Darwin Correspondence Project

Edinburgh | Botanic Gardens

Jany. 12th.

Sir.

I duly received your notes of the 6th. and 9th. ult. I am glad to hear that the Primula paper has been so well received &lldots; thanks to your communicating and assisting.

I am sorry to hear that two pages have been missed; from the trouble it will have given you searching &c.— The omission may have been on my part, as I only hurriedly ran over the pages before posting: but I had done so previously with care and satisfied myself that all was right: and now I cannot lay my hands on the missing pages. I have however succeeded in filling up the hiatus from the papers I have by me. It may require some little corrections but I will easily manage this when proofs are sent. I have now to express my regrets for the further trouble their loss has incurred; and state that by this they are—I hope—in the hands of Mr. Kippist, to whom—as you directed I sent them by yesterdays mail.

I will feel myself highly honoured, and deeply obliged by your succeeding in getting me elected an Associate of the Linn. Soc. It is I can assure you an honour of which I had no expectation. I have you to thank for it however, as I know full well that it is a result of the kind interest you have taken in me. Whether the regulations of the Society should be stringently enforced or not, they are not over-exacting: certainly one would be unworthy of the honour, if not at least having one communication in the course of 3 years. Rest assured that if my name was once entered, I will do my best to retain it; and not prove myself unworthy of your proposing.

I have just got proofs of my paper on the Monoicous Spikes of Maize; when finally printed I will send you copies. Prof. Balfour—as might have been expected—opposed that portion of it in which I considered the occurrence of such phenomena as indicative of descent from an hermaphrodite progenitor

I had a paper ready for communicating at the last Meeting of the Bot. Soc. on the Sexuality of the Higher Cryptogams, with a notice of a Hybrid Selaginella. But from a long communication before it on our list mine was deferred until the March Meeting. The hybrid plant has satisfied all that I have shown it to. I believe it is the first illustration from the Higher Cryptogams, i.e. the result of direct experiment.

I sincerely hope your health is still improving: and with most sincere thanks for your kindness. | I remain | Sir | Yours most respectfully | J. Scott