Dear Madam

I have received & am grateful for your extremely kind letter. After an absence from home of a fortnight I found on my return the memoir of your honoured Father¹ (which I have not had time to read yet, as I was obliged to leave home again immediately on account of the illness of one of my children) & the two Engravings.—   I value much that of your Father & the expression of countenance is most intellectual & delightful.—

You generously offer me a collection of your Father’s specimens of Hybrid plants. The offer is a most valuable one; but I do not collect plants, & I am not likely to have time to experimentise much myself, on Hybrid plants.—   If on reflexion you should still think that a collection of these plants would be well bestowed on England, I would suggest your giving them to the Herbarium at the Royal Gardens at Kew near London.² The Collection is under the care of Sir William Hooker & of D^r. Hooker & is by far the best collection in Britain; indeed I believe one of the very best in the world. I asked D^r. Hooker & he said if presented, the collection would be much valued & taken care of for perpetuity.

Should you think of this, I would advise you to consult some German Botanists, & see whether my account of Kew is not correct.

Pray believe me dear Madam, with much respect & gratitude | Yours very truly obliged | Charles Darwin