374 BOTANY : ITS POSITION AND PROSPECTS 
the result of my personal experience in generalising on these 
suhjects and in handhng them so long as I think myself 
and am assured by my fellow Botanists that the attempt 
on my part is called for. These, however, are not matters 
for a week or a month ; but shape a course tow^ards them 
and you will find a wonderful mental relief follow, when 
distracted with ' choses a faire.' 
Thus amid the fluctuations and discouragements of the 
outlook for pure Botany, Hooker found that to take stock 
of his ideas and marshal them in the Introductory Essays to 
the Flora of New Zealand and the Flora Indica was a re- 
invigorating process. The synthesis meant new force, new 
interest. To Bentham, who was in Paris for the Exhibition, 
he writes in July 1855 : 
The Flora Indica Introd. Essay is going ahead. Henfrey 
is shot and proposes altering his whole system of Botanical 
instruction at King's College ! my chers confreres the 
geologists shrug their shoulders and do not half hke it, and 
H. Watson is going to review it in the Phytologist. 
I shall be amused to hear what they say of the Introd. 
Essay in Paris, mind you tell me. I have frightened them 
here out of their wits, and some of them thank me for the 
presentation copy with a frigidity that delights me. Hither- 
to Botany has been dull work to me, little pay ; no quarrels ; 
an utter disbelief in the stabihty of my own genera and 
species ; no starthng discoveries ; no grand principles 
evolved, and so I have a sort of \^dcked satisfaction in seeing 
the fuse burn that is I hope to spring a mine under the feet of 
my chers confreres, and though I expect a precious kick from 
the recoil and to get my face blackened too, I cannot help 
finding my little pleasm'e in the meanwhile. 
Before long, however, a better era for Botany seemed at 
hand ; a more cheerful strain is apparent in a note to Henslow 
(January 6, 185G) apropos of his son George's career : 
Keep him to Botany if you can, but not to the exclusion 
of other scientific pursuits, drawing, &c. I am well sure 
that there will be openings and good ones for accomplished 
Botanists ere long, and I cannot fancy a more agi'eeable, 
