Hi Sir William Jackson Hooker. 
My vexation, however, would have been greater than it is, had 
I not almost on the same day received a long and most kind 
letter from the Duke of Bedford, from which it does appear 
that I may now safely leave the matter in the hands of Lord 
John Russell ; and I think I may infer from one or two parts 
of the Duke’s letter, that however influential Lord Monteagle 
may have been when I first applied to him, when he was 
Chancellor of the Exchequer, he is now, being out of place, 
out of power. Lord Monteagle’s letter was so decisive that 
I thought it right to thank him for all he had done in my 
behalf, and to close altogether the correspondence as bearing 
on Kew ; and I have told the Duke that I should leave the 
matter in his brothers hands.’ 
The following letter from the Duke further explains the 
situation 
‘Woburn, December 5, 1840. 
... 5 With respect to yourself and your own views and 
wishes, I do not like to be too sanguine or to hold out 
expectations that may not be realized, since we all know 
how much there is often between the cup and the lip, but 
I can give you some information which you will be pleased 
to hear. Lord Melbourne and my brother are here, and 
yesterday I had a full conversation with them and Lord 
Duncannon after breakfast on the subject in question. The 
result is that my brother, who is in truth your best friend, 
has desired Lord Duncannon to give him in writing a state- 
ment of the expenses that would be incurred to the public or 
to the Woods and Forests by your taking the place of 
Mr. Aiton at Kew. If that statement is satisfactory to him, 
which I have no doubt it will be, after what you stated to me 
in your letter of the first, he will himself prepare the matter 
to go to the House of Commons. I am sure from the decided 
manner in which he has taken it up that he will go through 
with it, if nothing unforeseen arises. In short, he will take 
it upon himself to make the proposition he is disposed to do 
in a way that justifies me in saying that he is your best friend 
in this matter ; but I beg you to consider this as confidential. 
‘ I have now got to the end of a long letter, written in great 
haste, but I trust I have answered all your points satis- 
factorily. 
‘ Yours faithfully, 
‘ Bedford.’ 
