ADMIRALTY CLAIMS 209 
were my expected pay sufficient to justify me in carrying 
on so expensive a publication on my own resources, I should 
equally be now ready to act in the same manner. Nor need 
I conceal from yourself that the Flora Antarctica portion 
shall be carried on as hitherto whether my request is granted 
or not, though I should not think it very generous of their 
Lordships to expect me to continue the work without some 
reward, even did it cost me nothing. 
[He explains that publishing at the extreme hmit of eight 
plates a month, the work would last another four years, and 
adduces precedents for Naval pay being continued till it was 
finished.] 
I am quite sorry to trouble you about this, but should not 
wish to act without your sanction, and feel it a duty at any 
rate to lay before you my prospects. My hope is that, before 
my present work is over, other national voyages may have 
brought home stores worthy of publication, and that as long 
as I can be usefully employed and busily too on works ot 
that sort, I may also draw pay for it, but no longer. 
With respectful comphments to Lady Ross, 
Believe me ever, 
Yours most respectfully and truly, 
Jos. D. Hooker. 
The two sets of work fitted in well together : * Happily 
my duties at the Geol. Survey,' he tells Ross in an undated 
letter, probably 1846, ' are (like the pay) very light ; they 
employ me first of all to draw up a catalogue of the known 
British fossil plants previous to my arranging those of the 
Geolog. Survey Museum, and corresponding for more. My 
work never went on so fast, having appeared unremittingly 
for five months and will for two more ; but then the struggle 
must cease for one month, to get up the Cryptogamia plates, 
which are very heavy work.' 
Kew at this time was two hours' distant from London 
by omnibus, for the railway had not yet reached it, and riding 
presented itself as a speedier alternative, especially as his 
delicate sister Elizabeth could also use the horse for the exercise 
prescribed by the doctors. In the winter he found it convenient 
