a ee ane at ae a eee ree een en a en NN 
. 
XT. 47.] TO GEORGE BENTHAM. 437 
He was very skillful in the handling of animals, and 
they recognized it in allowing him to perform small 
surgical operations, to dress wounds, ete., with a touch- 
ing trust and submission. 
TO GEORGE BENTHAM. 
March 9, 1858. 
My vrEAR Bentuam, — Many thanks for yours of 
February 14. Although much pleased to hear from 
you, I cannot expect to hear often, unless you have 
something special to say. No one but Hooker can 
write long and frequent letters while he is doing such 
a vast amount of work, and keeping up such a fresh, 
and keen, and scrutinizing interest in such a great 
variety of subjects. I wonder how he does it. How 
well oiled the machinery of his brain must be to do 
it all without great wear and tear! If you or I had 
half these matters to think of at once, we should go 
distracted. Warn Hooker to take good care of him- 
self and not break down in health. It is a facility 
which he inherits, that of turning from one thing to 
another without loss of time or of working power. 
T shall be pleased to see the “‘ Handbook”? when 
it is out. Never mind what people say. I dare say 
the little book will do a great deal of good... . 
IT am glad you will distribute more of Spruce’s 
plants. I want especially any of his Andes collections, 
for Bafios was one of our Exploring Expedition sta- 
tions. I am going to finish up our Exploring Expedi- 
tion this year (D. V.), and have done with it. That 
and some other things done, and I dream of coming 
over to England, and working at nothing but “ North 
American Flora,” de novo. I hope I may, and that 
I shall find you and Mrs. B. as fresh as ever, and en- 
joying yourselves to the full... . 
