From William Longman   3 July 1860

My dear Sir,

I have noticed in the paper that you have lately been giving the Royal Children a Course of Lectures on Botany. I cannot doubt they were very good, for you would of course do your best, —not that you needed such a stimulus— but, under such circumstances you would of course take unusual pains. And I believe that such would be the general impression, and that consequently the public would be well inclined to buy an Introduction to Botany by you, & written by you for such a purpose. If you have any idea of publishing them, I shall be much obliged by your communicating with me.

I have but little doubt that hungry publishers have already attacked you, I hope in vain, & if I had not written, you might perhaps think we were indifferent in the matter

Believe me My Dear Sir | yours sinly | W ^m Longman.