i847.] THE POCKET ALMANACK. 321 



you over your improved prospects about India,* but at the 

 same time must sincerely groan over it". I shall feel quite lost 

 without you to discuss many points with, and to point out 

 (ill-luck to you) difficulties and objections to my species hy- 

 potheses. It will be a horrid shame if money stops your expe- 

 dition ; but Government will surely help you to some extent. 

 . . . Your present trip, with your new views, amongst the 

 coal-plants, will be very interesting. If you have spare time, 

 but not without, I should enjoy having some news of your 

 progress. Your present trip will work well in, if you go to 

 any of the coal districts in India. Would this not be a good 

 object to parade before Government ; the utilitarian souls 

 would comprehend this. By the- way, I will get some work 

 out of you, about the domestic races of animals in India. . . . 



C. Darwin to L. Jenyns {Blojne field). 



Down [1847J. 



Dear Jenyns, — I am very much obliged for the capital 

 little Almanack ; f it so happened that I was wishing for one 

 to keep in my portfolio. I had never seen this kind before, 

 and shall certainly get one for the future. I think it is very 

 amusing to have a list before one's ey^is of the order of ap- 



* Sir J. Hooker left England on November ii, 1847, for his Hima- 

 layan and Tibetan journey. The expedition was supported by a small 

 grant from the Treasury, aiid thus assumed the character of a Government 

 mission. 



f " This letter relates to a small Almanack first published in 1843, 

 under the name of ' The Naturalists* Pocket Almanack,' by Mr. Van 

 Vooiist, and which I edited for him. It was intended especially for those 

 who interest themselves in the periodic phenomena of animals and plants, 

 of which a select list was given under each month of the year. 



" The Pocket Almanack contained, moreover, miscellaneous informa- 

 tion relating to Zoology and Botany ; to Natural History and other scien- 

 tific societies ; to public Museums and Gardens, in addition to the ordi- 

 nary celestial phenomena found in most other Almanacks. It continued 

 to be issued till 1847, after which year the publication was abandoned." — 

 From a letter from Rev. L. Blomefield to F. Darwin. 



