Lacock Abbey, Chippenham
Dear Sir
In consequence of your letter I called at Kew Garden the other day, to ask you to show me the 1st vol. of the Botany of the Antarctic voyage, edited by your Son, <1> in order that I might be able to say, of my own knowledge, that it was a work highly creditable to Dr Hooker as a botanist – but unfortunately I did not see you, nor have I had any opportunity of seeing the work elsewhere. Altho’ most desirous of adding my name to the other testimonials <2> in your son’s favour, yet I fear I could not say anything to the purpose, merely from a want of personal knowledge – I could only applaud his zeal in pursuing botanical Researches in such distant unexplored regions; if a letter to that effect would be of any service I should be most happy to write it.
Believe me Yours very truly
H. F. Talbot
5 Sept/45
Sir W. J. Hooker
Notes:
1. Joseph Dalton Hooker (1817–1911), The botany of the Antarctic voyage of H.M. discovery ships Erebus and Terror, in the years 1839–1843 under the command of Captain Sir James Clark Ross … . (London: Reeve Bros, 1844–1860).
2. See Doc. No: 05361.