouraged Botany & Horticulture & secondly from the public Hortl & Botanical establishments throughout the kingdom. But it would be a work of time before such applications could be made, & in the mean while Govt may have come to a decision to abandon the Gardens altogether. I fear nothing could be done in such a case unless some active influential person in London would interest himself in it & be a medium of communication with government. Pray tell me what you think is best to be done. I am rather inclined to think that if such men as the Duke of Bedford (who is unfortunately now at Nice, but who has written to Lord John Russell <5> & others in strong terms) the D. of Devonshire, <6> Ld Fitzwilliam, <7> Campbell of Islay, <8> Herbert of Spofforth, <9> Mr Strangways <10> & yourself would state you opinions respecting the Garden to Ministers, the thing would be accomplished. It is true as you say the Ministry is very much taken up with politics & if the friends of Horticulture do not soon come forward I fear Kew will be sacrificed.
Believe me, Very faithfully Yours,
W. J. Hooker.
Notes:
1. Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780–1863), MP, WHFT’s uncle.
2. The Royal Gardens at Kew were in such a deteriorated state that they were known derisively as 'The Royal Vegetable Patch'. This national treasure was open to the public only two days per week and there was danger of part or all of it being sold off. The situation improved in 1840 and in 1841 Hooker was appointed the Director.
3. John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford (1766–1839 The Duke of Bedford was the leader of a movement to buy them for the nation.
4. Edward Ellice (1781–1863), politician.
5. Lord John Russell, later 1st Earl Russell (1792–1878), son of the 6th Duke of Bedford.
6. William George Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire (1790–1858).
7. Charles William Wentworth Fitzwilliam, 3rd Earl Fitzwilliam (1786–1857).
8. Walter Frederick Campbell of Islay.
9. William Herbert, Dean of Manchester (1778–1847), MP; clergy; botanist; linguist.
10. William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways, 4th Earl of Ilchester (1795–1865), botanist, art collector & diplomat; WHFT's favourite uncle.