JDH tells WJH of his plan for the coming year. He is done with Sikkim & Bhotan [Bhutan], or the 'Dhurmah country', is shut to Europeans; it's Rajah is worse than Sikkim’s. The Mishmis are so unhealthy that Jenkins advises against going there. The northwest is being explored by Captain Strachey – only Nepal remains. JDH describes the best route: straight from Darjeeling to Cattmandu [Kathamandu] via Dunkotah & then to Dawalgeri & Kumaron. He describes the difficulties he will face. The Rajah’s leave could not be refused to the Governor General. The expense would be £600 of which he has £300 from Woods & Forests. He has written to Lord Dalhousie on the matter & hopes Thomson will join him. He has also written to Sir Henry Elliot of his intentions. If Thomson does not join him, he will struggle with navigating by astronomy & languages. He describes orientating himself in Sikkim using an Azimuth Compass, but could not do so in Nepal. The languages spoken, besides Hindustani, are Purbuttyah – Ghoorka [Ghurka] colloquial - & Bhote [Tibetan]. He requests a telescope & one of Newman's short barometers. Should there be any obstacles to his plans for going to Nepal, he will take the Khossya Hills instead. JDH discusses his recent explorations which have included two glaciers, & his collections, including a Cyananthus. He wants WJH to grow the great rhubarb 'Tchuka', which he describes, he thinks it is figured in Royle’s Himalaya Flora. A new Rhododendron & Tsalla are common there at 18,000 ft. He adds that it snows everyday.

JDH informs WJH that regarding Nepal, Hodgson says Sir B. Shakespeare, Resident, will support him with £300. Lord Dalhousie will sanction Government payment of JDH’s expenses, pending application to the Court at Home. Courtenay has written asking about JDH’s prospects in India. JDH is pleased with WJH’s success with cultivating his Rhododendrons at Kew but would like to see the Tchuka rhubarb growing. JDH discusses Lobb & Jenkins. JDH is content about Himalaya vs. Borneo. He asks if Harvey got his letter & comments that Edgeworth is a good fellow. After seeing his Tonglo paper, Edgeworth sent him copies of Ruprecht’s descriptions of Bamboo. Edgeworth asked if WJH grew the 'Cleime' from Aden. JDH will send ferns from Darjeeling. He has heard of McNab’s death in Edinburgh. WJH should see Roxburgh for information on the Toddy Palm at Madras [Chennai], it is Phoenix sylvestris, though other plants also yield toddy. There are two Stracheys: Henry is travelling up the Indus to Neeli Pass & Richard is awaiting him there. He instructs WJH not to be jostled out of the house by Aiton. JDH sends regards to the Deleports. Tayler intends to send JDH’s portrait as a gift for Frances Henslow. Wight has sent JDH his ILLUSTRATIONS [OF INDIAN BOTANY] & JDH wants to give him, & the Rajah of Nepal copies of the RHODODENDROND [OF THE SIKKIM-HIMALAYA]. JDH adds that most of the seeds he sends should be grown as alpines, some may be mislabelled.

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JDH & [Archibald] Campbell [AC] are on route to Lachen Pass [Kongra Lama]. He asks WJH or J.[John] Smith to keep a list of all the fruits & seeds he sends. Jatamansi [Paom peu Bhot] has ripened. JDH sends [Hugh] Falconer duplicates of all his seeds. He describes AC’s altitude sickness & his temperament.

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JDH writes to WJH, informing him that he & [Archibald] Campbell [AC] are prisoners of the Sikkim Rajah, but JDH does not fear for their safety. He describes their imprisonment & speculates as to the reasons for it. JDH has been copying out AC’s dispatches to Government & sends a copy of his journal for [Brian Houghton] Hodgson to forward to WJH. His friend Meepo remains loyal & will hopefully get this to Darjeeling so the military can bring about their release. JDH reassures WJH about his situation, & asks him to write to France Henslow & Aunt Palgrave. He has letters for Bentham, Berkeley & Darwin. He sympathises with AC’s wife. JDH asks if his Meconopsis have grown. He adds that Thomson will be at Darjeeling on the 20th.

JDH knows that the Rajah spread news that he & [Archibald] Campbell [AC] were dead & wants to know if the misinformation reached England. He believes they will soon be released. He will then go to Nepal, where the Rajah is more honourable & has given Lord Dalhousie his consent for JDH to explore the region. He shall go once [Thomas] Thomson joins him & he has sent his collections to Darjeeling. JDH describes their imprisonment & the Bhotia authorities; the Lepcha people sympathise with them. The Lamas are now supporting them too. The Rajah is in a difficult situation; the Superintendent of Darjeeling will continue his course of action. JDH describes AC’s character & health. Their only contact with the Durbar [Court] is through a 'spy', Toba Singh, who misrepresents them to the Rajah. [Brian Houghton] Hodgson remains at Darjeeling to aid their communications & comfort Mrs AC. After Nepal, JDH hopes to visit Calcutta [Kolkata] or Bombay [Mumbai] before returning home in November.

JDH & Brian [Houghton Hodgson] [BHH] have both written to WJH about his situation. He explains the reason for [Archibald's] Campbell’s [AC] imprisonment: the Tartars & Bhothias believed that by capturing an authority they can bend him to their will. When this did not work, they invented offences in order to hold AC, but the Government have now intervened. The accusations are now of trespassing on the Thibet [Tibet] frontier. JDH & AC went there with the assent of the Chinese Lepchas & the Lachen Peppin who is the Sikkim authority. JDH’s Sirdars are in chains & his party disbanded, only Hopenar[?] remains. He discusses his seed collections & botanical matters, including Balanophora polyandra. The Nepal Terai is impassable until 15 Nov due to malaria & JDH will not travel to Calcutta [Kolkata] or Bombay [Mumbai] any earlier. [Nathaniel] Wallich will verify this. Lord Dalhousie will assist JDH & [Thomas] Thomson [TT] in applying to the Nepal Durbar. BHH is looking out for TT who has not yet arrived. JDH is glad Lindley liked his letter & thinks Klotzsch will make a mess of the collections of Prince Vladmier [Vladimir?]. With Wallich, Don & Hamilton working at cross-purposes, the whole Himalayan Flora is in the hands of JDH & TT. It can only be elucidated with Bogden & Wallich’s herbaria. JDH is sorry to hear of the Bishop of Norwich’s death & suggests Owen, if Brown will not take the position. Lord Derby was useless in the role. Bentham will offer sound advice. JDH discusses the wisdom of the Geological & Geographical Society in selecting men such as Hamilton, Lyle & Murchison.

JDH informs his mother [Maria Sarah Hooker] that he is free from the Rajah. The Sikkim Dewan who accompanied them from Tumlong surrendered them on the 23 [Dec] at Cheadam. JDH describes [Brian Houghton] Hodgson’s concerns that they had been captured by the Chinese authorities & would be taken to Lhassa [Lhasa] or Pekin [Beijing]. The aggression was really aimed at [Archibald] Campbell [AC] as a result of his political measures; the Rajah supposed that the British Resident at Darjeeling, AC, was intercepting his letters to the Governor General at Calcutta [Kolkata]. JDH lists the Rajah’s main complaints including: the emancipation of slaves; AC’s refusal to accept Lassoo Kaji as the Rajah’s Agent; & a dispute over land which AC had given over to the Ghorkas [Gurkhas]. JDH describes their capture by the Dewan & his 'Bhotean ruffians', who rule over the Lepchas & try to incite the Chinese to unite with Sikkim against the English, hence the Dewan's behaviour towards JDH at Soane[?] River. AC’s poor treatment arose from the animosity of Singtam Soubah & the Dingpun. The latter had kidnapped 2 Brahmingirls from Nepal & AC had ordered him to restore them. Thibet [Tibet] had nothing to do with it; JDH crossed the border with a Chinese Guard, Lachen Peppon & the Tcheba Lama. WJH must only print the scientific parts of JDH’s journal. JDH fears he will no longer be able to go to Nepal. He has asked Lord Dalhousie to allow [Thomas] Thomson to accompany him to the Khassya Hills instead; they will go to Major Jenkins’s in Assam, in Feb. JDH will want an Azimuth Compass as the soldiers smashed Captain Thuillier’s. AC is well, his new daughter is named Josephine.