From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Reverend William Samuel Symonds
Date:
--[1885]
Source of text:
JDH/2/22/2 f.53, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Hooker Project
Showing 161–180 of 361 items
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
JDH mentions settling payment to the gardener & coachman. He refers to the showing of the portrait [of JDH] painted by Sir Hubert von Herkomer. JDH is not sure that rowing is good for the health of his daughter Grace Ellen Hooker. JDH is sending Hyacinth a flower from a plant of Shortia galacifolia in bloom at The Camp, it is one of the rarest plants in the world growing only in one spot in the Alleghenies. The plant was given to JDH by [Henry John] Elwes. Mrs Rothey has had another offer on Ribsden but will not accept. Mr Garden counts on going to London. The Duchess of Cambridge is dead. 'Bean' took no notice of Joseph Symonds Hooker's letter.
No summary available.
JDH sends birthday wishes to Brian Houghton Hodgson, who is his only remaining 'Indian Chum' now that Colvile is dead. JDH reports on the illnesses of [Sir Wiliam Turner] Thiselton-Dyer. JDH & his wife Hyacinth plan to go away with the Grays at the end of Feb. Gives his opinion of his father in law, [Reverend William Samuel] Symonds' novel: MALVERN CHASE, & also of [John Keat's] Endymion.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
JDH apologises for not sending his greetings on Brian Hodgson's birthday. JDH last wrote to Hodgson after hearing from Mrs Stirling about Arthur Grote's death. JDH & family are healthy despite the harsh winter weather. JDH has heard they are successfully making pure sulphate of quinine in Darjeeling. Chinese trade is increasing between Tibet & Darjeeling. Harriet Anne Thiselton-Dyer is unwell. The Mallets are going to Grasse. Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant-Duff is returning from India via Rome & the Riviera. Marianne North is pleased with her Alderley home [Mount House]. JDH will be staying at The Camp, Sunningdale for the foreseeable future. JDH & Hyacinth send their love to Susie [Susan Hodgson].
JDH discusses an unspecified event attended by Susan & her husband Brian Hodgson. JDH did not attend as he was visiting Sir John Henry Lefroy. JDH & his wife Hyacinth Hooker would like to visit the Hodgsons in Aug. Colonel Lyell is staying with the Hookers in July. Whilst away in Devon & Cornwall JDH missed a visit from Miss Henslow, Frances's sister. In Cornwall JDH saw many plants of Rhododendron hodgsonii thriving, as well as other species, incl. R. falconeri, R.aucklandii, R. argenteum, & R. barbatum.
JDH asks Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD] about the schemes of [Sir George Christopher Molesworth] Birdwood and the India Office. He mentiosn Baddely. He advises WTTD on how to manage [John Reader] Jackson. JDH speculates on the amount of work it will take to accession the India Museum collections into the RBG Kew museums including the constrcution of new buildings: museum number 1 & museum number 2. He appreciates WTTD's zeal on the matter but warns him that these things usually move slowly thanks to 'indifferent masters'. JDH will take some work off WTD's hands when he returns, JDH cannot spend all his time working on the GENERA PLANTARUM & FLORA OF BRITISH INDIA, he must take on some of the less pleasant duties as well. He reminds WTTD that the fruit of all his labours can be seen in the [Annual Kew] Report. JDH has written to [John] Smith about RBG Kew staff changes & reassignment of gardening duties, specifically regarding Martin, Trueman, Sharpe & the latter's dereliction of number 4 greenhouse. JDH's health has deteriorated again but he will return to RBG Kew any way.
JDH writes to Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer about the progress he & George Bentham have made sorting & packing the herbarium [of General William Munro] to be sent to RBG Kew. JDH & Bentham will go to Torquay the following day & JDH will return via Exeter to visit 'old family haunts'.