14 ECONOMIC BOTANY AND THE NEW FLOKAS 



talkee talkee of Flora Indica. I wish I had adhered to my 

 resolution of listening to no more proposals. ... I really 

 am sick of proposals, and feel rather indignant about the 

 whole thing. I have had correspondence enough to make a 

 bonfire of about it, first and last. Denison is in earnest; 

 however, and is a very fine fellow, and I should not like to 

 give him umbrage by appearing ungracious about what he 

 has really taken an active interest in. 



Decision still tarried : * I do wish/ he writes on October 27, 



you would put me out of my pain about ' Flora Indica.' I 

 would be thankful to be told there is no chance of its being 

 undertaken rather than this perennial uncertainty. 



By the new year another delay arose. 



I am booked for Flora of both British N. America and New 

 Zealand, so good-bye to Flora Indica for the present. Here 

 are Australia, New Zealand, Brit. N. America, the Cape and 

 West Indies all writing Colonial Floras, and India NOWHEBE. 

 If you still think of it I would only undertake it with Oliver 

 and set him to work while I get these little works off my 

 hands. New Zealand will not cost me much trouble as by 

 good luck I am now well through revising the Flora for my 

 own satisfaction, and so it will be all writing out chiefly. 

 (January 4, 1863.) 



Still negotiations proceeded. The India Council at home 

 took up the matter, though, as he tells Anderson on September 

 10, 1863, 



the initiative had far better come from Calcutta. As it is 

 I do suppose that it will be more your affair than any one 

 else's ; true enough we may begin it here, but we are getting 

 old, and the work can never be finished by me, I fear. As it 

 is my hands are very full without it. Thomson, however, 

 is most anxious to begin. 



But the initiative was not to come from Calcutta. The 

 official responsible, ' to my knowledge a very " pernicketty " 

 fellow to originate a thing with,' was obdurate, despite Ander- 

 son's ' gallant fight.' News of this defeat reached Kew by 

 the same post as an intimation that, prompted by Sir Charles 



