Do you think that the sections of the gigantic genera in D.C.Prodromus are generally NATURAL: i.e.
not founded on mere artificial characters?
If you think that they are generally made as natural as they can be, then I should like very much to tabulate the sub-genera, considering them for the time as good genera.

In this case, and if you do not think me unreasonable to ask it, I should be very glad of the loan of Volumes X., XI., XII., and XIV., which include Acanthaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Labiatae, and Proteaceae,--that is, the orders which, when divided quite equally, do not accord with my rule, and in which a very few genera balance all the others.
I have written you a tremendous long prose.
LETTER 64.

TO J.D.HOOKER.

Down, June 8th [1858].
I am confined to the sofa with boils, so you must let me write in pencil.

You would laugh if you could know how much your note pleased me.
I had the firmest conviction that you would say all my MS.