2.X.I. Miscellaneous.--2.X.II. Melastomaceae.--2.X.III. Correspondence
with John Scott.

2.X.I. MISCELLANEOUS, 1843-1862.

(PLATE: SIR JOSEPH HOOKER, 1897. From a Photograph by W.J. Hawker
Wimborne. Walker & Cockerell, ph. sc.)

LETTER 575. TO WILLIAM JACKSON HOOKER. Down, March 12th [1843].

...When you next write to your son, will you please remember me kindly
to him and give him my best thanks for his note? I had the pleasure
yesterday of reading a letter from him to Mr. Lyell of Kinnordy, full of
the most interesting details and descriptions, and written (if I may be
permitted to make such a criticism) in a particularly agreeable style.
It leads me anxiously to hope, even more than I did before, that he will
publish some separate natural history journal, and not allow (if it can
be avoided) his materials to be merged in another work. I am very glad
to hear you talk of inducing your son to publish an Antarctic Flora.
I have long felt much curiosity for some discussion on the general
character of the flora of Tierra del Fuego, that part of the globe
farthest removed in latitude from us. How interesting will be a strict
comparison between the plants of these regions and of Scotland and
Shetland. I am sure I may speak on the part of Prof. Henslow that all
my collection (which gives a fair representation of the Alpine flora of
Tierra del Fuego and of Southern Patagonia) will be joyfully laid at his
disposal.

LETTER 576. TO JOHN LINDLEY. Down, Saturday [April 8th, 1843].

I take the liberty, at the suggestion of Dr. Royle, of forwarding to you
a few seeds, which have been found under very singular circumstances.
They have been sent to me by Mr. W. Kemp, of Galashiels, a (partially
educated) man, of whose acuteness and accuracy of observation, from
several communications on geological subjects, I have a VERY HIGH
opinion. He found them in a layer under twenty-five feet thickness of
white sand, which seems to have been deposited on the margins of an
anciently existing lake. These seeds are not known to the provincial
botanists of the district. He states that some of them germinated in
eight days after being planted, and are now alive. Knowing the interest
you took in some raspberry seeds, mentioned, I remember, in one of your
works, I hope you will not think me troublesome in asking you to have
these seeds carefully planted, and in begging you so far to oblige me as
to take the trouble to inform me of the re