We have not discovered to what prize the following letter to the late Sir W.Bowman (the well known surgeon) refers.) Down, February 22nd, 1878.
I received your letter this morning, and it was quite impossible that you should receive an answer by 4 p.m.

to-day.

But this does not signify in the least, for your proposal seems to me a very good one, and I most entirely agree with you that it is far better to suggest some special question rather than to have a general discussion compiled from books.

The rule that the Essay must be "illustrative of the wisdom and beneficence of the Almighty" would confine the subjects to be proposed.
With respect to the Vegetable Kingdom, I could suggest two or three subjects about which, as it seems to me, information is much required; but these subjects would require a long course of experiment, and unfortunately there is hardly any one in this country who seems inclined to devote himself to experiments.
LETTER 284.

TO J.TORBITT.
(284/1.