
          Still a great number of his plants are extremely 
interesting, & I do sincerely hope you will 
be able to send some zealous collector into similar 
regions, that is to the southern Rocky 
Mountains, especially on the west side. Dr. 
Gray & I talked much on this subject & I have 
satisfied [added: him] that, with the existing passion for 
forming herbaria, a good collector in a good 
country may make a very good living.

My object in going to London at this time 
was twofold: firstly to have an interview 
with [Thomas] Spring Rice in order to endeavour to induce 
ministers to give over the Royl. [Royal] Gardens of 
Kew to the country & let them be supported 
as a national botl. [botanical] garden from the public purse. 
We Englishers think such a use of public money 
very legitimate, & 2dly. [secondly] to endeavour to get my 
2d. son Joseph attached to the Antarctic Expn. [Expedition] as 
Surgeon & Naturalist under Captn. Js. [James] Ross, in the 
event of the Expn. being determined on. In this 
latter I succeeded fully, so much so that even 
should that Expn. break down, Joseph will nevertheless, 
by Sir Wm. [William] Bennett, [added: be taken] into the Navy & 
recieve [receive] an appointment at Haslar Hospital,
there to remain till some scientific expn.  takes 
place. The Kew business must come before 
Parliament, & much uncertainty must attend 
the result. As far as the Chancellor of Exchequer 
was concerned, my reception was everything that 
I could wish. But really the Commons have plenty 
        