TALBOT262

Glasgow.
Feb March 1.

My dear Sir

You write to me, ¹ I doubt not under an impression which is very general, namely that I have influence in the Botanic Garden. But such is by no means the case. The Garden belongs to the town. As a Subscriber I have access to it & as Professor of Botany the use of such specimens as are necessary for the instruction of my Class, which privilege the College has purchased for a sum of £2000. The town has given Mr Murray ² the whole management of the Garden, a very able person in his capacity no doubt: – but you may very well conceive that he is sometimes a little jealous lest I should attempt to exercise any authority in the Garden. So I find it my best way never even to ask for anything over which I have not a just right. He on his part is I believe perfectly willing & desirous to make exchanges & so to increase the value of the collection. – I assure you if I had any power in the Garden I would send your seeds & plants with the greatest pleasure in the world. There is a “Drummondia” already which I have long ago applied to a Genus of Mosses, a tribe of Plants which he ³ was peculiarly fond of. De Candolle ⁴ has a Drummondia among Saxifragea but being published subsequent to mine it [illegible deletion] cannot stand.

I called & spoke to Mr Murray about a Gardener – but it will be necessary that you state more particulars as to the amount of Horticultural and botanical knowledge required: & whether a single or married man. Of course a good many go from our Garden, with the recommendation of Mr Murray. He says that in this neighbourhood where living is cheap, they have a House & fuel & from £35 to £40 a year. In England he says they would expect more, about £45: – possibly one might be obtained for £40, with the above privileges. Mr Murray thinks he knows of one at this time, who has had a good education in Bothwell gardens, & whom he thinks very well of.

I will make any further enquiry you please.

Thanks for the fruit of Veronica decussata ⁵.

Your account with Drummond stands thus:

3rd Texas Collection	358
reckoned at	350 –		£ 7·	–	–
Share of freight etc			–·	7·	–
Apalashicola Plants			–	5·	–
			£7·12·–

Yours, my dear Sir,Very truly & faithfully
W. J. Hooker.

H. F. Talbot Esq^re
31. Sackville Street ⁶