JDH informs Asa Gray that he thinks Picrasma japonica is the same as P. ailanthoides. He is not convinced that Gray's Amaroria is a valid genus, it is close to Soulamea. JDH has seen Monroe. Asks Gray not to send things via bookseller as it is expensive, Trupena's charges are especially high. Mentions Gray's description of Holacantha, & correct use of the term hypogynous. Work on the Arctic flora has led JDH to consider the correct classification of North temperate flora, for example Alsineae; many of which could be referred to Stellarias, Holostea or Gramineae. Speculates that Greenland flora is unique & limited due to glacial factors. JDH can find no specimen of Dupontia cooleyi [at the RBG Kew herbarium]. He asks how Narthecium americanum differs from N. ossifragum. JDH has a newborn son [Brian Harvey Hodgson Hooker]. [George] Bentham is continuing the Hong Kong colonial flora, FLORA HONKONGENSIS, with support from the Treasury. JDH gives his opinion on [Richard] Owen's review of [Charles] Darwin's theory of evolution [ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES BY MEANS OF NATURAL SELECTION]. Mentions reviews of his own essay [on plant distribution in the FLORA ANTARCTICA, supporting Darwin's theory]. Gray owes JDH for Horsfield's plants. JDH bought Booth's Bhutan plants at the [Thomas] Nuttall [estate] sale. [Letter incomplete, it bears no valediction or signature but is written in the hand of Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker].

JDH hopes to send Asa Gray copies of GENERA PLANTARUM with the autumn box of 'distributa'. JDH discusses Sir John William Dawson's criticisms of one of his essays concerning plant distribution [possibly JDH's introductory essay from FLORA ANTARCTICA], addressing each point in detail. Dawson's objections centre on the flora of Scandinavia & supposed geological inaccuracies, many concerning Greenland. In the past JDH & Sir Charles Bunbury have quashed some of Dawson's palaeobotany papers sent to the Geological Society. JDH is convinced his own conclusions are sound, they have the support of James Hector & Sir Charles Lyell. Dawson is against Darwinism & the theory of evolution by natural selection. JDH notes that there is currently a lot of changes in geological theory & hypotheses in the discipline are difficult to prove, there is an argument about the effectiveness of current species variation & distribution in determining past land formations. JDH believes geological & biological evidence must both be taken into account to form a strong hypothesis. He makes the point that all facts began as theory, just as absolute specific creation is now questioned so may creation by variation be disproved, or it could become established fact. JDH mentions his own work on Welwitschia [mirabilis], specifically characteristics of ovules in male & female flowers, & Gray's work on Cypripedium. Thanks Gray for Asimina & urges him to write a systematic resume of American flora.

JDH writes that he has no fruit of Fothergilla & asks Asa Gray whether it's Endocarp separates as coccis. Mentions Parry's seeds. Has been busy with GENERA PLANTARUM, describes the work he has been doing on various orders, genera and tribes for the book incl.: calyciflorous orders, Cucurbitaceae with input from Charles Victor Naudin, Melastomaceae, Abobreae, Elatereae, Loaseae, Passifloreae, Papayaceae, Modecca, Acharia, Begonias, Cartesia[?], Hamamelideae, Saxifrageae, Bruniaceae, Grubbia, Santalaceae & Corneae. [Letter incomplete, it bears no valediction or signature but is written in the hand of Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker].

JDH tells Asa Gray about the death of his father William Jackson Hooker, at age 80. A few days before his death WJH had given Queen Emma of the Sandwich Islands [Hawaii] a tour of RBG Kew, walked in the gardens with [Thomas] Thomson & [Miles Joseph] Berkeley & went with JDH to see the subtropical plants in Battersea Park. JDH's mother [Lady Maria Hooker] returned from Yarmouth to be by her husband's side. There is an epidemic of throat infections in Kew. JDH himself got sick with Rheumatic fever, possibly as a result of keeping vigil over his father. He went to stay with [Archibald] Campbell in Notting Hill to recuperate. He mentions some of the treatments he had & some lingering symptoms. [William Francis] Cowper [Temple] wrote offering JDH the Directorship of RBG Kew & proposing some changes to the Gardens. JDH wants proper scientific help & another assistant such as [Daniel] Oliver to help handle correspondence & work on Ferns. Discusses what assets his father leaves & the inheritance that his children will get, incl. herbarium & library which are left to JDH with instruction to offer them to the nation at a reasonable rate. JDH has heard that [Charles Robert] Darwin's health is improving under Dr [Henry] Bence Jones. JDH gives a report on the whereabouts of his children: William Henslow Hooker, Charles Paget Hooker, Harriet Anne Hooker, Brian Harvey Hodgson Hooker. Adds that his Mother and his sister Mrs [Elizabeth] Lombe are in Yarmouth & Norfolk respectively & will winter at Torquay. The only mourners at WJH's funeral were JDH's sister Maria [McGilvray], his brother in law Thomas Robert Evans Lombe, his uncle Thomas Brightwen & some old RBG Kew foremen including the old & new John Smiths.

JDH writes that he looks forward to Asa Gray's new edition of the MANUAL [OF THE BOTANY OF THE NORTHERN UNITED STATES]. JDH has found revisions to the New Zealand Manual difficult, especially regarding Cryptogams; amongst which only the algae have been well classified thanks to Harvey. Discusses the delay in publishing the manuscript of GENERA OF CAPE PLANTS. Praises Lefever. Complains that Muller is giving his name to pre-existing species & creating synonyms, apparently on the advice of Alphonse De Candolle [ADC] whom JDH finds arrogant & narrow minded. ADC has been unwilling to accept any of JDH's proposed changes to PRODROMUS SYSTEMATIS NATURALIS REGNI VEGETABILIS. Munro's paper on Bambuseae & Triana's paper on Melastoma will be read at the Linnean Society. Morse & Sons of Boston called at Kew. JDH reads THE NATION. Is glad that the Tories will take up 'the Alabama Case', though JDH is 'a Whig myself' (if anything), he thinks the aristocracy had wiser ideas during the 'American War'. He comments on the relative morals, honour & violent tendencies of the upper, middle & lower classes in Britain, with reference to natural selection. Gives his opinion of Malthus' book on population [AN ESSAY ON THE PRINCIPLE OF POPULATION].

JDH informs Asa Gray that he will be happy to see Mr Dexter or Lawrence regarding the Peabody affair. He has found an earlier indication of Euploca in PEOCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY. Has asked Munroe to reply to Gray directly. Munroe recently read a paper on Bambuseae at the Linnean Society. JDH adds that he is sending Gray a photograph.

JDH writes to Asa Gray regarding Alphonse De Candolle [ADC] & his endorsement of Muller creating eponymous synonyms every time he adjust the limits of a species [see also JDH146]. Also comments on ADC's responsibility for the PRODROMUS SYSTEMATIS NATURALIS REGNI VEGETABILIS & on his opinion of ADC as a weak, vain man. Discusses his own recently completed work organising the order Cornaceae [for GENERA PLANTARUM] with reference to: a Himalayan Nyassa he found in Sikkim & Khasia, also mentions Benthamia, Garrya, Bursinopetalum, Mastixia, Torricellia, & Leranthaceae being relegated to Santalaceae. Cucurbitaceae are being printed & [George] Bentham is working on Umbelliferae & Araliaceae. JDH has been nominated for the Presidency of the British Association in Norwich, he fears it will interfere with his plans for an American trip. JDH & [Thomas] Thomson are to be jurors at the Paris [International Horticulture] Exhibition. Discusses the link between class & politics in Britain, predicts the future of political influence in the United States of America & points out the lack of representation of the British lower classes & aristocracy alike in the USA press. Notes that people & the press are more apt to complain about small problems, recently it was snow preparedness in London & bad ferry service in New York. Settlement of the 'Herbarium' affair & consequent payment will allow JDH to stay on in his position at Kew. Darwin is working hard at his 'big book' [THE DESCENT OF MAN[?]]. JDH wants to be informed about the progress of a young man who wrote an article on Agassiz.

JDH urges Asa Gray to publish his botanical writings as a collection, such a work would help JDH with the preparation of Rubiaceae for GENERA PLANTARUM. He complains that the profusion of botanical literature written in the Unites States of America is left to be catalogued, arranged & distilled by British botanists. JDH's mother [Lady Maria Hooker] is ill in Norwich. No news of [George] Bentham. [Daniel] Oliver has not returned from Skye. JDH has told Milligan to send Gray a set of his Tasmanian specimens.

JDH writes to Asa Gray about his taxonomic work on the Rubiaceae family, he mentions the classification of Hedyotis, Gardeniae & Gouldia. JDH regrets the number of specimens, especially African ones, in the herbarium that remain unexamined. He is working on [William Henry] Harvey's book on Cape Genera: he will do the ferns & Lycopods but not the lower Cryptogams, [William] Munro is doing the grasses. Gay's herbarium has arrived. JDH apologises for trouble with a case of [Francis] Boott's Carices [Carex] sent to Gray. Cannot answer [Charles] Wright's letters on Rubiaceae until he has finished his systematic work on the order. Is critical of [August Heinrich Rudolf] Grisebach's work, especially on Melastoma, also mentions Wright's Cuban Melastoma. Suggests the Smithsonian Institute would undertake a particular publication[?] for Gray. Thanks Gray for seeds incl. Picea amabilis & Pera. Discusses the fact that the United States of America & the United Kingdom have different systems of Government. Asks if Gray has read [Charles] Darwin's last book [THE VARIATION OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS UNDER DOMESTICATION [?]] & gives his opinion, at length, on the chapters on heredity through Pangenesis - he considers heredity self evident from observation of propagation & inherent in the acceptance of the theory of natural selection. In a post script JDH adds that he has for sale all the sets of Boott's Carices & reduced rate copies of his book [ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE GENUS CAREX]. Proceeds of books sold through JDH will go to Boott's grandmother, who will have the care of his children. Discusses Gray publishing a supplemental part to Boott's book, comprised of additional drawings lithographed by Walter Hood Fitch's nephew, John Fitch, & outlines potential cost.

JDH & his wife have returned from Scythia via Stockholm, Wiborg [Vyborg], Helsingfors [Helsinki], the Swedish lakes, Copenhagen, Hamburg, Neuenhausen, Utrecht, Leyden, Amsterdam, Hage [Hague] & Rotterdam. He is tired of rail travel & hotels, he would prefer a tent in the jungle or a cabin at sea. JDH regrets that Gray has given up on the FL[ORA]. AM[ERICANA]. BOR[EALIS]. He describes Regel's poor organisation [of the International Botanical Congress] at St Petersburg, including the absence of any Russian botanists except [Alexander Andrejewitsch von] Bunge. A good 'show' was put on & many medals awarded, there was some misreporting of the medals given in the GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. JDH does not like St Petersburg, he prefers Moscow. They stayed with the Andersons in Stockholm, met old Fries, Theodor Fries & [Johnan Erhard] Areschoug in Upsala [Uppsala] & spent a day each with Reichenbach & Booth in Hamburgh [Hamburg]. He admires the antiquities museums of Stockholm & Denmark. They saw Wendland's Palms at Utrecht & stayed with Miguel. JDH returned to a lot of work at RBG Kew, including the matter of opening the gardens in the morning, he thinks it is the right thing to do but will mean reorganisation & a lot of additional work for him as so much of the running of Kew depends on him personally. He is made of strong stuff so can handle the work but he expects [John] Smith, Curator of the Gardens, will be overwhelmed. JDH mentions the state of his personal finances & describes himself as 'living hand to mouth'. Concludes with news that Darwin is in North Wales & very unwell, Bentham & Baker are on holiday, the latter in Geneva, & [Thomas] Thomson is well.