Item A27 - Letter from Richard Chandler Alexander, Hammersmith, London, to John Hutton 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.