i868 i88i] GENERA PLANTARUM 433 



result from the modification of a universally present movement Letter 763 

 of circumnutation. 



I am very glad that you will again discuss the view of the 

 turgescence of the cells being the cause of the movement of 

 parts, I adopted De Vries' views x as seeming to me the 

 most probable, but of late I have felt more doubts on this head. 



To J. D. Hooker. Letter 764 



Glenrhydding House, Patterdale, Penrith, June I5th, 1881. 



It was real pleasure to me to see once again your well- 

 known handwriting on the outside of your note. I do not 

 know how long you have returned from Italy, but I am very 

 sorry that you are so bothered already with work and visits. 

 I cannot but think that you are too kind and civil to visitors, 

 and too conscientious about your official work. But a man 

 cannot cure his virtues, any more than his vices, after early 

 youth ; so you must bear your burthen. It is, however, a 

 great misfortune for science that you have so very little spare 

 time for the Genera. I can well believe what an awful job 

 the palms must be. Even their size must be very incon- 

 venient. You and Bentham must hate the monocotyledons, 

 for what work the Orchideae must have been, and Gramineae 

 and Cyperaceae will be. I am rather despondent about 

 myself, and my troubles are of an exactly opposite nature 

 to yours, for idleness is downright misery to me, as I find 

 here, as I cannot forget my discomfort for an hour. I have 

 not the heart or strength at my age to begin any investiga- 

 tion lasting years, which is the only thing which I enjoy ; 

 and I have no little jobs which I can do. So I must look 

 forward to Down graveyard as the sweetest place on earth. 

 This place is magnificently beautiful, and I enjoy the scenery, 

 though weary of it ; and the weather has been very cold and 

 almost always hazy. 



I am so glad that your tour has answered for Lady 

 Hooker. We return home on the first week of July, and 

 should be truly glad to aid Lady Hooker in any possible 

 manner which she will suggest. 



I have written to my gardener to send you plants of 



1 See Power oj Movement, p. 2. De Vries' work is published in the 

 Bet. Zeitun%, 1879, p. 830. 



VOL. II. 28 



