ADMIRALTY CLAIMS 209 



were my expected pay sufficient to justify me in carrying 

 on so expensive a publication on my own resources, I should 

 equally be now ready to act in the same manner. Nor need 

 I conceal from yourself that the Flora Antarctica portion 

 shall be carried on as hitherto whether my request is granted 

 or not, though I should not think it very generous of their 

 Lordships to expect me to continue the work without some 

 reward, even did it cost me nothing. 



[He explains that publishing at the extreme limit of eight 

 plates a month, the work would last another four years, and 

 adduces precedents for Naval pay being continued till it was 

 finished.] 



I am quite sorry to trouble you about this, but should not 

 wish to act without your sanction, and feel it a duty at any 

 rate to lay before you my prospects. My hope is that, before 

 my present work is over, other national voyages may have 

 brought home stores worthy of publication, and that as long 

 as I can be usefully employed and busily too on works of 

 that sort, I may also draw pay for it, but no longer. 

 With respectful compliments to Lady Eoss, 

 Believe me ever, 



Yours most respectfully and truly, 



Jos. D. HOOKER. 



The two sets of work fitted in well together : * Happily 

 my duties at the Geol. Survey,' he tells Eoss in an undated 

 letter, probably 1846, * are (like the pay) very light ; they 

 employ me first of all to draw up a catalogue of the known 

 British fossil plants previous to my arranging those of the 

 Geolog. Survey Museum, and corresponding for more. My 

 work never went on so fast, having appeared unremittingly 

 for five months and will for two more ; but then the struggle 

 must cease for one month, to get up the Cryptogamia plates, 

 which are very heavy work.' 



Kew at this time was two hours' distant from London 

 by omnibus, for the railway had not yet reached it, and riding 

 presented itself as a speedier alternative, especially as his 

 delicate sister Elizabeth could also use the horse for the exercise 

 prescribed by the doctors. In the winter he found it convenient 



