From William Jackson Hooker   27 November 1830

My dear Sir

There are few, in our particular vocation, who have enjoyed the pleasure both of giving & receiving than I have myself. In regard to you I feel & am always ready to acknowledge that I am much your debtor. I have many plants that I wish to give you & were it not for the incessant occupation of my time, & the hope, not a vain one I trust, of seeing you in Glasgow, they would have been sent to you before this time.

I have at this time some 20 or 30, or perhaps more, plants by me, such as you express a wish for. They shall go to London by the first opportunity if you think them worth paying carriage for from that city. I have, too, many plates in hand of which you shall have impressions by and by, particularly of the N. am. Flora & the Plants of Capt. ⁿ F.W. Beechey’s Voyage; of which 10 plates are just finished, but not yet printed off. You might have had many more a month ago, of plates now beyond my control, of which I had impressions but which were lately asked of me by Mr. Lyell.

Have you good specimen of the Nutmeg plant, Cinnamon, All-Spice? If not I can add them to the parcel just now. These & such like I find very useful in my Class-room. Longman’s have lately informed me that the whole impression of British Flora is so nearly sold: that I doubt if there will be enough for our Classes here, next Spring. If so I must immediately set about a new edition; though I would gladly have a little respite.

Do you care about the purchase of Exotic Plants? Bridges in Chile has sent me some excellent specimens from that country & offers to collect for others. He will not fix a price himself. But I shall [ill.torn] & think them well worth 40. ^s the hundred. Greville has given an order for every species, 1 of each, at 30. ^s for 100. I fear the man cannot afford to collect them at this rate. The passage out is £100: & tis certain that the species are very curious & interesting.

I am very glad you have at length arranged for a piece of ground for a Botanic Garden. You may make the pleasure ground of it very useful for trees & shrubs, which a moderately sized Bot. Garden is scarcely calculated for.

I am my dear Sir | most truly & faithfully yours | W. J. Hooker