jflJltsceUnncn. 
DR. hooker’s BOTANICAL MISSION TO INDIA. 
The increased and increasing patronage which the Government 
of this country affords to science is a subject of high satisfaction 
to all naturalists. This patronage is peculiarly evinced in the 
liberality with which the treasures contained in the British Mu¬ 
seum, and those in the Royal Gardens of Kew, are rendered 
available to the public good. In connection with the latter 
establishment, we have to announce that one of the most enthu¬ 
siastic votaries of botany, whose name stands at the head of the 
present article, has just quitted this country to further its interests. 
Dr. Hooker, having brought his “ Flora Antarctica,” part of the 
results of a previous voyage, to a close, has been appointed by 
H. M. Government to investigate the vegetable productions of 
India, and especially of the Himalaya mountains; and as a treaty 
is now in progress of negotiation between the British powers in 
Ilindostan and the Chinese, with reference to the boundaries of 
Thibet, it is possible even the latter interesting region may be 
visited by Dr. Hooker in the course of his journey. It is with a 
view to this object that the distinguished Humboldt addressed Dr. 
Hooker in a letter, which though entirely of a private nature, we 
think not uusuited to the pages of a Journal of Natural History : 
“ Que je suis lreureux d’apprendre, mon excellent ami, que vous 
allez penetrer dans ces belles valines de l’Himalayah, et meme 
au-dela vers Ladak et les plateaux du Thibet, dont la hauteur 
moyenne, non confondue avec celles des clmes qui s’elevent dans 
le plateau mtimc, est un objet digne de recherche! Comme 
j’apprecie cette noble ardeur qui vous fait entreprendre une nou- 
velle expedition liazardeuse, apres avoir 6tedans celle du Pole 
Austral qui a ete si glorieuseraent conduite. Votre aimable lettre 
du 5 Septembre m'a trouve un peu indispose. J’ai liabit6 le 
pare de Sans Souci pendant l’absence du Roi, et un violent re- 
froidissement m’a forc6 de rentrer en villc. Mon depart pour 
