168 THE AYETON EPISODE 



The Duke of Argyll has been most kind about it. But 

 the best part of the fun is — only for God's sake don't let 

 it escape you — that Lyell has written to Lord Granville, 

 asking him to get Gladstone to confer Murchison's K.C.B. 

 on me ! I'd give a hundred pounds to see Gladstone's 

 face when this ' obus ' was dropped into the embroglio — 

 it gives infinite zest to the whole proceeding. Of course 

 Gladstone would rather give it to Ayrton than to such a 

 pestilent fellow as I am, who have continuously worried 

 him for three whole months. But how good of dear Lyell, 

 and how like him to cleave to an old friend and seek his 

 honor when in extremis. I am immensely touched by it, 

 and for his sake (not for my own, God knows) would have 

 wished him success. As it is, that incubus is now put off 

 sine die. Lyell has, I know, done it by way of influencing 

 Gladstone to my side in this pitiful quarrel with Ayrton, 

 and in that respect the application cannot but have immense 

 effect — in fact, if I beat Ayrton I shall rank Ly ell's shot 

 as in the bull's-eye — bless him. 



Ever your affectionate, 



J. D. Hookee. 



While no exception was taken by Mr. Gladstone or his 

 Secretary to Hooker's written or spoken statements, the 

 situation was a troublesome one for the Cabinet, who naturally 

 wished to avoid anything like a public scandal. A couple of 

 months passing without any steps being taken, Hooker wrote 

 again to Mr. West, who replied that a plan was under consider- 

 ation that would materially alter his position in regard to the 

 Office of Works. 



Writing to Sir John Lubbock, February 9, 1872, he notes 

 that such steps will involve an Act of Parliament, but the 

 Ministers have not the faintest notion about the working of 

 Kew. Can he go to Mr. Lowe and point out the necessity of 

 first consulting himself or some other naturalists ? Two of 

 his friends who knew the Government's intentions had been 

 bound over not to tell him a word of what they were. 



Kew [he writes] is what my father and I have made it 

 by our sole unaided efforts ; and the Ministers have for 

 three months or more been considering a scheme for funda- 



