London
May 8th 1838
My Dear Sir
I return you Mr Ellice’s letter. <1> I believe the affair <2> remains in statu quo, for the present, but the Chancellor of the Exchequer <3> expresses himself very favourably – I believe I mentioned that my residence in Town is not Harley St <4> but 31 Sackville St <5> –
I like very much Mr Gardner’s <6> description of his tour of the Organ Mountains <7> – He describes distinctly & vividly – What a beautiful country it must be!
I am sorry that Zoology & Botany shd be mixed up together in the same journal I suppose it cannot be helped.
Believe me Very truly yours
H. F. Talbot
Notes:
1. Edward Ellice (1781–1863), politician. [See Doc. No: 03653].
2. 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.
3. Thomas Spring-Rice, 1st Baron Monteagle (1790–1866), statesman.
4. Harley Street, London. The Talbots had rented 65 Harley Street during the Spring of 1837 so that Constance could receive the best possible medical attention for the birth of their second child in March.
5. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT.
6. George Gardner (1812–1849), botanical collector. [See Doc. No: 03275]. He set out for Brazil in May 1836.
7. Brazil, in the Sierra do Mar (Coast Range), near Rio de Janeiro.