From William Hooker to Charles Hotham   11 March 1854

Royal Gardens,

Kew March 11 1854

Sir

I should not venture to trouble you with the enclosed letter, if I felt that I was encroaching needlessly upon your valuable time either now, or on your arrival at your seat of Government at Victoria. My object is to ask you to do me the favor to put Dr Müller the very able Botanist at Melbourne & me in communication with each other for a mutual interchange of plants & vegetable products. I have been for some time in correspondence with Dr Müller & I value the information I recieve from him very much: — & the Duke of Newcastle has very recently favored me with a Report on the Vegetable productions of Victoria¹ which does that gentleman great credit: - & I am satisfied that we could send out from the Royal Gardens many useful plants to the Colony & that the Colony could send us roots & seeds &c which would be very acceptable to us. It is possible that His Grace the Duke of Newcastle may state his views & wishes to you on the subject.

I dare not hope you can find time to visit the Royal Gardens before your departure, or I should be proud to show you our Establishment here.

There is a fine field for botanical research in Victoria: & I cannot but hope that Dr Müller will be enabled to explore the "Australian Alps," which I believe are included within the limits of your Government.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

Your very obedt Servant,

W. J. Hooker