^:t. 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, etc., with a touch- 

 ing trust and submission. 



TO GBOKGE BENTHAM. 



March 9, 1858. 



Mt dear Bentham, — 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. 



I 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. . . . 



I am glad you will distribute more of Spruce's 

 plants. I want especially any of his Andes collections, 

 for Banos 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 iind you and Mrs. B. as fresh as ever, and en- 

 joying yourselves to the full. . . . 



