JDH has just received a long letter from Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD] who is travelling on the continent. JDH responds to his account of a railway accident. JDH comments on the town of Frijberg [Freiberg, Germany]. He notes that he never saw the 'Titi sea' & found the Black Forest 'deficient in water'. JDH liked the Volk's train he saw at the 1862 exhibition. He has considered sending his son Reginald Hooker to the German school WTTD saw. RBG Kew can send plants to de Barg. JDH mentions that he ran into Maximilian Leichtlin at Kew Bridge station. JDH plans to 'shift Xanthoceras'. JDH advises that WTTD will not be impressed by Lavalle's garden though he has a fine French country house. In RBG Kew news, JDH reports that he has condemned Mitford & Lessel's plan for the offices & lists its shortcomings for the offices of WTTD, Oliver, Smith & the Miss Hodgsons. Discusses negotiations regarding Kew Palace, P. Fane has reported that the Queen would be willing to give it up in exchange for an equivalent & Mr Leferne may have a scheme. [George] King has sent a memo to the Government of Bengal regarding the manufacture of the febrifuge [quinine] & JDH has received a letter from Colonel Henderson regarding a quinine factory in the Neilgherries [Nilgiris]. JDH briefly discusses the deficiencies in botany exams, specifically referring to some corrected proofs for the London University Exams & an article written by WTTD on the subject. Marianne north has written from the Cape saying she still wishes to see Welwitschia. JDH reports that Palms have gone to press & printing of Liliaceae is just finishing. JDH has named a curious species of Junceae after [Everard] im Thurn. Harriet [Thiselton Dyer nee Turner's] drawings have been lithographed & are ready for her to colour. Mentions the improvement to the herbarium grounds. Travelling expenses have been curtailed by the Board.