TALBOT2798

Glasgow.
Feb. 9. 1834

My dear Sir

It is only about a week ago that I wrote to my friend Spence, ¹ who lately brought me a parcel from Bertoloni, ² to ask him if he knew how I could send one to him in return. But as yet I have had no answer. Can you assist me in this matter? I shall certainly put up, in your name, for him the plants you mention in your list. ³ I have many other rare British plants to send him besides: – but he surprizes me by asking only for British. Do you think that good Exotics, from America, N. Holl^{d 4} &c would not be acceptable to him? For I should really like to send him a packet of some value when I am about it: & I should too have the better claim upon him for the rarities of the south of Europe. I must confess that what he has sent me have disappointed me a good deal; so many of them are common all over the continent & others such as Polygonum Bistorta, in this country too. One & only one Sicilian plant was included: yet he must surely have the command of many excellent Floras. However, I shall write to him for something better. The plants peculiar to those extreme parts of Europe are what I most covet, not such as are common to all Italy & France.

I shall soon have occasion to send a large box to Hunneman ⁵ & will enclose the dispatch for Bertoloni.

Drummond ⁶ has sent some more good plants from N. Orleans & some very excellent ones from Texas: – to several of these latter I have attached names. Would you like that I should continue to send you from these collections? (there are about 100 species in each of the 2 collections now mentioned, at £2 the 100). – I do not send them without asking to know your wishes, because because I have not yet performed my promise of publishing a list of the names. This has however been no fault of mine, for the difficulty of getting my “ Bot^l Journal ⁷” published is very great: & I have only at length accomplished it, by making a heavy pecuniary sacrifice. The 1st N^o finished more than a year ago, is at length out; & my Printer circulated 10,000 advertisements. I am now actually printing the 2^d N^o which commences with an interesting account of the Classical plants of Sicily by a Mr Hogg. ⁸ The first part of Drummond’s plants follows. The Texas plants which constitute a very diff^t vegetation will be treated separately. Drummond is indeed a most deserving person & has done a vast deal for Botany. I sent him £80 last week & desired him to proceed as soon as the Spring commenced to the Mountains of N. Mexico & to return to N. Orleans by the Red river if possible.

I trouble you with a note for Hunneman which I will thank you to let your servant put into the 2^dy Post,⁹ & am

My dear Sir, Most faithfully Yours
W. J. Hooker.