WCP2457

[1]¹

Kew

Oct. 23. [18]92

Dear Mr Wallace,

Churchill² has sent me your letter about the early opening. I think it admirable and have taken the liberty of sending a copy to Shaw Lefevre.³

We now treat the hours before noon as a "Students’ Time" we admit everybody who can show that they have some definite object [2] coming and, which is the vital point, we allow them a freedom and liberty which we cannot possibly allow to the general public.

An amateur of some group of plants or a gardener may be allowed to come in and out of the houses without interfering the men at their work. But we could not allow nursemaids [3] and children to do this.

The early opening means that there can be no relaxation of public discipline. There will be a general time for those who want to study and are not mere sightseers. It is rather a difficult battle for one to fight because an official is always summarily set aside as a mere obstructive. But Mr. [Forth] is going to take [4] the matter in hand.

When you were at Kew this summer I took the liberty of saying that it would give great pleasure to the Fellows of the Royal Society if you would be willing to join their body. I understood you to say that it would be agreeable to you. I now propose to comply with the necessary formalities. But before doing so it will be proper to ask for your [5]⁴ formal consent. You will then, as a matter of course, be included in the next annual election. Will you forgive me if I am committing any indiscretion in saying that I have good authority for adding (though I suppose it can hardly be stated officially at this stage) that no demand will ever be made upon you for a subscription.

Believe me | Yours sincerely | W. T. Thiselton Dyer [signature]