London
1^st May 1838

My Dear Sir

I had some conversation with the Chancellor of the Exchequer ^<1> the other day, about Kew Garden, ^<2> & he told me that the ministry had not yet come to any decision. I asked him whether he agreed with M^r Ellice, ^<3> that petitions to Parliament from our learned societies, would have weight, & he told me that he thought such petitions would have just weight.

I therefore today proposed to the Council of the Linnæan Society ^<4> to present a petition to the House of Commons, recommending that Kew Garden be converted into a national Botanic Garden: & the suggestion was unanimously adopted by the Council, & M^r Brown, ^<5> M^r Boott ^<6> & myself directed to draw up such a petition – Our President the Bishop of Norwich ^<7> then proposed that a deputation from the council should wait upon the Chanc. of the Exchequer to urge the subject upon his attention, which deputation he was ready to place himself at the head of. This suggestion was also unanimously adopted – Whether we shall do any good, time will show –

Believe me to remain, Dear Sir Yours very truly
H. F. Talbot

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Notes:

1. Thomas Spring-Rice, 1^st Baron Monteagle (1790–1866), statesman.

2. See Doc. No: 03648.

3. Edward Ellice (1781–1863), politician. [See Doc. No: 03653].

4. Linnean Society, London.

5. Robert Brown (1773–1858), botanist.

6. Francis Boott (1792–1863), physician and botanist; fellow of the Linnean Society.

7. Edward Stanley (1779–1849), Bishop of Norwich (1837–1849).