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Letter from Richard Chandler Alexander, Surbiton, to John Hutton Balfour dated 24 March 1849.
Alexander writes that he is glad to read of the improvements in progress in the Society’s apartments. The want of curators is felt in London too. Alexander has brought many of the Cape plants to compare at the British Museum and the Linnean Society but has found at the museum nothing whatever of the country from South Africa [except a few arranged by Dr. Wallich]; a large collection made by Nelson and Niven about 1780-90 are most still un-named. Alexander finds it strange that they found conspicuous species in their day in localities which they don’t occupy now. During Alexander's stay [at the Cape] the last shrub of Rotera cocci is now extinct and it is not to be doubted that in the annual burnings since Nelson’s time others have perished. In a warm dry climate things are more spread out than in Britain; Alexander supposes that this is down to the greater differences in humidity between one spot and another and the limited period of adequate moisture for seed germination. General Walden used to say that in England he found all public collections neglected but private ones in good order; certainly between Hooker’s herbarium and the National one the difference is great. Smith’s herbarium is not what Alexander expected; his plants are mostly un-named and often species of different genera can be found in the same packet. Alexander refers to Cape plants Protaecea, Diosma and Compositae. Alexander will leave Liverpool on 24th April on the Niagara for Boston and he has learnt that a Mr. Cunningham, related to Asa Gray, is doing the same. Dr. Boot has given Alexander introductions to Torrey, Gray, Tuckerman, Lowell, Carey and Darlington. Hooker has promised more. Alexander asks if Balfour can give him an introduction to Gavin Watson. Dr. Boot has advised Alexander that the people at Cambridge could guide him on his journey. Hooker, as usual, regrets that Alexander always goes to civilised places and advises that he goes to Cuba for the winter. Alexander has already crossed the Himalayas and descended into some Tibetan valleys but found little blossom due to it being winter there. Alexander sends regards to Mrs. Balfour.