I 



A MATTEK OF POLITICS 205 



and more on the Professorship, while the Town had done 

 nothing for either. 



At this juncture Balfour revoked his refusal to take the 

 Chair without the Garden. The Town Council were put on 

 their mettle to show the Crown that they had a power, and 

 as they truly said, they wanted a lecturer rather than a 

 botanist pure and simple, however overwhelming his testimo- 

 nials might be. 



Tactically, had Hooker wished to push his claims, this move 

 would have left him in a strong, if rather absurd position. 

 Suppose the two chairs separated ; it was the Eegius Professor 

 with his £150 a year whose ticket must be accepted by all the 

 faculties for the University degree, and the College professor 

 would be * dished.' But for all reasons, including Government 

 goodwill, it was preferable to conciliate the Town Council, and 

 far preferable indeed, were it only possible, to have the Garden 

 alone with £300 a year than a Professorship at twice the salary 

 and College troubles and Town Council odium. 



One councillor, unaware of the great difference in attractive- 

 ness between the two posts, proposed that the Edinburgh 

 man should stay in Edinburgh, while Hooker received the 

 Glasgow chair, thus keeping both in Scotland. Hooker un- 

 deceived him ; this consummation was only possible by electing 

 him to Edinburgh. 



Finally the election became wholly a matter of politics, 

 even with the Provost, and local interests prevailed. 



