JDH informs his mother, Lady Maria Hooker, that on his return from Cape Town he received a letter from his father, William Jackson Hooker, addressed to him at Madeira, 5 Oct 1840. Discusses the news that his brother William [Dawson Hooker] has gone to Jamaica for his health leaving his pregnant wife Isabella at home. If necessary JDH says he will raise the child with his sister Maria as their housekeeper. JDH has visited Baron Ludwig, known as Baron Snuffy, who gave him William Henry Harvey's GENERA OF SOUTH AFRICAN PLANTS: CAPE TOWN & a picture of the Ludswigburg Gardens. JDH has an account of the Constantia wines & Vineyard. The Cape botanist [Christian Freidrich] Ecklon has gone mad. The 'Erebus' now sails for Possession Island, one of the Crozets where there is a seal fishery. JDH will send his next collection from Van Diemen's Land [Tasmania], including algae from the southern regions. He also has duplicates to send of his current collection, including minerals & a replacement for the St Helena Commidendrum that had the stem eaten by a cockroach. The damp on the ship has made it hard to preserve the specimens. JDH also has pine cones, sketches & other small things to send home. Mentions expenses for drawing paper & washing. Thinks that Captain Beaufort has not transmitted WJH's letter to JDH reliably. JDH has written to his sisters Maria & Bessie [Elizabeth] at Kensington. Asks that his father remember him to Mr Arnott, Dr Graham, Mr Childra & Mr Murray. JDH will send his father an account of Ludwigsburg Garden soon & will write to Adamson, Mitchell & [Charles] Lyell from Van Diemen's Land. JDH sends his plants home to the Admiralty by 'Lord Lynedoch transport' with a letter from Captain [James Clark] Ross requesting they be forwarded to Glasgow.

JDH received his mother, Lady Maria Hooker's, letter of 1 Feb through Sir John Franklin. He reacts to the news that his youngest sister Mary [Harriet Hooker] is dying of a pulmonary disease, it will be a sad return if she is not there to see the curiosities he collected for her, incl. albatross eggs from Lord Auckland's Islands. The arrival of HMS 'Erebus' & 'Terror' in Van Diemen's Land [Tasmania] was announced in a Feb newspaper, he hopes this is not the only word his family has had of him as he has written many letters. He does not know how news of their arrival in Kerguelen's land has spread, possibly a whaler carried a message from Kay to Lady Franklin. Post in the admiralty bag on the 'Hebe', including despatches for Captain [James Clark] Ross, has been missent to the China fleet, JDH hopes to get this mail at Sydney. JDH reports that he is very healthy & the work on ship is making him strong. Is pleased that his father, Sir William Jackson Hooker, will likely become Director of RBG Kew - though ministers are currently preoccupied with a likely [opium?] war. Hopes his family are thinking of him on his birthday. He has received a letter from his Aunt [Elizabeth] Palgrave. JDH expects his mother's earlier, unreceived letters contain accounts of Jersey. He has a messmate named Yule from Jersey whose father was a Lieutenant of Nelson's at the battle of Trafalgar. JDH describes the climate of Hobarton [Hobart], he prefers the cold weather of the Antarctic Circle. Describes the societal delineation between descendant of convicts & other individuals. There are many wealthy families of old & new money but culture, such as literature & music is lacking. JDH hopes for more mail by the incoming ship 'Persian'. JDH thanks his father & grandfather [Joseph Hooker senior] for books & [Walter Hood] Fitch for a sketch. Briefly describes reaching the ice for the first time & the expedition's imminent return to it. Mentions Isabella [Hooker] & her child Willielma Dawson Hooker.

JDH is staying with Brian Houghton Hodgson[BHH], former political resident at the Nepalese court who was forced from that position by Lord Ellenborough but continues his zoological & ethnological work & has made significant donation to the British Museum, as catalogued by [John Edward] Gray. Describes very wet climate. Praises his Lepcha servants. Discusses prospect of being allowed to travel to snows in Sikkim Rajah's kingdom given the current political situation with Bootan [Bhutan], China, Thibet [Tibet], Nepal & the Rajah's past dealings with the British, including Colonel Waugh the Surveyor General. JDH is being assisted in negotiations by Lord Dalhousie & Dr [Archibald] Campbell but cannot go now until Oct because of the season. Major Jenkins invited JDH to Bootan & the Mishmee hills of upper Assam. Will go to the Mishmees tea districts incl. plantation under Jameson at Kumaon, also to get the vegetable products & implements of the Mishmee tribes & determine the true course of the Burrampooter [Brahmaputra]. Will meet Thomas Thomson[TT] in Assam & go into Thibet towards Mansarovar Lake. The Chinese mission has broken up, Captain Cunningham recalled, Strachey in Thibet & TT to continue his researches with help of Sir Fred Currie. Falconer is ill which has delayed the transmission of the first part of the Niger Flora to WJH. JDH now working on copying out the Leguminosae for the Niger Flora. Has received various books from WJH incl. Lindley's which JDH needed to refer to for order Helwingiae. Found Balanophora at 8000 ft. Is sending live plants to Kew via Calcutta [Kolkata] incl.: Rhododendrons, Arums, Palms & Magnolias. Frederick Drummond, son of Lord Stratheden, has died of Jungle Fever caught on a tiger shooting trip & many of his servants died of Cholera. JDH is busy with his collections, making drawings & notes incl. a Journal & 'carte geognostique'. Will send WJH Ceylon [Sri Lanka] notes & Frances [Henslow's] father notes on Himalayan agriculture.

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No summary available.

JDH informs his Mother, Maria Hooker, that at Cape of Good Hope he has got many letters & affectionate tokens from her. JDH has sent home Davis' circumpolar chart showing the expedition route. JDH has not been to Cape Town yet as he has no good clothes. The only 'society' is the crew of the Flag ship. Simon's Bay village has provided some fresh supplies. Letter continues under date 29 Apr 1843 with excuses for delay &again under date 12 May 1843 having left Simon's Bay. Describes trip from Simon's Bay to Cape Town on a bullock wagon road, includes a small sketch illustration of a wagon driver in typical hat. The route encompassed False Bay, Cape Flats, oak plantations at the foot of Muysenberg [Muizenberg] Mountain, view of Table Mt, David's Mt & the area beyond known in South Africa as 'Hottentots Holland', Wynberg village, an estate called 'Paradise', & 'Feldhauzen' where John Herschell catalogued the southern hemisphere stars. Comments on Herschell calling the Ross Antarctic Expedition 'the folorn hope of Science'. En Route to Cape Town also went through Rondenbosch village, over the slopes of Devils Mt & saw the view of Table Bay with the Royal Observatory & shipwreck. Describes the 'wretched' view of Cape Town flanked by Lion & Devils Mountain. Describes Cape Town itself: the houses, streets, castle & street sellers. The library & Baron Ludwig's Gardens are its only redeeming features. JDH briefly met Mr Jadine. JDH is dismissive of the 'ugly fir trees' in the town. Describes the Cape Town people: African-born Dutch known as 'Africandoes', Malay, Indian soldiers & Merchant Navy sailors. Recounts his visit to Baron Ludwig, Ludwig's current situation, health & house. Ludwig has replaced William Jackson Hooker's portrait with William of Wurtemberg, but still has the copy of Peter Schlemihl from JDH's grandfather. This letter will go from St Helena. Discusses his mother taking up music again & the singing talents of other family members. Writes about 'Betsy'.

The HMS 'Erebus' has just returned from a 136 day cruise south on which they reached a more southerly latitude than the French or American expeditions. This is the first opportunity JDH has had to reply to his mother, Maria Hooker's, letter. He describes being confined to ship & how the vessels bear up in rough conditions in the Southern Ocean. JDH hopes his family is now settled in their new home at Kew 'Brick Farm House'. Comments that it has been so long since he saw a woman that they have become mythical creatures to him. Writes of his feelings at the illness of his sisters Elizabeth & Mary & the likelihood that Mary will die while he is at sea. The expedition will go south once again via St Martins cove near Cape Horn, following [James] Weddell's route, they hope to get further south than [Jules] D'Urville. The 'Erebus' will have to go to Rio de Janeiro for repairs. They will spend some months at the Falkland Islands & JDH will study the mosses, lichens & seaweed as recommended by [William Henry] Harvey. Discusses the prospect of becoming a member of the Athenaeum Club & Linnean Society. Despite the cold conditions JDH reports his health has been perfect. He was sometimes hungry during the voyage south as food supplies had to be carefully managed to make them last their time in the ice. Some bad tinned food was sold to them, they had livestock on board to slaughter for fresh meat & overall provisions were better than on their previous trip southward. They named one of the pigs Miss Franklin, which they considered an honour & compliment to the lady. JDH owes letters to various family members & scientific correspondents, whom he lists. Discusses some 'jewels' sent to for him through [Ronald] Gunn. Mentions Archibald Smith & 'little Minah' of the Smith family, his Scottish friends. JDH would rather send home his surplus pay than waste it in expensive ports. They have few newspapers but JDH has seen his father listed as on the council of the Royal Society.

JDH writes to his mother regarding letters exchanged with & news about friends, family & acquaintances: sister Elizabeth, whose health is improving; cousin Gifford, who may have been in a battle in the North West; the Palgraves; Aunt Jacobson; Humboldt; Maria's husband; Frances Henslow; Wheatstone; Stephan Ward; Phillipps; Mrs & Sir C. Lyell; & Darwin. JDH has also written to Reeks regarding the destitute family of Geological Survey Officer Williams. JDH hopes the box of instruments from Adye [Alexander Adie?] has been sent overland not round the Cape of Good Hope. JDH mentions numerous friends in Darjeeling & elsewhere in India: Müller, who he is staying with & for whom he has ordered some instruments from Newman; Hodgson; Barnes, who has supplied him with elephants; Campbell, who has supplied tents; O'Shaugnessy; Sabine, who wants him to make meteorological observations; & Lobb, a plant collector for nurserymen. JDH has also befriended [William] Tayler, Post Master General of India, brother to artist F. Taylor. WT is an artist himself & has painted landscapes & portraits in Darjeeling & Cattmandu [Kathmandu] & intends to paint JDH's expedition party including Lepchas, Bhoteas & animals. JDH describes his new Bhotea dog, a Tibet Mastiff. JDH is sending home his Nepal & Sikkim collections inc. seeds, dried plants, museum items for WJH, & Cryptogamia for Wilson to name & publish as he desires. JDH discusses the publication of his letters in the LITERARY GAZETTE, editor Jordan, he does not think the criticism of them in the ATHENAEUM comes from the same 'L' who denigrated the BOTANICAL MAGAZINE. JDH Also mentions: Stocks' papers in LONDON JOURNAL OF BOTANY; Griffith's PALMS [OF BRITISH EAST INDIA]; a sketch in the LONDON JOURNAL OF BOTANY of his report on McLelland's activities, anticipated comments on the Calcutta Gardens, JDH's coal-fossil essay & the exchange of his Antarctic Flora for Wight's ICONES.

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JDH is at Calcutta [Kolkata] with [Hugh] Falconer. He has failed regarding Nepal so will travel towards Sylhet & Khassya [Khasi]. Uncomfortable terms with Commander in Chief Sir Charles Napier, mean Lord Dalhousie has refused permission for [Thomas] Thomson to spend a year with JDH on duty so he will take it as furlough. JDH discusses Calcutta Society & his friends & acquaintances there, who include: the Colviles; Colonel Thornsby, the British Resident at the Court of Nepal; the Taylers, including Miss T who will do JDH’s portrait better than her father; Jung Bahadur; Gurney’s friend Reverend Street; & the old Bishop of Calcutta. He describes the Nepalese Princes currently in Calcutta, they will visit RBG Kew having paid penance for crossing the water at the temple of Juggernauth. Mr Tayler gave JDH a picture of Kinchin-Junga [Kanchenjunga] as seen from [Brian Houghton] Hodgson’s window JDH will have [Walter Hood] Fitch copy & return the painting & ask Reeves to publish the copy in lithograph with sales profits going to the Linnean Society. JDH is sending sandalwood boxes for his mother & the RBG Kew museum. It is not worth sending unauthentic, overpriced gold jewellery & trinkets. JDH describes his time at Government House with Lord Dalhousie, Metcalfe & Bowie, the latter was prisoner to Shere Singh with the Lawrences during the battles of Chillianwallah, Ramnagar & Goojaret [Gujerat]. He mentions that Courtenay sings at the grand parties & that horses in Calcutta are expensive. JDH will leave for Darjeeling on 9 Apr. He mentions Isabella’s gossip concerning Dr [Archibald] Campbell, Willy, Glasgow College, a Dr C. of Largs & Dr McGilvray.

By this mail JDH has already written to WJH, Frances [Henslow], Colonel Sabine & Humboldt & is sending specimens of cloths for the RBG Kew museum. He has no news of his servant Clamanze reaching Calcutta [Kolkata] with his collections. He comments on the health & employment of [Thomas]Thomson[TT]. Illness caused TT to give up on his reports at Ferozepore [Firozpur]& go to Simla [Shimla], leaving his collections at Calcutta. Lord Dalhousie & the Court of Directors have refused to let TT join JDH. TT intends to join his regiment in the Punjab next Nov & then take leave to join JDH. Before leaving India TT will visit his cousin Sconce at Chittagong via the Cossya & Tiphera &JDH wants to go too. TT has been effected by the deaths of Professor Thompson & [George] Gardener. TT recommends WJH buy GG's collections through the agency of JDH & the Colonial Office. This would interfere with Borneo but JDH does not care where he is employed & leaves the decision to his father. JDH gives Bessy a message about his dog.

JDH is at Choongtam Convents waiting for food supplies suited to his mens' religious beliefs. The Rajah has sent JDH a guide, Meepo, but continues to obstruct him in various ways, which JDH explains, & has ordered JDH return to Darjeeling. JDH refused, reminded him he is a guest of Lord Dalhousie, Governor General of India & demanded all communication be via Dr [Archibald] Campbell[AC]. JDH deals with the Rajah's inhospitality by showing no weakness but being kind to his officials & people, feeding them & providing medical care. JDH describes some spectacular new Rhododendrons & drawings he has made of them. He has also found novel Orchideae & gathered an Aristolochia, Androsaces, Primula & more in a wood of Abies brunoniana & he has only just reached the alpine vegetation. JDH will proceed to the passes leading to Thibet [Tibet], first Lachong, then Lachen but will not cross: the Rajah forbids it. JDH describes his normal daily routine. When not marching his time is spent organising camp, making observations on altitude & climate, catching insects, drying & examining plants & writing notes & letters. JDH describes what he wears to stay warm, dry & protected from the sun & leeches whilst marching. He carries tobacco to give the natives & also uses it to repel leeches. The weather is tolerable but late lying snow hinders his research. The scenery is grand & JDH does not miss society. AC has aided JDH extensively but has proved unreliable with food supplies. JDH asks his mother for news of Josephine Richardson & the Palgraves inc. Frank, Gifford & Reginald. He responds to his mother's request for a neck chain, which he may buy in Dacca. JDH mentions: Prince Albert's comments on Eastlake's marriage to E. Rigby; the health of Aunt Hannah under Mr Webber's care; & Hensleigh Wedgewood's case. JDH has collected Lyellia crispa. AC hopes to be appointed Resident at Nepal & JDH will go with him to Cattmandu [Kathmandu] & visit Wallich's Gossain Than [Gosainthan].

JDH writes to his mother [Lady Maria Hooker] from Choongtam. He has been successful in his trip to the pass at Lachen & the plateau of Tibet. JDH discusses [Archibald] Campbell’s & [Brian Houghton] Hodgson’s attempts to get Lord Dalhousie & the Indian Government to defray JDH’s expenses. JDH declined the offer as he did not want to cause animosity with the E.I.C. [East Indian Company]. JDH talks of the successes of his Rhododendron book & jungle journal extracts which were printed in the Asiatic Society’s Journal. He would like WJH’s telescope sent out, & suggests sending it to Carey or Dolland for repair. He would like to be able to observe the eclipses of Jupiter’s satellites. JDH discusses the sale of Newman’s & Adie’s instruments in Calcutta [Kolkata]. He wants a Kater Azimuth Compass as his is borrowed from CaptainThuillier, Deputy Surgeon General.

JDH has received the books from his mother [Maria Sarah Hooker] & is delighted with the KEW ANNALS. His SOANE JOURNAL reads well. [Brian Houghton] Hodgson gave him the information about Jains. He is finding Turner’s TIBET interesting & will forward a copy from [Archibald] Campbell [AC]. The purses from Bessy [Elizabeth Hooker] et cetera are ready to be sent to their destinations; he sends his thanks to her & his grandmother & also Tom Brigbach, for the razors. JDH discusses a disagreement with the Choongtam Lama involving a Lepcha who he had employed as a hunter with the backing of the Singtam Soubah. He reported it to AC but expects no redress. JDH writes of the opposition he has faced from the Sikkim Rajah & the lack of support from AC, who has many political shortcomings. He sent seeds to [Hugh] Falconer yesterday & is pleased with Reeves’s subscription list for the RHODODENDRONS [OF THE SIKKIM-HIMALAYA]. He has called one Rhododendron 'Hodgsonia'. JDH has received a letter from Edgeworth who holds a Commissionership in the Punjab. Tayler is sending his portrait of JDH home; Fitch should copy it although Tayler will be angry. JDH asks his mother to send him a 'scribbling diary' & 'Nautical Almanac'. He details the money he has drawn. Thomson writes in good health. JDH writes of his collections & asks if they are growing at RBG Kew. He is sending many more pines & Rhododendrons for Kew via Darjeeling. He discusses Madden’s paper & the phenomenon of plants flowering earlier at higher elevations & requests an actinometer to measure solar radiation.

JDH informs his mother [Maria Sarah Hooker] that he is free from the Rajah. The Sikkim Dewan who accompanied them from Tumlong surrendered them on the 23 [Dec] at Cheadam. JDH describes [Brian Houghton] Hodgson’s concerns that they had been captured by the Chinese authorities & would be taken to Lhassa [Lhasa] or Pekin [Beijing]. The aggression was really aimed at [Archibald] Campbell [AC] as a result of his political measures; the Rajah supposed that the British Resident at Darjeeling, AC, was intercepting his letters to the Governor General at Calcutta [Kolkata]. JDH lists the Rajah’s main complaints including: the emancipation of slaves; AC’s refusal to accept Lassoo Kaji as the Rajah’s Agent; & a dispute over land which AC had given over to the Ghorkas [Gurkhas]. JDH describes their capture by the Dewan & his 'Bhotean ruffians', who rule over the Lepchas & try to incite the Chinese to unite with Sikkim against the English, hence the Dewan's behaviour towards JDH at Soane[?] River. AC’s poor treatment arose from the animosity of Singtam Soubah & the Dingpun. The latter had kidnapped 2 Brahmingirls from Nepal & AC had ordered him to restore them. Thibet [Tibet] had nothing to do with it; JDH crossed the border with a Chinese Guard, Lachen Peppon & the Tcheba Lama. WJH must only print the scientific parts of JDH’s journal. JDH fears he will no longer be able to go to Nepal. He has asked Lord Dalhousie to allow [Thomas] Thomson to accompany him to the Khassya Hills instead; they will go to Major Jenkins’s in Assam, in Feb. JDH will want an Azimuth Compass as the soldiers smashed Captain Thuillier’s. AC is well, his new daughter is named Josephine.