[Letter in French, transcript available in French and English]. JDH writes to Sir William Thiselton-Dyer in order to practice the French he is learning. He writes that he & his party have travelled from Nimes to Arles, where he saw the Roman ruins, & from Arles to Cannes during which journey he admired the countryside & particularly the Pinus pinea groups by the sea. He compares Cannes itself to Torquay but less green. They then stayed with Mr Altmann at the Hotel du Cap in Antibes where they also met with Mr Thuret & Dr Bornet. JDH describes & praises Thuret's garden, which is full of plants from all over the world which thrive despite the extreme seasonal temperatures caused by the Mistral winds. JDH personally prefers the climate & greener vegetation of Madeira & Portugal to that in France. The cold weather in Antibes aggravated JDH's rheumatism, the season there is nearly over. He also met a Colonel Roper in Antibes who was there with his wife for her health. Colonel Roper was very well read in natural history, his wife went every night with a princess to a casino in Monaco at returned by train at midnight. JDH discusses Bornet's work on seaweeds which grow within the tissues of lichen & gives his own opinions, particularly on the 'gonidie'. He also mentions the possibility of lichens & algae with parasitic relationships, or whether it is more a case of their primordial condition. JDH continues the letter in English under the address Pegli, near Genoa. He writes that they will go next to Sestri, Spezzia & Florence & notes that [George] Bentham has had diarrhoea & JDH's own cough lingers.

JDH expects Smith has already told Thiselton-Dyer of his 'insouciance' respecting Nice. Thanks Thiselton-Dyer for correcting his [Kew Annual?] Report, he suspects the mistakes were in the record of garden arrivals as [Daniel] Oliver prepares the herbarium records & [John Reader] Jackson the museum acquisitions. He will consider Thiselton-Dyer's suggestion that [George] Nicholson prepare the garden records, as he considers him very able & thinks Smith should make more use of his talents. Mentions that Decaisne gave him Brouquarts'[?] Setewale [Curcuma zedoaria] of Carruthers. JDH will not reply to Miss Booth's letter yet as he wants to avoid visiting her in Lyons, they are trying to keep her father's botanical books together. Tells Thiselton-Dyer not to spend too long on JDH's [Royal Society Presidential?] address. Proposes that the paper on Nepenthes be a joint effort. Agrees with Thiselton-Dyer view on physiological research. Is anxious to read Sachs[?]. JDH calls Florence 'glorious'. The Horticultural Show & Botanical Congress are 'fiascos'. Filippo Parlatore is ill with whopping cough so JDH was made chair of the first session in his place, it should have been George Bentham. Lists some of the attendants. Mentions Carnel brought his Cynomoria to the congress & [Andrei Sergeyevich] Famintsyn read a paper on Myxogasters. Next JDH, Mrs [Frances] Hooker & Huxley go to Venice, then home via Munich. Allman is in Florence but will return in time for the first meeting of the Linnean Society in June.

JDH thanks Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD] for his letter with news of the loss of the ship 'Liberia', on which their friends the Lowes were passengers. Richard Thomas Lowe's death means the Flora of Madeira will never be finished, like so many other systematic works of botany. In Filippo Parlatore's absence from the Botanical Congress, in Florence, JDH was elected to act as President. He describes how he went about organising & chairing the proceedings of the Congress. He mentions the following papers that were given: one on the Colchicaceae of Greece, [Andrei Sergeyevich] Famintsyn[?] on Myxogasters, Caruel on Cynomorium from Sardinia, Schimper on Astrophyllites from the gneiss quarries of Mont Blanc. JDH had to comment on the papers in his poor French which annoyed some attendees. A bust of [Philip Barker] Webb was invested. JDH & the Vice Presidents had an audience with the King of Italy [Victor Emmanuel II], who JDH calls 'repulsive'. JDH is now in Venice & will return home via Paris. [John] Ball & [George] Allman stayed on in Florence, but the latter must return home soon for his election to the Presidency of the Linnean Society. JDH informs WTTD that he is happy to be a President of the British Association [for the Advancement of Science] meeting but will be satisfied if he only presents the joint paper on Nepenthes. JDH & party are well, except for [George] Bentham who has had diarrhoea. JDH briefly had a cough but has recovered. Mr Harvey is also in Venice.

JDH informs Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer that Lord Hatherley has found in George Bentham's favour on all points [regarding the amendment of the Linnean Society by-laws]. JDH still hopes [Marcus Manuel] Hartog will accept the post [of Assistant Director, Peradeniya Botanic Garden] in Ceylon [Sri Lanka]. In a post script JDH briefly discusses a recent experiment with carnivorous plants: Nepenthes rafllesiana & phyllamphora & mentions the difficulty of studying Darlingtonia & Cephalotus.

JDH writes to Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer to complain about the Linnean Society, he describes it as having: 'no backbone, only an os sacrum that ought to be kicked'.

JDH writes to Sir William Turner Thiselton--Dyer [WTTD] about a recent stay with General Birch at Stranraer in the company of the Whites[?] & the Hamiltons. He also visited Lord Stair's Pinetum, run by a Mr Fowler, he particularly admired the white Douglas fir & some Pinus nobilis grown from grafts. He observed that Scotch Fir & Spruce won't grow there. He complains about the late train home from Galloway & the loss of their luggage en route to Wilesden via Carlisle. [John] Smith has gone to Cornwall. [Algernon Freeman-] Mitford is coming to stay with JDH at Kew, JDH likes Mitford so far. Russell, the RBG Kew 'orchid man', wants to leave in order to work on orchid greowing on a larger scale. JDH asks WTTD to consult Moore about a replacement at salary of 25 to 28 shillings plus room. JDH complains about the time he has to take correcting Lawson's reviews. JDH has received a proof corrected by WTTD with a passage about pitchers of Nepenthes marked as illegible, JDH does not know where it came from but has corrected it & sent it to the Academy. JDH complains about misprints in some 'copies' sent to Belfast for printing. JDH expects WTTD to see Harvey's Ericeae for Flora of South Africa whilst in Dublin. He apologises that he cannot send back Barkley's[?] bottles as promised. Reports that [Daniel] Oliver has returned from France & [John Gilber] Baker is away. JDH is preparing for some disageeable work with the Trustees of the British Museum regarding the Admiralty [probably in connection with a dispute over the collections from the HMS 'Challenger' expedition]. JDH intends to lay the case before Sir Philip Egerton privately. JDH asks WTTD to return an enclosed letter from Charles Darwin [enclosure not present].

JDH asks Thiselton-Dyer if the proof of his 'address' has been sent to the publisher, Griffith. JDH describes his present location, Alderley Grange in Wotton under Edge, as 'a lovely place'. Whilst there he is working on the Royal Society address & the 'Primer' [refers to the series of 'Science Primer' books published by Macmillan, for which Hooker wrote the volume entitled BOTANY (1876)]. The following week JDH will go to Bewdley, then to stay with [George] Maw at Broseley, Shropshire, before returning to Kew. In a post script JDH adds that he has read & enjoyed CRUISE ON WHEELS [by Charles Allston Collis] & is now reading [George Eliot's] SCENES OF CLERICAL LIFE, the best thing he has read in years, either fact or fiction. He specifically mentions the story JANET'S REPENTANCE.

JDH asks for Thiselton-Dyer's opinion on an enclosed dedication [enclosure not present]. He reports that he is feeling unwell but must send off his letter to the British Museum.

JDH asks Thiselton-Dyer to give his opinion on a letter JDH has drafted to the Trustees of the British Museum, concerning JDH's Antarctic collections. Daniel Oliver has already given his opinion but does not consider JDH's position regarding the Royal Society. A copy of the letter will be sent to the Archbishop of Canterbury [Archibald Tait]. JDH refers to an enclosed magnolia [not present] which Alexander MacCleay calls fuscata but which differs from the plants under that name at RBG Kew.

JDH writes to arrange a time he & Thiselton-Dyer can confer regarding the [proposed Jodrell?] laboratory.

JDH is determined that he & Sir William Thiselton-Dyer will not lose Currey [as a Secretary of the Linnean Society?]. JDH supports Thiselton-Dyer's plans to reform the Linnean Society. JDH will remonstrate Allman for snubbing the Linnean Society by sending his paper to the Royal Society. Thinks they can succeed in having the Council Room turned into a meeting room on a trial basis. JDH reassures Thiselton-Dyer that his sympathies are not opposed to biological botany. He thinks the work that Thiselton-Dyer was doing for him prior to the Cape flora was not advancing Thiselton-Dyer's scientific status or wealth, though it was of great use to JDH. Thiselton-Dyer's work on the Cape flora was to redress this balance, especially as it relates to his personal field of interest, geographic botany & there is an audience for it. If Thiselton-Dyer had expressed a preference for pure physiology over systematic work JDH would have been equally supportive & still urged him to seek work that was useful & paid well. JDH's opinion of the British Association [for the Advancement of Science] is that it has out lived its original purpose & is now in unnecessary competition with other societies. He concedes that [the 44th meeting of the British Association at] Belfast was exceptional as a useful British Association exercise. The Linnean Society is useful to JDH for its resources, he joined it for his own benefit as well as science's & is willing to exert some effort to preserve it, unlike the BA. JDH observes that the biological side of zoology is becoming associated with the Royal Society rather than the Linnean & thought there should be enough papers for both there is also competition from the zoology and microscopical societies. He thinks the latter should be assumed into the Linnean Society but doubts that is practical.

JDH advises Sir William Thiselton-Dyer not to despair of the Linnean Society. He states that it is for younger men to take the society forward. He is encouraged by the accession of new members. He has given Allman his approval of [John] Gwyn Jeffreys as the Treasurer. JDH is making geological observations in the Malverns & Cotswolds with [Reverend William Samuel] Symonds. JDH thinks tickets have been sent to 'all the men...[Thiselton-Dyer] mentions'. Either JDH or White can provide ticket to the Royal Society soiree for Mr Vines.

JDH informs Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer that he has 'caught' a lord who wants to become a member of the Linnean Society: Lord Arthur Russell M.P.. Wallace of Colchester also hopes to join soon. JDH mentions that Charles Lyell's family are pleased he is to be buried in Westminster Abbey even though it will cost them £300. JDH is sending Reeve [his publisher] statement of correction for the FLORA OF BRITISH INDIA.

JDH thanks Sir William Turner Thiseton-Dyer for his offer to assist JDH with the Macmillan Science Primer [BOTANY]. JDH's plan for the book is to write a series of short introductions to plants incl. some on physiology. The book would be in two parts: facts for the pupil & things they must observe for themselves. JDH asks Thiselton-Dyer to help him write the physiology introductions, he has already written one on cell contents but thinks Thiselton-Dyer could do it better.

JDH discusses arrangements for securing Thiselton-Dyer's pay for his new position [as Assistant Director of RBG Kew]. There has been some delay on Lord Henrys'[?] part. JDH is anxious for Thiselton-Dyer to start work & congratulates him on getting the job, which he hopes has also pleased Thiselton-Dyer's family.

JDH thanks Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer for his letter & sympathises with the trouble he has had about 'the cheque'. He mentions the theft of Bain's portrait. Reeve [Pulishing Company] has not returned the [BOTANICAL] MAGAZINE proofs he promised which will delay publication of some [species] descriptions. JDH has transferred Orychophragmus back to the genus Moricandia from where Bunge had placed it in ragworts[?]. JDH has got engaged to Lady [Hyacinth] Jardine & informed his family.

JDH has just returned from Loch Lomond & found 3 letters & enclosures from Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD]. In turn he is sending WTTD 2 India Office drafts & [James] Backhouse's letter complimenting RBG Kew. JDH feels that there is much more to be done at RBG Kew especially regarding the arboretum. JDH assumes that [Sir Richard] Strachey has returned to London from Aviemore. JDH mentions something that he & WTTD wrote about a Mr Talbot. JDH assumes that the Calcutta Botanic Garden is in a bad way given the conditions it exists in under Mudel[?], who JDH calls a 'jackanapes'. JDH has told [John Firminger] Duthie that he must listen to [George Henry Kendrick] Thwaites' opinion on the destination of the rubber plants Duthie takes out & that it will depend on the condition they arrive in. Some or all may be sent straight on to Assam via Calcutta [Kolkata]. JDH will back 'the Dipterocarp application'. He is anxious that WTTD come forward for the Royal Society despite the obstacle of Bentley. [George] Bentham has gone to the [British] Association [for the Advancement of Science] meeting. JDH reports that the weather in Scotland has been 'tolerable' for his & Lady Hyacinth Hooker's tour of the Clyde, Inverary & Loch Lomond & some of his 'old haunts'. JDH met the Miss Coles on the Loch Lomond Steamer. His wife Hyacinth is an excellent traveller, he describes her as 'a mountaineer'.

JDH & his wife, Hyacinth, intend to go to Skye with Mrs Lyell, Ruamond, Arthur, Mr [William Samuel?] Symonds & Miss Turner. JDH & Hyacinth will then go to Aviemore & afterwards to stay with the Grants, then home via the Colevile's near Dunfermline. JDH describes Professor Peter Guthrie Tait's lecture on force at the British Association meeting as extremely bad & an attack on John Tyndall, which has distressed Thomas Andrews, President of the Association, & Sir Charles Wyville Thomson. JDH thought Andrews' address poor, Alfred Russel Wallace's excellent, Evans' & Charles Merrifield's good but Alfred Newton's miserable. JDH hopes to report favourably on Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer's [WTTD] 'application' soon, there have been some procedural objections enumerated in a letter from Newton [letter not present]. JDH & George Bentham will attend the next Committee of Recommendations & act on WTTD's behalf.

JDH reports to Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD] on the outcome of the recent meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. Mentions sectional addresses by Prof. Thomas Andrews, Prof. Alfred Newton & Sir Charles Wyville Thomson. JDH reports Herbarium at Glasgow is a disgrace to Alexander Dickson, the curator. There is a lack of species and items are mislabelled e.g. horseradish as Asarum europaeum. Declares it was better in George Walker Arnott's time. JDH leaves for Oban and possibly Skye the next day. He hopes to visit the Grants at Aviemore. JDH is pleased that WTTD went to Yarmouth.

JDH informs Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD] that the weather on Skye has been fine & he took the opportunity to explore more. Describes the island geography as being a bog with some remarkable rocks, a mountain & a lakelet. JDH describes the Quiraing, & vegetation he found there: Sileni acaulis, Arabis petraea, Oxyria & Antennaria. JDH says the Storr rock is similar but less remarkable & takes a long time to get there. Vegetation there consists of long grass, Eleocharis, Carex & heath-clumps. They took a different return journey to Portree. He also describes visiting Loch Arnish & Cuillin. JDH describes ascending a mountain & having stunning views of Rum & Eigg, Mull, Ben Cruachan & Argyle round to Sutherland. Gives vivid description of the valley & pitch black rocks. Describes the journey back to the hotel & the fact that Mrs [Hyacinth] Hooker walked & climbed most of it. JDH observed Miocene & Lias period beds between the lava beds. The area reminds him of the Cantal & Auvergne regions in France, as well as volcanic islands such as Auckland, Campbell & Kerguelen. Describes England & Scotland holding the key to the geology of Skye & the Hebrides much as New Zealand would to other southern isles: as JDH advised Sir James Hector. Wonders when his discovery of fossil wood in Kerguelen Island will be noted. Mrs Lyell with her children, Miss Lyell & Mr Symonds have been with them but have now left for Gair Loch [Gairloch] where JDH & Mrs Hooker will follow. JDH will be at Inverness the next day & will arrive at Aviemore on Saturday. He will then head to Stirling to visit his sister, an old college friend & Indian friend. Next stop will be Sir J Colville's near Dunfermline before heading home.