JDH thanks his sister Elizabeth 'Bessy' Hooker for her letter & for one dictated by their dying sister Mary Harriet Hooker. It has been a long time since JDH has seen his family, he has taken to whistling tunes that remind him of them. For music the ship has an untalented fiddler & the purser plays a flute he claims was given to him by 'Peter Pindar' or Dr Wolcot. During the cruise south from Bay of Islands, [New Zealand] JDH has been making notes & learning German. The ships 'Erebus' & 'Terror' spent Christmas week tied to either side of a 2 acre piece of flat ice covered in snow, into which they carved out roads between the ships, racing grounds & a saloon with seats & dance floor. JDH describes how he & Davis sculpted ice statues of Hebe, the Sphynx, pillars & Etruscan vases. Describes their New Year's festivities on the same ice berg, incl, pig racing, raising as much noise as possible with bells, cannons, cow horns & cheering, & playing games such as 'Baste the Bear' & 'Bell the Ring'. Writes how they dined on Christmas Day, Christmas Eve, New Year's day & Twelfth Night. Discusses the animals they had on board during the cruise: cat called Phantome, goats & a tame opossum. The expedition does not get much news from home & they eagerly watch for ships heading to harbour in the Falkland Islands. They know that the Ministry has changed & wonder how it will effect their mission & William Jackson Hooker as newly appointed Director of RBG Kew. Over the last year the expedition has been successful & JDH hopes the Royal Society is pleased. JDH has worn out the muffatees his sister knitted for him but does not think she will be able to send more before they reach the Cape of Good Hope. JDH hopes the expedition will now go South in Weddell's tracks & get further than the French did under Admiral D'Urville. Wilkes' American expedition has been 'extinguished', JDH would like to talk about this with Asa Gray who he nicknames 'Bowie Knife'.

JDH writes to his sister Elizabeth 'Bessy' Hooker, recalling how she used to miss him when away in Hastings & imagining that they both feel much the same now that he is in the Falkland Islands. He was distracted from his letter writing by Captain [James Clark] Ross's request that he go dredging, so he has been fishing marine animals out of the harbour all day in foul weather. He found another specimen of the rare Volute Magellanica [Adelomelon ancilla] but as it was distinguished by having an animal attached to it he could not keep it for his sister Maria. The expedition is to sail the next day for the Cape of Good Hope. JDH has also written to the rest of his family & asks them to send him news in return. He asks Elizabeth to request their father, William Jackson Hooker, send him books on Cryptogamic botany. Mentions that Governor [Richard] Moody complimented the students of Mrs Teed's school at Great Campden House, without knowing JDH's sisters went there. JDH expects Elizabeth to be a fine lady on his return, he himself has not seen a lady for over a year. JDH will be glad to see their friend [William Henry] Harvey at the Cape of Good Hope. JDH has not been able to get any interesting 'curiosities' for Elizabeth. He asks her to tell him how she is spending her time & instructs her not to give up her music. JDH loves music & was happy that Lord George Paulet asked his band, on the ship 'Carysfort', to play for JDH. He explains that all 'good ships' have bands of music supported by the Captain & officers. JDH sends his remembrances to [Walter Hood] Fitch & asks that he send a drawing of the Hooker's new home. Asks how their pet dog & cat, Skye & Judy, are. A note records that the cat died two years previously in Glasgow.

This letter will be despatched to JDH's sister Elizabeth on arrival at St Helena. JDH is glad to hear that Elizabeth's health has improved. JDH tells how the last Christmas was spent in a dense fog near Elephant Island. The HMS 'Erebus' spent January in the pack ice working against strong currents & tides. Crossing to the HMS 'Terror' over ice bergs on foot proved treacherous. JDH spent his time drawing & describing plants, the results are now sent to their father, William Jackson Hooker, through Captain Beaufort. Discusses Elizabeth's visit to the Richardson's house & his correspondence with Mrs Richardson. Is glad that Elizabeth is continuing with her music & has learnt to sing. JDH misses music though he is not knowledgeable about it. Dr Sinclair is under the impression that JDH likes the song 'The days when we went gypsying' but he generally prefers old airs to modern ballads. He specifically mentions Ariel's song from Shakespeare's TEMPEST & the sea songs: 'Rule Britannia', 'Yer Mariners of England' & the songs their sister Mary used to play. He declares sacred music to be the best, especially Handel's 'Messiah', he mentions some other pieces & gives many examples of operas he admires. JDH prefers older waltzes e.g. those of Mozart & Strauss & favours marches over quadrilles. JDH thanks Elizabeth & their Aunt Palgrave for sending him their sketches. He commiserates at the death of Lady Callcott who painted a scene of Rio de Janeiro harbour, where JDH will soon be, & illustrated a handbook of Westminster Abbey. JDH mentions acquaintances: the Christys, Carswell & Thomson (recently released from captivity in Afghanistan). JDH is now on his way home via Ascension, where he will eat turtle, & the Azores. JDH anticipates Sir John Franklin will return home if Wilmot is to be Governor of Van Diemen's Land [Tasmania]. Mentions a review of Mrs Rigby's work. Reports of the expedition in the HAMPSHIRE TELEGRAPH contained errors attributed to Lieutenant McMurdo.

No summary available.