From Joseph Hooker   7 April 1885

April 7 /85

My dear Baron

I have yours of 15/2/85¹ enclosing Scortechini's interesting letter.² As I told you, I had written to him at once on receiving your letter requesting me to do so.³ My letter crossed one of his to me, & that also I have answered. I have implored him to describe the Palms, Pandaneae Musaceae, big Aroids & all such plants on the spot, for all the materials he will find here will only confuse him; & he will be bitterly disappointed to find that an Order, to the working up of which here, he will look with keen expectation, will prove utterly refractory.

What I am to do when I come to the Indian Palms (if ever I do) is a mystery. I can only take [so]⁴ much from Scortechini. I have evidence of 5 or 6 species of Phoenix in continental India & not one is well known not even P. sylvestris, if, as I believe, the Ceylon plant is not the Indian! & no one has proved the wild sylvestris of the Sth Deccan to be the right thing. But what I dread most in regard to Scortechini, is his not coming here at all! or in such bad health that, like Thomson, Falconer, Anderson, Brandis, Wight, Wallich, & a host of others — he will be unfitted by reason of previous fevers &c & exposures, to work when he gets here! This is the normal condition of Indian botanists. Clarke⁵ was the exception that made the rule. — Even Beddome does nothing!

So to tell the truth I am more anxious to see S. well out of the Malay jungles⁶ than continuing researches & collecting that may result, like Griffith's & Maingays in huge piles of unreported posthumous materials shovelled into Kew — full of novelty & interest, but wanting a master hand to sort with judgement.

Well one must hope for the best, — I have seen Sir Hugh Low about him who [promises] all the needful funds & I have through Dyer addressed him an offical letter suggesting the sort of work that Scortechini should bring out. — The Colony has plenty of money for the moment, & the sooner that S. is home & at work the better.

— Now as to Tenison Woods whose non election to the Royal you deplore. I should premise that for the last 4 or 5 years I have been far too busy to take my part in the R. S. affairs, & I have not been on the Council till this year, when I went on much against my will, — I was pressed to do so because Huxley (President) is ill & away on 6 months' leave, & it was thought that a past President would under the circumstances be a useful man. So I really have taken no part whatever in the Societys affairs till this year, when I will see see what I can do for him. I observe that his "recommendations" are very meagre and that except Davidson & Woodward no English Scientific man has put his name to his paper of candidature from knowledge of himself or works — It is clear therefore that he wants a good backing up from Geologists — to pull him in amongst the 15 out of no less than 67 candidates.!⁷

I see that his paper has not been put up this year but do not know whether this is an omission, or because Sr H Barkly may have forgotten it. It is however no matter for surprise that 2 years should have elapsed before he got in — 3 years is a very usual time to wait except for case of commanding attainments or labors. Of the 61 candidates for this year's election

	1	has been up for	13 years!
	1	— — —	7 —
	2	— — —	6
	2	— — —	5
	3	— — —	4
	5	— — —	3
	22	— — —	2

As to your suggestion of canvassing through Scortechini — pray be careful, it may do harm, as I said before any attempt at making Father Woods' claims known should be modulated by some one of high position in his own science.

The selection of candidates in Council is most carefully & thoroughly conducted, & the opinions of real judges from personal knowledge of the candidates work alone have any weight — no one for instance would be influenced by what I would say, except in the case of a Botanist. — Nothing can however be done this year, for his name is not up & it is too late to put it up. There should be an addition to his paper of recommendation pointing out his more important work. As a member of Council I am precluded from using any influence out of Council, I cannot even sign a Certificate.

I am very very busy, & all my spare moments go to Flora of India.⁸ I have done Polygonum with 60 species, a thankless job. I find I must make a species of that little Tasmanian & Victorian so called Strigosum with spinate flowers; — the same occurs in the mountains of Ceylon & the Khasia & always quite distinct from Strigosum (horridum of India). I propose to call it P. praetermissum.

I am now at Piper, soaking & dissecting — a most dreadful task wh[ich] will take weeks. Miquels⁹ work is poor & C. D C's¹⁰ atrocious.

By the way I have often intended to tell you that your long letters with specimens come torn & crumpled, frightfully, with the specimen often smashed across & reduced to powder

Ever sincerely your

J D Hooker

Musaceae

Pandaneae

Phoenix sylvestris

Piper

Polygonum horridum

Polygonum praetermissum

Polygonum Strigosum