LECTURING PROPOSALS 377 



In 1855 a fresh lecturing scheme was suggested in con- 

 nection with Hooker's appointment as Assistant at Kew. 

 Kew ought to justify its scientific endowment by giving the 

 public of its science as well as its pleasure walks. At the 

 cost of his personal inclinations, Hooker was ready to help 

 the development of Kew by focussing public opinion on its 

 national character ; but the official world would have none 

 of it. 



Similarly he tells Bentham (January 1854) : 



The Royal Institution are pressing me very hard indeed to 

 lecture for them. I refused on the grounds that it was wholly 

 incompatible with my duty to Govt., whereupon Faraday 

 writes offering to go to Ld. J. Russell 1 and get me the Govt. 

 sanction. I have refused definitely again, and added that 

 were any application made to Lord J. it would be to appoint 

 an assistant to my Father. The offers were most kind and 

 flattering and too pressing it is always excessively disagree- 

 able to refuse such invitations, however little inclined one 

 may be to accept. 



It was at least the fact that if lecturing in London exacted 

 too heavy a toll from the Director's working time at Kew, 

 Kew was too far from town for a London audience. The only 

 stimulus to public interest that followed was the opening of 

 the Gardens in 1857 on Sunday afternoons as well as week- 

 days. He tells Bentham on June 1 : 



My Father remonstrated and my Mother is in a sad way 

 about it, as you may suppose. For my own part I had no 

 wish for it and on private grounds oppose it, as probably 

 disturbing the only quiet day I get in the week ; but on the 

 other hand I consider it a wise and beneficial measure in a 

 public point of view, and therefore feel that I have no right 

 to complain. 



The consolidation of the scientific side of the Gardens took 

 a long step in advance when Bentham in 1854 presented to 

 the nation his great herbarium and library, valued in cash 



1 At that time President of the Council. 



