His health not good.
Has been reading John Evelyn’s Life of Mrs Godolphin, and Mme Sévigné.
No summary available.
Family news. Finds Shrewsbury too noisy.
Uses the barometer for measuring both vertical and horizontal distances, and believes the rotation of cyclones may be connected to the sunspot activity.
No summary available.
No summary available.
Urges JH to persuade B.A.A.S. to hire W. R. Birt to continue observations at Kew.
Regarding his own publication on hydrography and welcoming any suggestion from JH on various points.
Acknowledges the receipt of his letter, together with the preface and list of contents for the Admiralty Manual. Comments on this. Will arrange for copies to be sent to those designated. Admiralty is grateful for JH's work on the manual.
Francis Ronalds stated that observations at Kew Observatory may be discontinued by B.A.A.S. for budget reasons. WB volunteers to supervise observations at no additional cost. Hopes JH has recovered from influenza.
Anxiety about R. W. Darwin’s health.
Has not seen him for a long time, but is sure he would like to know that her daughter is to be married.
JH's letter of 16 May 1848 was delayed by wrong title for JF, who is now minister of Free Church. Earlier letter from JH never reached JF. Happy to learn that JH received JF's mathematics paper. JF prefers to submit it to R.S.L., but when JF received no reply from JH, JF sent paper to Philip Kelland in Edinburgh, who now expects JF's paper.
Miss Frances Harriet Henslow [FHH]’s letter of 24 Mar has arrived. JDH thanks John Stevens Henslow [JSH] for note received through his mother. Yesterday collected monstrous ear of Thibet [Tibet] barley. Published his thoughts on this subject in the FLORA ANTARTICA; considers the awn to be the lamina of the leaf. Considers geographical distribution of the Cerealia very interesting & is collecting many notes. Discusses observations of crops grown in Sikkim, Bootan [Bhutan], North West Himalaya, Menchoona & Jungle Mehals in the West of Bengal & altitude the crops are grown at. Plants cultivated incl. wheat, barley, peas, orange, beans, buckwheat, sugar came, castor oil, tobacco, mango, jack, radishes, rice, peach, almond, turnip, bamboo, egg-fruited Solanum which make the Brinjals of India,. Is trying to obtain info on crops from Llamas en route to China. A variety of Plantain grows wild among the Rajmahal Hills, has sent collector for specimens from Bhangulpore [Bhagulpur]. Wishes JSH would publish Flora of Cibaria. Describes his day which included a visit to treat Brian Houghton Hodgson Hodgson [BHH], who has been ill. BHH was questioning a man in Thibetan [Tibetan] about geography of Central Asia. Called on Archibald Campbell [AC] to report his return from Nepaul [Nepal] frontiers. Men sent beyond the snows for plants returned, they collected poor, early spring specimens of: Pinus webbiana, three Rhododendrons, Primrose, Yam, Rhubarb, Aconite. Letters from FHH, Falconer, Lord Dalhousie, & Postmasters. Coolies & servants arrived with results of past expedition asking for payment & gifts or 'backsheesh'. Discusses medical work: table-servant, Bengali collectors who took him to Tonglo [Tonglu] & a favourite Lepcha servant called Jippoo are all sick. JDH & Portuguese factotum must do the work of drying plants themselves. Society is wretched but JDH likes the hardworking Lepchas who carry his supplies without complaint, they like him to, or else they would run away.
JDH recounts his excursion to Tonglo Mountain, the plants observed & the collections made. Explains that cold, wet weather made many of his servants sick & unable to work. The most hard working were his Christian servant Clemanze & the Lepchas. Describes habits of Lepchas. Tonglo is 1000ft higher than JDH has been before, this was reflected in vegetation: Iris, Unciniae, 2 Arums, 2 dwarf Panax, Anagallis, Rannunculus, Aconite, Rhubarb, Thalictrum, Convallaria, above them the dwarf Bamboo forming a little jungle, Rosa, Lonicera, Holboellea, Vacciniae, Arbutus, Currant, Rubus, Daphne & Balanophora. Describes 3 new Rhododendrons & promises drawings & plants sent via Calcutta [Kolkata]. He is very keen to get them to Kew. Also collected: a Yew, scarlet Crategus, Rosa, Pyrus, Prunus, Pyrus, 3 Berberis, Wallich's Kadsura grandiflora & an epiphytic orchid. Describes new purple Magnolia. There was no grass & few ferns, lichens & mosses: Cryptogams poor in general. Got no seeds but will return. Has temperature readings for Lindley. Describes sojourn in Lama village, he stayed in the temple & observed the priests' rituals, then ate fermented barley from a woven bamboo bowl. Mentions types of bamboo grown & many useful items made from it, which he is getting for the Kew museum. Also has samples of cloth dyed with Mungeet, indigo & Elaeocarpus. Collectors have returned from Nepal, beyond the snows, where the flora is very different despite the proximity. Most of their collection is rotten, a Frittilaria & a Primrose may survive. JDH will send more collectors, relationships with China & border powers mean he may not be able to go himself despite the efforts of his political friends: Colville, Dalhousie, Elliott & Falconer. Has Carices for Boott & fungi to draw for Berkeley. Mentions: progress on the NIGER FLORA, Rose of Jericho, news of Tussack grass, observations for Humboldt, constant rain, general features of Himalayan botany & adds the letter shld be sent to Darwin at Down.
Has been unwell but is improving. His father also very ill.
Is pleased to hear that his paper is of some use. Various queries regarding the work in question.
No summary available.
Relays gratitude of king of Prussia and royal librarians for copies of JH's Cape Results.
JH's letter of 26 Apr. went to wrong person with same name as JF. Grateful for JH's interest in JF's mathematical paper. Hopes to submit it to R.S.L. Replies to error noticed by JH. Encloses note from Philip Kelland.