From William Jackson Hooker 20 December 1857

My dear Henslow

I have written to Mr Edgar Bowring about the state of the Collections for distribution at the Kensington Museums & suggested that Mr Buckmaster & half a dozen sappers & miners or some such gentry be employed in putting things in better order.

Enclosed is a letter I lately received from Archer of Livl. He seems to me to be engaged in preparing for Liverpool, very much the kind of things you require to have done for Melbourne. In answering that letter today I ventured to say that you had been making enquiry about someone who could prepare certain collections required for Australians, & that if he felt that he could do such things there could be no harm in writing & offering his services:-& if you had no person else in view you perhaps wd. state some particulars to him. As he may probly [sic] write & enquire.

Affect.ly yours

W. J. Hooker