Will be pleased to provide a testimonial for J. D. Hooker, who is seeking the Chair in Botany at Edinburgh, but fears he himself is so little known that it could only be of the smallest service. Has asked Lyell to write to J. F. W. Herschel giving an opinion of J. D. Hooker.

Encloses a testimonial letter for J. D. Hooker [see 907]. If WJH thinks the letter could be improved CD will alter it. Feels it a disgrace that a professor should be appointed by men "who never heard of Humboldt & Brown".

A letter in support of J. D. Hooker as a candidate for Edinburgh Chair in Botany. No one better qualified. Wishes him success.

No summary available.

A friend of his would like JH's advice on a suitable telescope.

Has received the enclosed from James Graham and would be pleased if W. R. Dawes would choose an instrument.

His letter possibly did not reach him as his friend is still inquiring about a telescope for Lima.

Many thanks for the trouble he has taken over the matter of the telescope for Lima. His own son Joseph is a candidate for the chair of botany at Edinburgh and would be grateful for a testimonial.

Is grateful for JH's testimonial for his son Joseph. Wishes the Herschels would come and look around Kew. Regarding the Cape bulbs. Has no official person to collect seeds.

Cannot supply information requested about telescope until WH reminds him of the detailed information necessary for decision.

[Responding to WH's 1845-8-21], JH states that he has not yet received the information needed from [William] Simms. Has sent a further communication to Simms.

At WH's request [see WH's 1845-8-27], JH writes in support of WH's son, Joseph D. Hooker, as a candidate for the chair of botany at Edinburgh University.

[Responding to WH's 1845-8-27], has been slow in writing recommendation [see JH's 1845-9-19] for WH's son, Joseph D. Hooker, because, not having met WH's son, wished to get judgment from James Ross. Enclosing Ross's very complimentary letter.

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JDH informs his father, Sir William Jackson Hooker, that he has been looking through specimens at the Leyden [Leiden] herbarium with Carl Ludwig Blume. He is impressed by the number of things from Borneo, Java, Sumatra & Japan & wishes Blume would share duplicate specimens more readily. He suggests that they might exchange specimens if more willingly if places ever actually sent them things for their museum. JDH particularly notes how impressive Korthal's Nepenthes are. Blume & Sibeold have established a garden for things from Japan & Dutch colonies. Blume has promised JDH a specimen of a Sumatran Rafflesia & his described ferns & mosses. JDH describes his impressions of Blume & his wife. Explains that the Leiden herbarium did give India & Madagascar specimens to [Joseph] Decaisne in Paris in return for him doing dissections for RUMPHIA. JDH is disappointed that Blume has published nothing since BIJDRAGEN TOT DE FLORA VAN NEDERLANDSCH INDIË. Siebold only looks after the living plants. Miguel is developing connections with Japan & may in time be able to send specimens to RBG Kew but it will be a long time before his collections match those at Leiden. JDH suggests they send Blume named Java things to try & get Japanese specimens in return. There are two moss men at the Leiden herbarium: Dr Dozy & Dr Molkenboer who send duplicate material to Paris, the latter apparently wrote to WJH but got no reply. JDH thinks Miguel is a very promising botanist & RBG Kew should buy his work on Cycadeae. Miguel is working on peppers, figs & Suriname & Java plants. Many people ask JDH about Charles Darwin because of his book [about the voyage of HMS Beagle]. They also ask after [Robert] Brown. JDH informs WJH of his plans to travel to England from Brill or Hellevoetsluis via Rotterdam. He mentions the British Flora for Edinburgh students, he is glad in Scotland he will not have to lecture in Latin as they do in Leiden. He discusses the merits of Heward's plan for a plant & book agency.

JDH gives his opinion of the botanic garden in Brussels; he was impressed by the palm collection incl. Elate sylvestris & Caryota urens. The garden secretary Mr Drapier is unpopular. Mentions some other botanists of Brussels: Lucien; Dumortier; Galiotti, whose nursery he visited; Quetelet, who he met at the Brussels Academy. JDH admired the picture gallery in Brussels, especially the Rubens, & the Church of St Gudula. In Ghent he saw further fine paintings & churches. He also wen to Van Houtens nursery with [Joseph] Decaisne's brother, a regimental surgeon. Van Houten has impressive collections of camellias & palms. His collectors in Guiana, Brazil & West Africa were not productive. He is willing to exchange plants with William Jackson Hooker, for things from Antipodes & Jamaica plants such as [Ronald Campbell] Gunn's seeds. All 3 Decaisne brothers, botanist, painter & surgeon, have received the Legion of Honour. At Antwerp saw the cathedral, exposition of plants & botanic garden. Went on to Breda on the 'Diligence' then to Rotterdam & Leiden. At Leiden he has met with [Caspar Georg Carl] Reinwardt & seen the botanic garden, with excellent succulents & Japan duplicates to be sent to RBG Kew. JDH recommends further plant exchanges with the Dutch botanists as they have good connections with the Japan & Java. [Carl Ludwig von] Blume has shown JDH [the Rijkshrbarium] collection of Japan things; which he has at the expense of Siebold & is willing to share with JDH, incl specimen of Staffleria patina. JDH may extend his trip to see HORTUS CLIFFORTIANUS in Harlem & Linnaeus' Lapland dress in Amsterdam. JDH notes how spectacular Blume's collection of Orchideae, drawings & birds is. Visiting Leiden & the Jardin de Plantes, Paris have been epochs in JDH's life. Mentions the high opinion of WJH & his publications in Europe. Discusses his plans for taking over Robert Graham's lectures [at Edinburgh]. Muscologists in Leiden want [George] Gardner's Brazilian mosses.