CO129-051 - Sir Bowring - 1855 [7-9] — Page 205

the liberty of writing to Sir William Booker on the subject, and if an appropriate person can be sent out, we would build him a house and allow him £400 a year. There would be probably some objection to his being allowed (as is done by the East India Company) to supply private florists and horticulturists.

The necessity of obtaining a knowledge of the Chinese Empire itself, and of circumjacent Countries, would enable me, with some auxiliary, to render such services valuable not to Leicester Infirmary, but to Commercial interests as associated with Science.

Inquiries are constantly addressed to me on the subject of dyes, oleaginous matters, fibres for textile purposes, materials for paper making, and other topics, which the presence of a Botanist would enable me more satisfactorily to answer. Independently of which I might be able to render services to the Botanic Gardens in India - to send useful plants and fruits to the mother Country and the Colonies - and generally to promote objects to which I cannot now personally attend, as I should desire, from...