compared with facts, and you are capable of writing
well. I find it a good rule to imagine that I want to explain the case
in as few and simple words as possible to one who knows nothing of the
subject. (645/3. See Letter 151, Volume I.) I am tired. In my opinion
you are an excellent observer.

LETTER 646. TO J. SCOTT. Down, June 6th, 1863.

I fear that you think that I have done more than I have with respect to
Dr. Hooker. I did not feel that I had any right to ask him to remember
you for a colonial appointment: all that I have done is to speak most
highly of your scientific merits. Of course this may hereafter fructify.
I really think you cannot go on better, for educational purposes, than
you are now doing,--observing, thinking, and some reading beat, in my
opinion, all systematic education. Do not despair about your style; your
letters are excellently written, your scientific style is a little
too ambitious. I never study style; all that I do is to try to get
the subject as clear as I can in my own head, and express it in the
commonest language which occurs to me. But I generally have to think a
good deal before the simplest arrangement and words occur to me. Even
with most of our best English writers, writing is slow work; it is a
great evil, but there is no help for it. I am sure you have no cause to
despair. I hope and suppose your sending a paper to the Linnean Society
will not offend your Edinburgh friends; you might truly say that you
sent the paper to me, and that (if it turns out so) I thought it worth
communicating to the Linnean Society. I shall feel great interest in
studying all your facts on Primula, when they are worked out and the
seed counted. Size of capsules is often very deceptive. I am astonished
how you can find time to make so many experiments. If you like to send
me your paper tolerably well written, I would look it over and suggest
any criticisms; but then this would cause you extra copying. Remember,
however, that Lord Brougham habitually wrote everything important three
times over. The cases of the Primulae which lose by variation their
dimorphic characters seem to me very interesting. I find that the
mid-styled (by variation) P. sinensis is more fertile with own pollen,
even, than a heteromorphic union! If you have time it will be very good
to experiment on Linum Lewisii. I wrote formerly to Asa Gray begging for
seed. If you have time, I think experiments on any peloric flowers would
be