Hance received Hooker's letter of 28 Feb after a seemingly long silence. He also received the gift of volume three of the FLORA OF TROPICAL AFRICA and the Royal Society Addresses for 1875 and 1877. Hance is glad that Hooker is about to resign the presidency, as Hance thinks it must be overworking him and taking him away from his botanical work. Hance also supposes that Thiselton-Dyer's appointment as Hooker's assistant at RBG Kew must have relieved Hooker of a lot of routine work and correspondence. Hance is grateful to Hooker for standing as one of his sponsors for the Linnean [Society]. Hance has not seen Ford since his return but has had a letter. Hance does not think Ford can be accused on inaction, as it is very difficult to get knowledgeable people in China to interest themselves in botany and plant introduction. Also the desire to turn the Hong Kong garden onto a show promenade rather than a scientific institution is not due to Ford, who felt it was a mistake but could not object as he is only a subordinate. Hance comments that if Hooker continues to send promising young gardeners to the colonies without botanical training, he cannot expect these thistles to bear figs. Hance has received a set of Indian grasses from Hooker and was glad to get Lopholepis, Hierochloe laxa, Mnesithea and some Pollinias new to him. Hance hopes Hooker received his manuscript notes on GENERA. Page 1 of 3.