Glasgow.
May 11th 1838.
My dear Sir
I am exceedingly obliged to you for being so actively interesting [sic] about Kew Gardens. <1> I do think the petition from the Linnæan Socy <2> will have great weight with Ministers, & I heartily wish it may. It is impossible for that matter to be in better hands than those of the B. of Norwich, Brown, <3> Boott <4> & yourself. It can do no harm & it may do great good.
I have now another Journal of Gardner’s <5> to print on the vegetation of Pernambuco. Nobody can regret more than I do that Botany cannot form a separate Journal, without Zoology & Geology. But it has been tried again & again & failed. Indeed I doubt if any body but Taylor <6> would make a Nat. Histy Journal of any kind answer. – Pray be so good as to let me know if you hear any thing further respecting Kew & how far I may stand a chance of the appointment: – for I see clearly that if I fail in that I am tied to Scotland for the rest of my life. My fortune will not enable me to return to England with 5 children without an equivalent for my professorship here.
Ever faithfully yours,
W. J. Hooker
H. F. Talbot Esqre
31. Sackville Street
Notes:
1. See note at Doc. No: 03653.
2. Linnean Society, London.
3. Robert Brown (1773–1858), botanist.
4. Francis Boott (1792–1863), physician and botanist; fellow of the Linnean Society.
5. George Gardner (1812–1849), botanist.
6. Richard Taylor (1781–1858), printer and naturalist.