Dear Darwin

The enclosed requires no answer. The history of it is this— I, as a matter of course, informed the Board of your munificent offer, showing what a grand aid it would be to our own work, as well as to Science in general, & how honorable to Kew.¹ The 1^st. Comm^r2—(one of your d—d Liberals)—wrote a characteristically illiberal & ill-bred minute on it; addressed to me, in effect warning me against your putting the Board to any expense!— & this though I expressly stated, that “your offer involved the Board in no expense or other responsibility whatever”.—

I flared up at this, & told the Secretary,³ who I saw on the subject) that the F. C. rather than send me such a minute, should have written a letter of thanks to you—

I suppose that this shamed him, & he has taken me at my word, though I did not seriously contemplate such action.

I have no friend to Kew in Shaw Lefevre— he has not answered either my Memorandum begging for an “enquiry” into the want of aid & appliances at Kew, or the private letter in which, a month afterwards, I begged him to consider it.—& I am now obliged to take steps to get it sent on to the Treasury.

Ever affy yrs | J D Hooker.