BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 277 



Letter No. 4. Sir W. J. Hooker to C. Fortescue, Esq. 



Royal Gardens, Kew, June 16, 1857. 



Sir. — I have the honour to acknowledge your obliging communica- 

 tion of the 12th instant, informing me that the Lords Commissioners 

 of the Treasury had acceded to the very kind recommendation of Mr. 

 Secretary Labouchere, that a sum of £300 should be granted by her 

 Majesty's Government in aid of the publication of a work to serve as a 

 Flora of the British West Indies, by Dr. Grisebach. This letter is 

 accompanied by a copy of a letter from the Treasury Chambers, sane- 



made 



Works 



I am desired by your letter to make any suggestions I may have to 

 offer as to the payment of the money, and the proper superintendence 

 of the work. 



In regard to the payment of the money, or the mode and times of 

 payment, I would take leave to suggest, that as the work is to be in 

 two volumes octavo, I think it would be just and fair, and would en- 

 tirely meet Dr. Grisebach's washes, if the sum of one hundred pounds 

 (£100) be drawn as soon as the first volume of manuscript be com- 

 pleted, and placed in the printer's hands ; and if the remaining £200 

 be paid on the day of publication of the whole. 



In regard to the superintendence of the work, if agreeable to Mr. 

 Secretary Labouchere, I shall be most happy to undertake that duty 

 myself, as I cannot but feel great interest in a work which will tend so 

 much to make known the vegetable resources of our possessions in the 

 West Indies, and for the preparation of which Dr. Grisebach is so emi- 

 nently qualified, by his scientific and practical knowledge. 



I have, etc., 

 (Signed) W. J. Hooker, Director. 



H. Merivale, Esq., to Sir JF. J. Hooker. 



Downing Street, July 23rd, 1857 



Sir,— With 



the mode and times of payment to Dr. Grisebach, of the sum of three 

 hundred pounds (^300), which has been sanctioned by the Lords Com- 

 missioners of the Treasury, in aid of the publication by that gentleman 

 of a work to serve as a Flora of the West Indies, I am directed by Mr. 



