Royal Gardens Kew
Nov[ember] 20 1865
Private
My dear Sir*1
I should ere this myself written to thank you for the valuable assistance you are affording us in the arrangement of Borrer's*2 Cryptograms: you know perhaps my recent affliction, which, & (and) the consequent arrears must plead my excuses.
My primary object in now writing to you is, to ask you, how far you may yourself be open to to [1 word illeg.] become a candidate for scientific employment in the

Herbarium department especially of the Royal Gardens. I expect soon to be in want of a person of careful, neat, accurate & (and) industrious habits, who has made some progress in Systematic Botany & (and) is really fond of the pursuit, to assist in this department. His duties would be to name the garden plants collections & (and) others taken to the Herb.[arium] for that purpose. & (and) to assist in the [1 word illeg.] general duties of the Herbarium, under Prof[essor] Oliver's*3 immediate direction & (and) control. With this view some hours would occasionally be spent in the Garden & (and) plant houses, but by far the number of both days & (and) hours in the Herbarium

& (and) Library, where his attention would be drawn especially to the study of Ferns.
The salary I hope to be able to offer is £200, per annum: not a large one, but considering that it there are 2 scientific officers already in this establishment, (Prof[essor] O[liver] & (and) myself,) it is about as much as I could obtain for the purpose, & (and) is considerably more even taking into account the value of money than any similar 3[r]d scientific posts in any Botanical establishment in Europe receives.
The officers at present are 1. Director, (myself) 2. Keeper of Library & (and) Herb.[arium] (Prof.[essor] O[liver] ^ 3. Assistant in the Herbarium 4. Clerk 5. Messenger packer & (and) doorkeeper
The office I wish to have made, & (and) upon which I now address you

is a new one, to be called 3. First Assistant (when 3[r]d with become 2[n]d Assistant above him)
I may add, that, if on the one hand the salary is not large, on the other the position is a very honourable & (and) agreeable one, in every respect; & (and) for the presentation of the its duties, & (and) of his own researches as well the holder of it will enjoy such advantages as no other Botanical establishment ever offered. The Herbarium is unrivalled; the Library very complete to[o]; -- of Prof[essor] Oliver I need not speak to you -- the Assistant in the Herb[arium] is a remarkably clever promising & (and) industrious lad. The Clerk also most industrious, & (and) with a considerable knowledge of Systematic Botany & (and) of the position & (and) of the genera throughout the phanerogam Herbarium.

The Curator of the Garden is a man devoted to the scientific interests of the establishment; though not himself scientific: & (and) of the garden foremen, 2 have a considerable Botanical knowledge, & (and) a third (Foreman of the Herbaceous collection) is obtaining a similar knowledge.
I mention these to show, that even in the matter of naming the garden plants, great assistance is afforded.
The hours of work will be the same as in other Gov[ernmen]t Establishments, viz 7 hours daily [1 word illeg.] & (and) a month's variation is allowed annually with regard to the times of

coming & (and) going vacation &c [et cetera]; these I will gladly arrange to suit the officer & (and) Prof.[essor] Oliver's convenience.
I have alluded to the study of Ferns as a duty required of the First Assistant, it is one for which the facilities offered by Kew are unrivalled; I may add that some attention to other Cryptogamic orders, (though not necessarily close nor deep,) would be a very desirable qualification.
Every facility will be afforded to the Assistant in any Botanical publications he may engage in, & (and) every

encouragement; provided the work is conscientious & (and) scientific; mere compilations, careless works etc., are discouraged; party controversies are forbidden; & (and) it is considered inexpedient that the officers of the Establishment should become the editors or establish[?] organs[?] of journals or periodicals that are likely to display a party spirit, or become the exponent of a party's views. This is not intended to preclude the officer from contributing to any journal, but to enable the Director to exercise a control when he sees fit over indirect actions that may indirectly compromise the

character of the Establishment for strict fairness in the service of it's public functions.
Should you yourself think this subject worth your attention, or know of any person who would, I should be glad to hear from you to that effect.
I need hardly add, that this matter is at present a strictly private one, the office not being as yet sanctioned by the Treasury.
Faithfully y[ou]rs | Jos.[eph] D. Hooker [signature]