JDH confides to Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer that he is worried Asa Gray is travelling more than is wise given his health & age, Mrs Gray has informed JDH that Gray has gone to Washington for a Smithsonian meeting. Gray & [Miles Joseph] Berkeley are the last surviving old friends of JDH's father Sir Willliam Jackson Hooker, JDH has known Gray since 1838. JDH has just heard of the death of his brother in law Henry Francis 'Frank' Symonds. JDH thanks WTTD for his & [George] King's honoraria payment for the Straits' Flora. JDH reports that he has had many letters regarding his speech & will send WTTD a copy; he never writes down his speeches beforehand but can recall what he said & record it for WTTD. He also thanks WTTD for his personal & professional sympathy regarding the Copley [medal] affair. JDH asks WTTD to second Sir Edmund Giles Loder's candidature for the Athenaeum Society.