HOOKER, Sir William Jackson (1785-1865). Director of Kew Gardens.
Autograph Letter Signed [?to C.H.H. Wilsone], 4 pages 8vo, Royal Gardens, Kew, 19 February 1857. A good letter asking for numerous specimens for the gardens. The recipient is identified in a note in ink at the top of the last page.

'... Many thanks for your kind letter, & all the interesting particulars you have givne me about Gutta Percha - & still more for your offer to send me any of the products of the country. I can assure you that several of those you mention will be very acceptable to our Museum, - & I will at once mention,
1 Camphor. That is of Camphor you know there are 2 kinds, one the common kind & cheap kind, which I do not want ...
2. Sappan - wood.
3. Mangrove - bark.
4. Gum Benjamin.
5. Dragon's blood.
6. Gamboge, of which there are I believe different kinds.
7. Vegetable tallow.
8. Vegetable wax.
9. Gum Copal.
10. Cassia.
11. Gum Elastic. different kinds & if possible specimens of the plants dried.
12. Sea-weed.
13. Sandal-wood.
14. Galingale.
15. Rhubarb (does this come via china?).
16. Ebony.
17. Wood oils.
18. Cardamums.
19. Timber. Of these samples about a foot or a foot & a half long & 6 or 8 inches, more or less wide, with their names. ...'

Hooker asks that the specimens should all be of good size ('so large as not to be overlooked in a great Museum'), he explains how the museum keeps its specimens, asks him to keep the cost down, and expresses a particular wish to have Gutta Percha from Borneo, etc. etc.
[No: 25077]