504 'POWER OF MOVEMENT IN PLANTS.' [1878. 



movements of true leaves, for I have pretty well done with 

 cotyledons. . . . 



That was an excellent letter about the Gardens : * I had 

 hoped that the agitation was over. Politicians are a poor 

 truckling lot, for [they] must see the wretched effects of keep- 

 ing the gardens open all day long. 



Your ever troublesome friend, 



Ch. Darwin. 



C. Darwin to W. Thiselton Dyer. 



4 Bryanston St., Portman Square, 

 November 21 [1878]. 



My dear Dyer, — I must thank you for all the wonderful 

 trouble which you have taken about the seeds of Impatiens^ 

 and on scores of other occasions. It in truth makes me feel 

 ashamed of myself, and I cannot help thinking : '' Oh Lord, 

 when he sees our book he will cry out, is this all for which I 

 have helped so much ! " In seriousness, I hope that we have 

 made out some points, but I fear that we have done very little 

 for the labour which we have expended on our work. We are 

 here for a week for a little rest, which I needed. 



If I remember right, November 30th, is the anniversary at 

 the Royal, and I fear Sir Joseph must be almost at the last 

 gasp. I shall be glad when he is no longer President. 



Yours very sincerely, 



Ch. Darwin. 



[In the spring of the following year, 1879, when he was 

 engaged in putting his results together, he wrote somewhat 

 despondingly to Mr. Dyer : " I am overwhelmed with my 

 notes, and almost too old to undertake the job which I have 

 in hand — />., movements of all kinds. Yet it is worse to be 

 idle." 



Later on in the year, when the work was approaching 



* This refers to an attempt to induce the Government to open the 

 Royal Gardens at Kew in the morning. 



