TALBOT1148

Glasgow.
Jan^y 7^th 182 34

My dear Sir

I regret to say that generally speaking I could not send you the rare plants from our garden ¹ figured in the Exotic Flora ². They are for the most part such as we have still but one of: indeed several, the Orchideæ in particular, we have lost altogether. The Chili plants will probably increase & next year of some of them I doubt not I could send you seeds or roots. By far the greater number of plants indeed that I have figured are either from the Liverpool or Edinburgh garden (which are much older establishments) & we have them not ourselves at present.

Of Ferns there are certainly some hardy Europæan & American which we have that would succeed well with the British especially in the mild climate of S. Wales. Anything we can spare I should have much pleasure in sending you: but what I should like best would be that you should make a visit to Scotland & then, at Glasgow, see yourself what you would most wish for; whether among the hardy or the stove plants. You would then at least be sure to have only what you did desire: whereas if we were to send to you without knowing what would be most acceptable you might get many, to you, worthless things.

To M. Gay ³ I have written & offered to send him a copy of my Exotic [Flora] ⁴ – upon very easy terms & such as will cost him no money. I cannot give it to him, because I must myself buy every copy.

D^r Richardson ⁵, Captⁿ Franklin’s ⁶ compagnon de voyage ⁷, has just been passing some days with me. He brought from M^r Edwards a valuable addition to Captⁿ Parry’s ⁸ arctic collection of plants, amongst which are some new Mosses.

I am, my dear Sir, Very sincerely & Faithfully yours
W. J. Hooker.

W. H. F. Talbot Esq^re
Penrice Castle