Description

Upon his return from leave of absence in England yesterday, Bourne found a despatch from HM Minister of Peking [Beijing] enclosing a copy of a letter from his correspondent to the Foreign Office, in which it was suggested, on behalf of Sir Joseph Hooker, that special attention might be paid by Consular Officers travelling in China to the nature and source of any economic products of vegetable origin. This remark was made apropos of a report by Mr Hosie of a journey in Kweichow [Guizhou] and Yunnan. On 31 Oct, Bourne replaces Hosie as HM Agent at Chung-King [Chongqing], Western China. He hopes to make long journeys from there towards Tibet, where he should encounter much that is new. Bourne reminds his correspondent that in the autumn of 1882 he left specimens from Foochow [Fuzhou], China at Kew: a leaf bark flower of the Nan-mu [nanmu] with a lacquer box made of that wood [economic botany catalogue number 45285]; a specimen of square bamboo; dried leaves of trees and flowers[?]; and specimens of woods. With regards to the third item, his correspondent was kind enough to send a plate from the ICONES PLANTARUM, representing Gymnocladus chinensis, taken from one of his specimens. Regarding the fourth item, the Foreign Office sent him a despatch from Kew with a copy of a report to Mr Saunders on the specimens of woods, out of which Saunders selected three on which further information was desired. One of these was the previously mentioned, 'Nan-mu'; he will endeavour to procure specimens of the other two. Before going further afield Bourne would like to know if the Nan-mu specimens were satisfactory or if further information is required. He would like to see anything printed about these specimens. Regarding the G. chinensis he would like to see the printed description if there is one. If his correspondent has any questions on Mr Baker's or Mr Hosie's reports, Bourne shall do his best to answer them. He provides his address as HBM Agent, Chungking [Chongqing], care of HBM Consul, Hankow, China. Page ten contains a note on Bourne initialled 'W.T.T.D.' [William Thiselton-Dyer]. Pages 1 and 4 of 10.

Description

Upon his return from leave of absence in England yesterday, Bourne found a despatch from HM Minister of Peking [Beijing] enclosing a copy of a letter from his correspondent to the Foreign Office, in which it was suggested, on behalf of Sir Joseph Hooker, that special attention might be paid by Consular Officers travelling in China to the nature and source of any economic products of vegetable origin. This remark was made apropos of a report by Mr Hosie of a journey in Kweichow [Guizhou] and Yunnan. On 31 Oct, Bourne replaces Hosie as HM Agent at Chung-King [Chongqing], Western China. He hopes to make long journeys from there towards Tibet, where he should encounter much that is new. Bourne reminds his correspondent that in the autumn of 1882 he left specimens from Foochow [Fuzhou], China at Kew: a leaf bark flower of the Nan-mu [nanmu] with a lacquer box made of that wood [economic botany catalogue number 45285]; a specimen of square bamboo; dried leaves of trees and flowers[?]; and specimens of woods. With regards to the third item, his correspondent was kind enough to send a plate from the ICONES PLANTARUM, representing Gymnocladus chinensis, taken from one of his specimens. Regarding the fourth item, the Foreign Office sent him a despatch from Kew with a copy of a report to Mr Saunders on the specimens of woods, out of which Saunders selected three on which further information was desired. One of these was the previously mentioned, 'Nan-mu'; he will endeavour to procure specimens of the other two. Before going further afield Bourne would like to know if the Nan-mu specimens were satisfactory or if further information is required. He would like to see anything printed about these specimens. Regarding the G. chinensis he would like to see the printed description if there is one. If his correspondent has any questions on Mr Baker's or Mr Hosie's reports, Bourne shall do his best to answer them. He provides his address as HBM Agent, Chungking [Chongqing], care of HBM Consul, Hankow, China. Page ten contains a note on Bourne initialled 'W.T.T.D.' [William Thiselton-Dyer]. Pages 1 and 4 of 10.