Description

From the tone of Hooker's last letter Scortechini fears there has been a misunderstanding. Despite the collaboration with Dr King at Calcutta [Kolkata], Scortechini still intends to give his collection to RBG Kew, an intention that is registered in the minute papers kept in the archives of the government. He only agreed to the partnership with King out of necessity, having seen the huge collection of Perak plants at Calcutta, all unnamed. It would have been foolish for him to publish a Flora of Perak without the Calcutta material, therefore, he agreed to share his own material with King on the understanding that they would each work up different orders. Consequently, Scortechini sent his collection to Calcutta for poisoning purposes and to allow King to separate out his orders. From there, Scortechini will have his share of the material, and that from the Calcutta herbarium, sent to RBG Kew. He hopes that Hooker does not think that this is an unfair treatment of Kew, as this was not his intention. Both Sir Hugh Low and the Governor approve his actions and did not think that it could be construed as a slight to Kew. Giving up part of his work to King was a great sacrifice, done in the interest of science. Scortechini hopes Hooker now understands why he did not send him a set of his ferns, which he will do when the collection has been sorted in Calcutta. As soon as the rainy season starts, he shall go there to get this task done. Scortechini apologises for trespassing on Hooker's kindness when he sent him a box of specimens that included fungi for Saccardo. The fungi were going bad so he thought it would be the quickest way for them to be sent. Pages 1 and 4 of 7.