JDH writes this letter to his father, William Jackson Hooker, to accompany some articles ordered by JDH, Mr Gull & Lieutenant Smith. Captain Holt of the brig 'Champion' was to get the items at Valparaiso & deliver them to JDH et al back at the Falkland Islands. In the event that is not possible JDH has asked that they be forwarded to WJH with the bill.

JDH writes to his sister, Maria. He wrote to others by the HMS 'Arrow' on 3 May 1842. HMS 'Champion' has stopped at the Falkland Islands & JDH met with Captain Holt, who is his 'scotch cousin' through familial links with Shelly of Barmouth & Tom Brightman's sister. The latest newspapers JDH has seen are from March with news of the Prince's christening, Queen's speech, bankruptcy of an unrelated Hooker, & death of James McCall of Daldowie. Mentions the failure of 'the African Expedition' & compares with their own Antarctic expedition. JDH has been on a trip to Port William with the Governor [Richard Clement Moody] on the HMS 'Alarm'. Describes the country around Port William. Compares a Port William grass known as 'tussac' with the 'true Tussac grass', which JDH thinks is Dactylis glomerata, & describes the habit of the latter in the Falklands. On the trip JDH collected seaweeds, lichens, new plants & few shells incl. rare Voluta magellanica. JDH has found more plants than expected in the Falklands, especially given the late season. The ship ['Erebus'] is being repaired. As it is now winter JDH's collecting will be confined to lower order plants. The days are short, the nights long & the weather stormy making life in a tent uncomfortable. He describes how they line the tent floor with gravel & sleep in 'blanket bags'. JDH likes Governor Moody, whose father was Lieutenant Governor in Guernsey. Mentions the return of Wilmot & Lefroy, Baron Humboldt & the King of Prussia visiting London. Davis is making a sketch of the ships in the ice for William Jackson Hooker, JDH will send oak to frame it. JDH would like info on the Hooker's new home at Kew. Notes that the Antarctica expedition has not been in the press. On the Queen's birthday they had a smart dinner. Wonders if Balfour or Arnott is the new Glasgow University Chair of Botany. JDH intends send Dawson a Matchero from Valparaiso. Asks Maria to send him new spectacles, an eye glass & some lichens: Cud-bear & Archill.

JDH writes to Charles Lyell about specific points of geological interest encountered on the Ross Antarctic Expedition. Thanks Lyell for giving him Darwin's book with a description of Cape Verde. Also says he values THE GEOLOGICAL RESEARCHER & the profile of Lyell, which he keeps in his cabin with his father & Baron Humboldt's. Describes the Geology of Kerguelen Island & compares it to the account of Captain Cook who knew it as Desolation Island. Rocks incl: Trass, lava, Breccia, whinstone, volcanic conglomerations, basalt configurations, Quartzes & Zeolites. McCormick sent back fossil woods. Letter includes a sketch of Christmas Harbour. Birds incl: endemic Chionis & night Petrel. 3 insects: a Curculio, apterous moth & a spider. Describes the Kerguelen climate. Found more plants than expected: seaweeds, lichens, Mosses & Jungermannia, all perennial South American types. Writes about icebergs near Kerguelen & refers to the theory of erratic boulders which Charles Lyell's son has written about. Describes an agate fossil trunk he found in Van Diemen's Land & his notes on it in TRANSACTIONS OF THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF TASMANIA. The Auckland Island flora resembles that of New Zealand. Describes icebergs, first seen at latitude 63 degrees south. At 66°S collected black volcanic rock containing Olivine from an iceberg, which is illustrated. Describes mountainous land mass at 71°S & an island with a penguin rookery. Dredging to 300 fathoms found marine life: chiefly Mollusca, Crustacea, Corals, Bicellaria, some Ophiura & Syenite rock deposited by an ice berg. On an island 76°S observed signs of the different natural means of rock transportation & land formation. Includes a sketch of the ship 'Erebus' anchored off this island's cliffs. Describes discovery of the volcanoes 'Erebus' & 'Terror' incl. sketch. Discusses abundance of Diatoma found in the tow net & stomachs of Salpa & his belief that it is vegetable not animal. JDH has a geological collection for Lyell Jnr.

JDH informs Ward that the expedition was unable to go to Chatham Islands so he could not get Hypnum Menziesii for Ward. There are very few botanical discoveries to be made in the extreme south latitudes. The wealth of marine animals suggests there should be corresponding plant life but JDH has only found 1 sea plant within Antarctica; a Diatoma. He has found vegetation beyond the previous southern extreme of known plants: Deception Island. He discusses these southerly marine plants: Sargassum natans, Macrocystis pyrifera & a Laminaria brought on currents from New Zealand & propagated at sea by marine animals. The distribution & character of the latter is described at length. Recounts his study of the new Antarctic Diatoma identical to confervoid remains found in fossil powders, & his study of New Zealand mosses incl. a long description of the development of Theca based on dissections of Orthotichum, Dawsonia & Polytrichum & Sclotheimia sp. In general his conclusions agree with Valentine's. His description incl. detailed speculation on Sporule formation, the anatomy of the columellar e.g. in a new species of Entosthodon from Bay of Islands & in other Funaria, & the teeth which connect the peristome to the theca e.g. in Schistostega & Syrrhopodon compared to Syrrhopodon & others. His observations suggest that the distinction of genus Codonoblepharum based on its cone shaped membrane is erroneous. Quotes from his notes on a Campbell Island moss. Speculates on the nature of the annulus. Touches on the mystery of sexes in mosses. States that all this anatomical investigation should aim toward a natural arrangement of mosses, hitherto hampered by ignorance re. geographical distribution & habit. Under date 21 June records his observations on the anatomy of an Orthotrichum & a Sphagnum, incl sketches. Under date July 21 describes: dissection of Voitia, with reference to Brown's description from Parry's Voyage, also the drumhead of Polytrichnum, both incl. illustrations.

No summary available.

JDH replies to letters from his father, William Jackson Hooker. JDH arrived at the Bay of Islands, [New Zealand] 18 Aug. At Port Jackson got 200 species incl. new Sclotheimia. Area is well known but JDH has found ferns & mosses new to Cunningham's flora. Collected animals from 400 fathoms, but no marine vegetation. In flower are: Vitex littoralis, Fuchsia excorticans & orchids incl. Pterostylis Banksii. Found a few lichens, fungi & seaweed. Met missionary, Colenso, through Captain King, they will collect Crytogammia. Describes landscape. Habitat wrong for Andraea, has found Trichostomum peridiatale, Neckera setosa & a Fissidens, looks for Dawsonia & Polytichium dendroides. Colenso will send live specimens incl. Hookeriae rotulata, pennata, quadrifaria & Leptostonum macrocarpona. Thanks Robb & Mitchell for letters. Hopes Thomson succeeds at the Calcutta Museum. Has few opportunities to botanize, is studying crustacea as a temp. alternative. Captain Ross has an excellent collection of marine zoology. Hopes that the findings of the expedition will be of scientific value & public interest. Next they go to Chatham Island, Falklands & the Cape. Hopes his sisters are well. Has concerns re. his Van Diemen's Land flora. Discusses spelling of VDL & name change to Tasmania. Points out errors in ICONES [PLANTARUM] re. Ranunc[ulus] pimpinellifolius & others. Mentions JOURNAL [OF BOTANY], Gardner's return, future plans, Arnott, completion of the Arctic Botany & 'Beechey's'. Compares Fitch's work in the GERENA FILICUM to Bauer's. Wants news from Athenaeum, Glasgow Association, Link & Klotzsch. Mentions Lindley's activities, Bentham's collections & Bagan at [Glasgow] University. JDH is sending a map & drawing in confidence. He stores collections in rum & tobacco casks. Has 20 bird skins, shells & insects for Maria. Describes a ball on the ships Erebus & Terror on Derwent [River], attended by John Franklin. Notes the Antarctica expedition has received less fanfare than Arctic ones.

JDH writes to his father, WJH, re. Falklands plants. Lichens are abundant, algae huge, mosses only now fruiting. He has found the same species as Gaudichaud & D'Urville & kept notes on distribution. Discusses mosses on East Falkland, incl: Andreaea, Sphangnum & Trichostoma. 30 lichens found incl Usnea melaxantha which he compares to a Kerguelen sp.. Collected 50 sp. of seaweed incl Macrocystis & Laminariae. Disagrees with Harvey re. Sphacelaria callitricha. Confervoid plants cover the bays. Fungi are scarce but Lyall will send some in spring, incl. large Agarici. Lists ferns collected, incl. a tiny new Aspidium. Asks that a contribution be made to William Burnett on his behalf. The expedition will soon leave for Cape Horn & St Martin's Cove or other port in Tierra del Fuego, allowing JDH to complete his flora of the Antarctic regions. Discusses Fagus sp. found there by Foster & Mirbel. Mentions 3 plants from sub-Antarctic islands which represent new natural orders. Mentions Niger Expedition. Discusses books on cryptogamic plants. Wants Gardner to help arrange his mosses. McLeary will collect moss for JDH in New Holland [Australia]. Discusses Quinary & circular classifications for cryptogamic plants. Mentions the sale of Bauer's drawings & Fitch illustrating GENERA FILICUM. Fielding of Staddagy Lodge has left his collection to the Botanical Society London. Describes walking from Berkeley Sound to Uranie Bay. Plants seen incl Macrocystis & Sticta. Birds observed: steamer ducks sandpiper, kelp goose, Carcara Hawk, gulls, Teal, oyster catcher & Chionis. Describes the quartz hills & the lichens that grow on them, Uranie Bay, a seaweed possibly D'urvillea, the sand hills & the sp. that grow there. Describes a Usnea. Berkeley is wrong about Darwin finding fungi on timber in the Falklands. JDH is sending a parcel to WJH, as well as plants it incls a sketch by Davis, veneer from HMS 'Terror's' rudder, kaurigum, & Tussac grass seeds to share with Edmonstone in the Shetlands.

JDH last wrote to his sister, Maria Hooker, in May. He is sending her some shells, which he briefly describes collecting & packing. He suggests that she, as a conchologist, should label them. The first specimen of Voluta magellanica [Adelomelon ancilla] has gone to the Government collection but the next will be for Maria. The only land shell in the Falklands is a minute Planorbis, the specimens of Murex sent are from the South Seas. JDH has also collected Auckland Island shells, Albatross eggs & specimens from New Zealand which will be sent later. Describes how isolated the Falklands are. Only Yule & JDH remain in their berth, Oakeley having been promoted to Lieutenant when McMurdo was invalided home & Sibbald is now 1st Lieutenant on the HMS 'Terror'. Describes their food rations & what fresh meat they can get in the Falklands, stock has also been delivered by the ship 'Carysfort' from Rio de Janeiro. Summer has arrived in the Falklands but there is little vegetation to show the seasonal change. JDH has been skating once during the winter freeze. Captain Gardiner, famed for his Zulu expedition, is in the Falklands waiting to take his family to Hazy Bay in the Straits of Magelhaens [Magellan] on the Patagonian coast. If Aunt Palgrave knows Mrs Gardiner's family in Hampstead she can tell them the Gardiners are all well. The 'Erebus' & 'Terror' will soon sail for a port near Cape Horn, probably St Martin's Cove in Hermit Island, where JDH hopes to see the natives described by both [Charles] Darwin & [James] Weddel. They will then go south towards the Antarctic pole again & hope to get further south than Weddel who reached 74 degrees latitude. JDH theorises that the channels in the ice are very changeable, describes sailing through pack ice as pleasant with opportunity for visiting from ship to ship. Explains why such visits are called 'Mollymawking' by Greenland fisherman. They also hunt seals & penguins & have snow ball fights on ice floes. Sends New Year wishes.

JDH writes to his sister Elizabeth 'Bessy' Hooker, recalling how she used to miss him when away in Hastings & imagining that they both feel much the same now that he is in the Falkland Islands. He was distracted from his letter writing by Captain [James Clark] Ross's request that he go dredging, so he has been fishing marine animals out of the harbour all day in foul weather. He found another specimen of the rare Volute Magellanica [Adelomelon ancilla] but as it was distinguished by having an animal attached to it he could not keep it for his sister Maria. The expedition is to sail the next day for the Cape of Good Hope. JDH has also written to the rest of his family & asks them to send him news in return. He asks Elizabeth to request their father, William Jackson Hooker, send him books on Cryptogamic botany. Mentions that Governor [Richard] Moody complimented the students of Mrs Teed's school at Great Campden House, without knowing JDH's sisters went there. JDH expects Elizabeth to be a fine lady on his return, he himself has not seen a lady for over a year. JDH will be glad to see their friend [William Henry] Harvey at the Cape of Good Hope. JDH has not been able to get any interesting 'curiosities' for Elizabeth. He asks her to tell him how she is spending her time & instructs her not to give up her music. JDH loves music & was happy that Lord George Paulet asked his band, on the ship 'Carysfort', to play for JDH. He explains that all 'good ships' have bands of music supported by the Captain & officers. JDH sends his remembrances to [Walter Hood] Fitch & asks that he send a drawing of the Hooker's new home. Asks how their pet dog & cat, Skye & Judy, are. A note records that the cat died two years previously in Glasgow.

No summary available.

Since JDH last wrote to Nathaniel Ward the expedition has been to Cape Horn, where there are many Cryptogamic plants. Refers to some comments Ward made on the Niger Expedition & gives his own opinion of the undertaking, mentioning other 'disastrous' expeditions by Tuckey, Parks & Lander. He suggests that only men who are properly 'acclimatised' should be sent on expeditions. Recommends that Dr William Stanger settle in Van Diemen's Land [Tasmania] rather than New Zealand. Comments that the Niger expedition seems to have had plentiful provisions but does not credit Stanger's claims that the amount of Madeira, ale & claret he drank saved his life any more than he believes his own ship rations prevent scurvy. JDH complains about having to eat bread that was full of mould & maggots, it was sold to them at Hobart from the refuse of a convict ship. Writes about a month spent at Cape Horn where he collected Muscologia [Bryophytes], including Leptostormum Menziesii & Polytrichum dendroides in the mountains & woods; woods comprised beeches, Pernettia, Wintera, Escallonia & Berberis. Describes the reasons for the difference in vegetation between heavily wooded Fuegia [Tierra del Fuego] & the barren Falkland Islands, despite their having similar mean temperatures. He puts it down to soil, geology, topography, diurnal variations & hygrometric state of the atmosphere. JDH likens the situation & rich vegetation of Fuegia to New Zealand. Antarctic climates are of particular interest to JDH re. botanical geography as they have no parallel anywhere else. JDH regrets that Harvey's 'state' will prevent them meeting at the Cape [South Africa] & discussing Cryptogamia. JDH is sending Ward some mosses, strictly for his personal use only, Captain Ross does not like any of the expedition findings to be sent home through unofficial channels. Hopes Ward will soon have more time to spend on Cryptogamic botany, a neglected discipline. Sends his regards to Ward's son & to Mr Loddiges.

No summary available.

JDH thanks George Bentham for writing to him. The geography of plants is one of JDH's favourite subjects. JDH shares his observation that Leguminosae & Labiatae are completely un-represented in the flora of the Antarctic regions, which are far from barren. Scrophularinae by comparison are prominent. One such conspicuous genus in the Auckland Islands is Veronica, he describes the presence of a arborescent species, a sp. known as 'Sodjer Plant', & a blue flowered sp. he calls 'the most Antarctic'. In the Bay of Islands, New Zealand the Veronica are fruticose. V. decussata is common in Fuegia & Hermite Island & is the largest tree in the Falkland Islands, JDH describes its habit in each location. One of the only flowers JDH has seen in the Falklands is the indigenous Calceolaria fothergilli, also Gaudichaud's V. serpyllifolia. On Kerguelen Island there is a Limosellla which grows under ice & water similar to L. tenuifolia. Refers to Bentham moving to Herefordhsire, also his contribution to JOURNAL OF BOTANY. JDH recalls De Candolle asking why he was going to 'barren' Antarctica, JDH does not regret it but the plants he has collected have been hard won. His collections are strongest in Cryptogamia. Mentions the death of De Candolle senior & whether his son will continue his work. JDH praises Endlicher's work at Vienna & Lindley's ELEMENTS OF BOTANY, a more thoroughly illustrated manual would be useful to JDH who is slow at identifying plants. JDH would like to spend some time at home before botanizing in the tropics as Bentham suggests. Next the expedition cruises south again, then goes to the Cape of Good Hope & Rio de Janeiro. Speculates on what he will do once home; will work in his Father's herbarium & then travel again, maybe to the Society & Sandwich Islands [Hawaii] or the Himalayas. Mentions the Niger expedition, asks if Hind's plants from the New Hebrides [Vanuatu] are similar to Australian flora. Requests Bentham propose him for membership of the Athenaeum.

JDH thanks Mrs Mary Boott & her husband Dr Francis Boott for their letters. He associates the Boott's with his youngest sister Mary [Mary Harriet Hooker] who has died from consumption. He is glad to hear that his parents are in good health, he mentions a previous illness of his Father; Sir William Jackson Hooker. JDH is glad that Dr Boott is 'restored'. He is always glad to hear news of what is happening in London, especially in the arts, he comments specifically on the Chinese Exhibition at Hyde Park Corner, a cockney 'Skaiting' shop & skating trips to Margate. He discusses the formation of 'taste' regarding fine art, especially in the colonies where there are fewer example of good pictures. Whilst at sea JDH misses music & paintings, all their 'boxes' [accordions] are broken & the only music is his own whistling. Captain [James Clark] Ross remembers young Frank [Boott] from the Linnean Society. JDH is glad his descriptions of Antarctica entertained Mrs Boott, he explains that most of the time they are surrounded by a 'dreary waste of ice' sometimes enlivened by sights such as the erupting volcano Mt Erebus, the first sighting of which he recounts. He writes that to be an Antarctic voyager is to feel helpless, entirely dependent on a ship which is just a speck in a vast ice-scape. Since last writing JDH has been to Hermite Island near Cape Horn & to one of the Fuegian islands where he has found the winters mild compared to his expectations from the accounts of Joseph Banks & Dr Solander. He describes the cloudy atmosphere & luxuriant vegetation comparing it to the desolate Falkland Islands. Describes sailing under the cliff of Cape Horn which was covered in Fuegian Beeches. Describes the dramatic hills of Fuegia.

No summary available.

JDH writes to Robert Brown about places he has botanised during the [Antarctica] expedition. Mentions Madeira & Tenerife briefly. Describes St Jago flora as tropical vegetation in oases on sandy plains. Notes the Palma Christi bushes, a Anasnaceae[?], European vegetation in the Valley of San Domingo, a Lotus Campanala asphidium & an interesting Umbeliferous plant probably also in Christian Smith's collections. Arrived at Christmas Harbour, Kerguelen's Land in winter, 12 May [1840]. Describes the island, climate & the distribution of flora, noting: a water plant of genus Chara, Conferva, mosses, marsh grass sp. of Juncus, Halorageaceae & Portulacea. Also details distribution of fungi, lichens, Jungermannia, Musci, Filices, Graminea, Compositae, Portulacae, Umbellifera, Rubiaceae, Rosaceae, Caryophylleae, Ranunculaceae & an unknown Bulliarda. All plants are very hardy in the snow. Letter continues dated 28 Nov 1842 addressed from HMS 'Erebus', Berkeley Sound, East Falklands. JDH explains that the letter has been unfinished for 2 years as he was disappointed in the St Helena collections to go with it. He fears his 'out of season' collections from the Kerguelen, Auckland & Hermite Islands are inferior to those of King's ship, Darwin, D' Urville & Cook's naturalist Anderson. Sir John Franklin & Gunn asked after Brown. In Van Diemen's Land [Tasmania] & New Zealand JDH collected orchids for Brown incl. a Freycinetia. Discusses: Kerguelen Cabbage, Chilean Misidendron[?] from Hermite Island, British Museum plants from Macquarie & Royal Company's Islands. Describes geology of Emerald Island. Will send Brown Falklands plants. Expedition goes south to the ice then to Cape of Good Hope & Rio de Janeiro. JDH intends to focus on Cryptogammia. Mentions classification of Gunnera, article on fossil wood in TASMANIAN JOURNAL, the Macleay's garden & the loss of Menzies. Colenso will send Brown NZ fossil woods. Thanks Brown for proposing him at the Linnean Society & Athenaeum.

JDH thanks Francis Boott for writing to him, he was particularly glad to hear Boott's account of the health of his father, Sir William Jackson Hooker. JDH thinks that WJH's new position as Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew will be a positive change for his health, with increased time outside walking. JDH also thanks Boott for sending him a letter from Lady Smith, who JDH remembers meeting at his grandfather's years before. He will copy Smith's letter & return the original to Boott from the Cape of Good Hope. JDH is pleased that Boott is still studying Carices as the genus Carex is important in most Antarctic countries, he asks if Boott has made any observations on its geographical distribution. JDH gives some figures for the comparative occurrence of Cyperaceae to Gramineae in New Zealand, The Falkland Islands, Spitzbergen, Auckland Island, Kerguelen Islands, Campbell Island, & Australia & comments that the descending scale for the southern regions is in perfect accordance with what would be expected from their position & climate. But, this information is confidential as all botanical findings from the expedition are only meant to be communicated through the Lord Commissioners. At Hermite Island JDH found 1 possible Carex & an Uncinia. He was given a plant believed to be Tussac by the Governor [of the Falkland Islands, Richard Clement Moody] but it proved to be Carex trifida, which is eaten by cattle along with Tussac grass. JDH collected some new species in New Zealand & Van Diemen's Land [Tasmania]. He has not heard any botanical results from the American Antarctic Squadron but has high hopes from accounts of them at the Bay of Islands. JDH comments on the 'right of search question' & states that it should not effect botanical correspondence, in his opinion. JDH & Captain Ross send their regards to Boott & his family.

JDH writes that he is sending this note to his father, William Jackson Hooker, with 'Erebus' Seaman Richard Baxter, who has been invalided home. He asks WJH to assist Baxter if he asks. Baxter has been particularly kind to JDH, helping him when he was wet or cold. Baxter has not been in the Navy long enough to claim any benefits. He is not a drunk, his disease is 'organic'. JDH describes Baxter's physical appearance to WJH in a postscript.

No summary available.

No summary available.