JDH congratulates his father, William Jackson Hooker, on his appointment as Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. He heard the news from Clowes & it was in the March papers. Has also heard that his sister, Mary Harriet, is still very ill. He speculates about the salary & housing arrangements for WJH & family at Kew & what will happen to [William Townsend] Aiton. Arnott & [Walter Hood] Fitch will assist WJH in the move from Glasgow. In consideration of WJH's new position JDH has asked [Ronald Campbell] Gunn to cultivate Tasmanian plants that could be sent to Kew. Gunn used to a have an amazing garden in Launceston. Mr Levy[?] has also offered to send Kew things from Port Jackson & new parts of the colony e.g. Moreton Bay, McQuarrie [Macquarie] harbour & the McLeay [Macleay] river, incl. live specimens of the moss; Dawsonia. Mr Bidwell, a merchant who has recently returned from a tour of the North Island of New Zealand, including ascent of the volcano Tongadido, has sent specimens from the expedition to Lindley & others. His specimens of Dawsonia compared to Gunn's & a figure in the MUSCI EXOTICA have made JDH wonder if there are 3 different species or not. JDH has met Captain King, who gave him a letter of introduction to [William] Colenso & told him all about [Allan] Cunningham's death. Clowes' health has improved & he plans to settle at Hunter River, he has been looked after by the McLeays. William Sharpe is engaged in horticulture & has laid out a garden of 25 acres full of Australian & East & West Indian plants growing alongside European species such as snowdrops & Jonquils. Fruits grow very well in Sydney, except for Gooseberries & Currants, as do palms, conifers & tropical Orchids. The 'Erebus' is leaving for Bay of Islands, from where JDH will write again. He does not expect to receive more mail until they reach the Falkland Islands in 8 months. He has a cabin filled with bottles & buckets of animals to work on.

JDH is sad to hear from his sister Maria, that their sister Mary has been very ill. He hopes that a summer spent in Jersey has improved her health. He has sent her a picture of Madeira. JDH understands their grandfather [Joseph Hooker] is on his death bed. He is sure that their other sister, Elizabeth, will fully recover from her illness. JDH has just heard of their father, Sir William Jackson Hooker's, appointment as Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. JDH has not been homesick but thoughts of home & family often distract him from his duties. He must concentrate however as they are to sail south to unknown latitudes again. He is glad that his niece Willielma is thriving. It is midnight & JDH is sitting in the Captain's cabin with a tom cat called Phantome for company. The only sounds the tide & chronometers, as snorers on ship are soon 'cured'. In the cabin there are portraits of the Queen, Washington, Christ & Peter, John Franklin & Captain Parry, also a scene of Weddel's ships in the southern latitudes. There are also books & instruments, clothes & specimens everywhere. There is a large table in the cabin for JDH's particular use & he defends it for himself by leaving his microscope out, which nobody dares move. JDH explains that he was up writing during the night whilst on watch: taking meteorological observations & maintaining the peace on ship. JDH recounts some things he has read in an issue of the ATHENAEUM: an advert for a copy of Greville's Cryptogamic Flora, which JDH asks be bought for McLeay; an account of a cylinder which exploded during an experiment to solidify carbonic acid gas; an extract from 'Dodd's Thoughtage' which mentioned JDH's presence on the Ross expedition. Since writing the above JDH has been on expeditions around the Bay of Islands with Dr Sinclair of the HMS 'Favourite'. Next they sail to Chatham Islands. Mentions some plants have been sent home to the Admiralty via Sydney. Compliments his acquaintance [William] Colenso.