Description

Walker forwards by this steamer, through Wells Fargo's Express, a box of seeds. The collection was made in north, middle and east Arizona, and in the western portion of New Mexico. When he investigated the tin he found many of the small packages torn and the contents spoiled. They were obtained and transported under unfavourable circumstances whilst Walker was fighting against the Apache. The box also contains a hermetically sealed can containing a very carefully selected collection of seeds of the Douglas fir. Hooker can take some of these if required and dispose of the remainder. Walker does not know any seedsman dealing in such things otherwise he would not trouble Hooker. Walker has written to Hooker twice since he left England, but had no answer. Mrs Hall[?], however, has kept him posted about RBG Kew and Hooker. He has been most unfortunate pecuniarily since arriving on the California coast: all the monetary enterprises he has engaged in have been unsuccessful until lately. After having been through Vancouver Island, British Columbia and part of British Russian America, he accepted a position as Assistant Surgeon in the United States service without losing his lawful allegiance, and for three[?] and a half years has been wandering through the states of the west coast, fighting the hostile Indians almost all the time and with many hairbreadth escapes. He has just returned from Arizona where the extreme heat has somewhat debilitated him. He has as yet no fixed time to return to England. His own friends and relatives have never become aware of the cause of his 'Bohemian life', perhaps it is as Wilkie Collins calls: 'the tramp fever'. He would be delighted to hear from Hooker. Except for two small parcels: one to J.[?] Wilson Saunders and the other to Sir J.E. Tennent, he has sent none of his collections home. Walker has forwarded recently, two long series of magnetic observations to General Sabine and asks Hooker to mention these to Sabine. Walker gives his address as care of Robert Sherwood Esquire. Page 1 of 3.