JDH writes to Asa Gray about moving house, to The Camp in Sunningdale, & making arrangements from William Thiselton-Dyer to take over from him as Director of RBG Kew. JDH is also busy working on Indian Laurels, sending George Bentham's flora to press, serving on the Council of the Royal & Geographical Societies & preparing the BOTANICAL MAGAZINE. JDH has received many letters of condolence & congratulation on his retirement incl. a note from Lord Iddesleigh which said that RBG Kew is to Hooker what St Paul's is to Wren. The Secretaries of the Colonies & India have written to the Treasury lamenting the loss of JDH & advocating a good pension for him. JDH has some regrets about severing his official ties with these public offices but fears that he will be roped into Treasury committees. JDH intends to withdraw from London Society. He has taken a house for his son 'Willy' [William Henslow Hooker] in Kew & William Thiselton-Dyer & his wife Harriet will take over the Director's house, JDH & his wife Hyacinth will be frequent visitors to both. There are no suitable candidates for the job of Assistant Director, the son of Daniel Oliver the Keeper of the Herbarium is a good prospect but his father is not keen for him to take the position. A knowledgeable secretary will be appointed instead, perhaps [Henry Nicholas] Ridley of the British Museum, who was trained in natural history by Lankaster. Updates Gray on the Hooker family: Hyacinth is well but tired from nursing the baby, Charles Paget Hooker is happy at Cirencester, Brian Harvey Hodgson Hooker has got a job at Melbourne Australia, JDH is prepping Reginald Hawthorn Hooker for Cambridge, Joseph Symonds Hooker is a studious child & good reader, the baby [Richard Symonds Hooker] is lively & still has a long head, Harriet Thiselton-Dyer is in Eastbourne & Grace Ellen Hooker in Paris. JDH is still sorting out the estate of the late George Bentham, RBG Kew will get a significant legacy.