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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.

Letter from Richard Chandler Alexander, Hammersmith, London, to John Hutton Balfour dated 18 December 1851.
Alexander apologises for not writing sooner since his return from America, he was hoping that Balfour would come down to the Exhibition at the Crystal Palace. In Philadelphia Alexander met Balfour's 'queer fellow' Gavin Watson but states that with all his oddity he was a good fellow and a great help to him. After nine months in the USA Alexander went to Jamaica and then to Canada for two months before coming home. Alexander expects Balfour is probably acquainted with Maclaglan’s brother Philip with whom Alexander spent a day in St Johns. page missing Alexander goes on to mention Oxford perhaps being the most permanent institution although natural history does not seem to be taken up in ernest there. Alexander would be glad to see Balfour in town. He is four miles from London and two from Kew and for the first time since 1841 he has all his plants and books around him. Let me hear from you.. My address is 8 St. Peters Square, Hammersmith, Middlesex.

Letter from Richard Chandler Alexander, Hammersmith, London, to John Hutton Balfour, undated.
Alexander writes from Hammersmith. He is sorry to have missed Balfour last summer. We met any visiting botanists at either the Linnean Soc. or Sir William Hooker’s. I presume you only stayed a short time. I would have been glad to have shown you what I have got together since the time when your presents were the largest part of my collection. We didn’t se MacNab as he was engaged on the Flora of Jamaica. His resources are very limited. There was an excellent large library in Kingston when I arrived but the Society got into debt [like others there] and the books were distributed. His own is small and poor Macfadyen hadn’t a large collection to leave. As to plants MacNab is better off, he has a great number of Purdie’s beside his own but without fresh specimens, which he can’t [confined as he is by his practice in Kingston] he won’t be able to do a lot. Shall not be able to visit Edinburgh this winter to meet old friends and see all the additions and improvements to the museum. Congratulations on the addition to your family and regards to Mrs. Balfour.