TALBOT1890

My dear Sir!

There is a long time since I had no more the pleasure of reading Your letters, and I therefore felt twice satisfied myself by the account You were so kind as to give me by the letter brought by Mr Hopes.¹ I am happy to hear that You and Your must respectable family goes one allways in good health. Is there no hope that You will onces more give us the honour of a visite [illegible] Munich? I dare say, that You would find our town very much improved by the taste of our King, ² who surrounds himself with all the artistical genius he can [illegible], and works very much for forming even the peoples taste for similar pursuits. Mr Hope a very amiable young man, whose acquaintance I am very thankful for to You will give You a pretty good idea of all that which is going on here. Even we received a University ³ here, which awakes very much the spirits and gives a kind of activity to our town even not hoped for before, because the love of comfort of the Munichians seemed not to answer to scientifical occupation. Nothwithstanding our University is very much frequented, there are quite allways 1800 students. I was appointed a professor likewise, for Botany, and I would be yet more gratified with that occupation if it was not in the same <time> a powerful impediment of my own literary pursuits. I go on, therefore, very slowly. I was not yet able of finishing my Nova Genera, ⁴ of which I have published at present the first number of the 3^d and last volume. My ‘Palms’ ⁵ likewise wait yet for their end, which I can give only after having collected yet some materials, especially for the Geografy of that might [sic] order of plants. The performance of lecture made it necessary to me, to pay likewise more attention to general Botany, a Study, without doubt, yet more agreable than that of a specifical character; and I have endeavoured some general remarks on the architecture of flowers, which You will find in [illegible], if You should attach some interest to them. Your great countryman, Mr Brown, ⁶ whom we had the pleasure of possessing here for some while, is my greatest and most beloved teacher in that kind of pursuits, and his last discovery on active molecules have acted very powerful amongst the physicians natural philosophers of Germany. I contrived likewise to the perfection of optical instruments, and the microscops of Fraunhofers ⁷ institution, conducted at present by a Mr. Merz, ⁸ answer to every demand on that account.

I hear very seldom from England, and should feel very much gratified if You would give me the pleasure of some notices of Your most excellent family and of Your own pursuits which, I dare say, will be very interesting to other people if You

once would think them proper of being published.

Have You conserved your love for Botany? Are You collecting plants? Have You many correspondents spread over the whole brittish empire? I must tell You, that I am quite a fool with plants at present and that I am collecting with a kind of phrenzy. If You, therefore, have some things fit for communications I beg You, to think to your friend here.

Mr Zurcarini ⁹ is in good health, married and very happy. He begs requests me to commemorate him very friendly to You.

I hope to have the pleasure of receiving very soon some notice from You.

Beleave my me, dear Sir, Yours very faithfully
D^r v Martius.

Munich
18. Novbr. 1829

Munich 18. Novbr. 1829.

I offer to You the second volume of my personal narrative which Mr Hope is so kind to take with him. I am preparing the 3^d and last, who describes the Amazon.

H F. Talbot Esq.
31 Sackville Street
London.