376 BOTANY : ITS POSITION AND PROSPECTS 
but adepts mastering the Invertebrata. Of coiu'se you can 
give an elementary course on these things such as they were, 
but so much science and philosophy is now expected from a 
professor, that I would rather you could confine yourself to 
Botany. 
Embodying his friend's arguments in a letter to the 
authorities Harvey obtained relief from this anomaly, and 
was able, as Hooker put it, to settle down to a quiet Botani- 
philus' life. The letter of November 25 continues : 
You ought now to take the highest position in Bot. Science 
and regard the aspiration thereto as your destiny. You 
are loaded with honey and your calhng is science, and you 
and I should have no thought but to make ourselves useful 
to Science, without fear of personal failure. The less we think 
of ourselves the better so long as we are no burthens to om- 
neighbours. Bentham's unselfish love of science always 
charms me, he has never a thought of personal aggrandise- 
' ment in money or honor ; but indeed we have both of us 
hved under the highest examples and happiest influences in 
these respects. My Father, Bentham, and Thomson are such 
a trio as we shall never see again. Except Faraday and 
Darwin I know of no others in the walks of science so pure 
and disinterested, except perhaps Asa Gray in America. I 
am getting prosy, however. 
More than once during this period the necessity of lecturing 
nearly fell upon Hooker. In 1851 it was proposed to appoint 
a Professor of Botany to Kew, to lecture in London, and Prince 
Albert suggested him for the post. But such a proposal did 
not fit with the real position of Kew or of its Dii'ector. Hooker, 
being ' pumped,' answered frankly that work on his Indian 
and Southern collections would put lectm'ing out of the question 
for himself ; that making such an appointment to an estab- 
lishment having neither Library, Herbarium, Secretary, nor 
Museum- keeper was putting the cart before the horse ; and 
indeed, so long as his father was supporting the establishment 
in these points out of his private purse or energy, appearances 
must be deceptive. Rather call in the services of good outside 
lecturers. 
