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Ridley thanks Thiselton-Dyer for his letter. The history of plant introductions into the Straits was not easy to work out due to the poor quality of the records and gaps in their own library. Their set of KEW BULLETIN is incomplete for the years before he arrived. Ridley further describes the poor state of the records from Murton's and Cantley's time. His account was intended to counter Willis' scorn of their work and to impress on government the importance of the gardens beyond looking nice. It induced His Excellency to admit the useful work of the gardens but was crowded out in the local papers by the latest 'rubbish' from a Ceylon [Sri Lankan] interviewer as to the marvels of Ceylon rubber. Another object was to record the good work of Murton. Ridley believes there is now no doubt that the embezzlement charge against Murton ever existed. Ridley discusses Thiselton-Dyer's objection of the term 'introduce', by which Ridley meant successfully growing and propagating plants received from RBG Kew. They are indebted to RBG Kew for most of the important plants and he did not omit this. Ridley discusses a few mistakes regarding Para rubber, Liberian coffee and Ipecacuana that Thiselton-Dyer noted. Murton, Cantley, Griffith, Porter and other botanists are not even alluded to in AN ANECDOTAL HISTORY OF OLD TIMES IN SINGAPORE by Buckley; Ridley wanted to draw attention to their work. Ridley has not heard from Carruthers. Carruthers has not written anything for the 'Bulletin' but has written articles for THE MALAY MAIL. Ridley has lost touch with the FMS [Federated Malay Straits] now, but still has a lot of work. They have sold the entire menagerie and pulled down the cages, much to the regret of the public. All grumble at the governor's 'ghastly' waste of money on Government House. Their plan for a water supply in the gardens at £4500 has been thrown out, despite them spending £1200 a year watering with cart. His Excellency is spending £3500 on a new croquet lawn. Ridley describes another blunder by the governor at a ball for the King's birthday. Pages 1 and 4 of 12.