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Hooker (nee Henslow), Frances Harriet in correspondent 
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From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Frances Harriet Hooker (nee Henslow)
Date:
15 January 1848
Source of text:
JDH/1/10 f.29-31, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:

Since JDHs last letter from Aden they have been on the Indian Ocean, the most uninteresting sea he has crossed. Sighted Cape Comorin last Thursday & landed at Point de Galle on Friday, a few hours after the 'Precursor'. Thought of FH & English friends on Christmas day. Describes the 'Moozuffer' as more like a yacht than a man of war. Lord & Lady Dalhousie are in the Captain’s cabin whilst he, Fane, Courtenay & Dr Bell are in the ships dirty armoury next to the engine. Indian Navy officers do not like ships being used as passage boats. JDH met a godson of FH’s father, Lieutenant Jermyn. At Ceylon [Sri Lanka] JDH again saw Matilda Rigby who left Colombo where James Smith’s house & property is. JDH finds Lord & Lady D extremely agreeable but indifferent to science. Notes the cuisine as odious. Lady D’s health is better & soon after arriving her father, Lord Tweeddale, Governor of Madras [Chennai], came on board in a grand party. JDH will leave Madras on Friday morning & go to Calcutta [Kolkata]. He has not made many sketches since leaving Cairo, he was too busy botanising in Aden. Nearly all his collections have been destroyed from salt water on board ship. His spare papers were also destroyed so he could not collect at Point de Galle. Intends spending a week with George Gardner [GG] at Candy [Kandy], Ceylon on his way to Borneo. Describes curious boats in Madras. Describes the beauty of Point de Galle & the Cinghalese [Singhalese] people with tortoise shell combs & coca-nut oil in their hair. Notes Areca, Betel-nut palms, bread-fruit, plantain, banana, pineapple, mosquitoes, sand flies & leeches. At Point de Galle party divided into three. JDH went on several walks with GG, his father’s protégé. JDH was glad to introduce GG to Lord D who received him kindly. JDH will write shortly from Calcutta.

Contributor:
Hooker Project
From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Frances Harriet Hooker (nee Henslow)
Date:
26 April 1848
Source of text:
JDH/1/10 f.67-68, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:

Extract of letter to Miss Henslow from JDH. JDH had been waiting for three days at foot of mountains for baggage to arrive before going on to Darjeeling. Baggage secured he describes the onward steep ascent & landscape of fog & forests. Detained at Punkabarrie [Pankhabari] he botanised amongst the rich flora but was plagued by persistent leeches. [Pankhabari]. Vegetation changes from palmy groves at the mountain base to oak & Rhododendron forests with violets, Geraniums, yellow raspberries & red brambles. Night arrival at Pacheem, which is horrible and desolate. Describes dilapidated Swiss style bungalow he stayed in & it's Hindu housekeeper. Batch of letters arrived from Calcutta [Kolkata] enclosing all those from Jan from England. JDH must write to Miss Henslow’s father [John Stevens Henslow] about complicated subject of cultivation in the Himalaya. Wants to tell him also of a Paris found there which has a varying number of flower parts, a subject they once discussed in connection with P. quadrifolia. It is now spring in India & it reminds JDH of an English spring. The early flowers are violets, Paris, Convallaria. The climate of the place is desolate but it is laden with botanical treasures.

Contributor:
Hooker Project
From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Frances Harriet Hooker (nee Henslow)
Date:
26 May 1848
Source of text:
JDH/1/10 f.73-74, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:

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.

Contributor:
Hooker Project
From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Frances Harriet Hooker (nee Henslow)
Date:
26 October 1848
Source of text:
JDH/1/10 f.118-119, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:

Comments on scarcity of letters from home, one through Southampton, two through Marseilles. JDH details plans to travel through snowy mountains of Nepal & Sikkim despite Rajah's objections. From Darjeeling JDH will go west with Ghurkas to Kinchin Gunga [Kangchenjunga] & the Tibetan Passes. Describes in detail the men, provisions & instruments he will take with him. Has been assisted with preparations & provisions by: Major Crommelin, [Brian Houghton] Hodgson [BHH], the Campbells, the Müllers, Henslow, Mr Reeks of Geological Survey & Assistant Surveyor General Captain Thuillier. Members of expedition party include: Bhotea translator named Adok; trained Lepcha plant collectors; a shooter & stuffer; & Havildar named Nimbo who is the leader of the porters & in charge of JDH's money. JDH has sufficient funds remaining with Vicar & Co. JDH sending home fungi drawings with zoological tracts from BHH to Darwin. Too wet to send plants. Comments on Forbes getting married.

Contributor:
Hooker Project
From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Frances Harriet Hooker (nee Henslow)
Date:
10 March 1849
Source of text:
JDH/1/10 f.141-142, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:

JDH met Mrs [Archibald] Campbell and her children on their way from Monghyr on the Ganges to Darjeeling. He describes the way the family was travelling in Palkee's carried by bearers with their female attendants conveyed in suspended cages or chairs and the men running on foot. Along the road they rest at Bungalows erected for travellers by the government and at settlements it is customary for strangers to stay in the residents' homes and receive hospitality. Food in India is cheap, as are servants, but they are prone to breaking things. JDH enumerates all the servants [Brian Houghton] Hodgson has: over 20 for various purposes in his household and garden as well as a village full of people who cultivate the land badly but still get a wage. JDH discusses the health, appearance and affectionate nature of Mrs C's children. They gave JDH a palm wood walking stick which he will send to the [RBG Kew] museum. JDH has many letters & an account of his travels for the Asiatic Society to write.

Contributor:
Hooker Project
From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Frances Harriet Hooker (nee Henslow)
Date:
25 April 1849
Source of text:
JDH/1/10 f.162, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:

JDH describes the portrait Mr Tayler is painting of him. The scene is JDH’s camp in a forest after a supposed day of collecting in the snowy Himalaya mountains & features: JDH’s Lepcha Sirdar presenting him with a bunch of Dendrobium nobile; the Ghorkha [Gurkha], Havildar & Lepchas in their uniforms; JDH’s Bhotea dog; bamboos, ferns &rhododendrons. JDH also describes the combination of Thibetan [Tibetan]& English clothes he is wearing for the portrait, including a hat mounted with a silver pebble & peacock feather as marks of rank. Illustrated with a sketch of the hat.

Contributor:
Hooker Project
From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Frances Harriet Hooker (nee Henslow)
Date:
5 May 1849
Source of text:
JDH/1/10 f.166-167, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:

JDH tells Miss [Frances] Henslow how kind the mountain people are to him. He describes his travelling camp, comprising Coolies & Sidars who attend JDH & carry his instruments, a Bhotea interpreter, a Havildar or corporal, sepas, shooters & bird stuffers of [Brian Houghton] Hodgson's & carriers to transport supplies such as food, tents & paper. JDH's only fear is that the Sikkim Rajah may cause trouble & frighten his men, who are nearly all cowards. JDH discusses the behaviour of the Rajah which has been obstructive behind a veneer of politeness, JDH travels on regardless. The Teheba Lama, who Hooker knows from the Teesta, has visited JDH as representative of the Rajah & explained that a letter should have been delivered by the Lassoo Kaji informing JDH he could not proceed until the Rajah had observed a period of mourning for his son but Kaji was disgraced by [Archibald] Campbell & did not deliver the letter. JDH did not give credence to this excuse & the Teheba Lama guaranteed JDH safe passage but he expects to be obstructed again before a guide finally appears.

Contributor:
Hooker Project
From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Frances Harriet Hooker (nee Henslow)
Date:
3 December 1849
Source of text:
JDH/1/10 f.224-225, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:

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.

Contributor:
Hooker Project
From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Frances Harriet Hooker (nee Henslow)
Date:
21 March 1871
Source of text:
JDH/1/9 f.608, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:

JDH informs his wife Frances Hooker, that he is on a steamer from Tangiers to Mogadore [Essaouira] & will send this letter by means of a passing vessel going in the opposite direction to Marseille. The boat they are on is good one but the sea is rough & he & his companion [George] Maw are suffering with sea sickness & lack of appetite but [John] Ball is unaffected. JDH send his regards to all at Pendock, & expresses an intention to write to the 'President of the Wanderers' there [Reverend William Samuel Symonds] if he can remember how to spell his surname. They lay off the coast near Rabat earlier in the day but were unable to communicate with the town. There is a Frenchman on board trying to cure his sea sickness by holding lemon-halves on his temples. Sir. J. Hay has informed them that everything is ready for their trip but JDH is anxious to get to Mogadore & make plans, he thinks the trip may take longer than previously predicted. Mr White the consul at Tangier was a pupil of JDH's Uncle, Reverend William Jacobson, at Oxford University & send his regards along with the gift of cup made from Fez earthenware. JDH has met with a Mr Cardwell, a nephew of the War Minister [Edward Cardwell], who is travelling aimlessly. JDH gives some instruction for Mr [John] Smith regarding care of bulbs. [Edward] Crump is a good man, also currently sea sick.

Contributor:
Hooker Project
From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Frances Harriet Hooker (nee Henslow)
Date:
7 April 1871
Source of text:
JDH/1/9 f.549-550, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:

No summary available.

Contributor:
Hooker Project
From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Frances Harriet Hooker (nee Henslow)
Date:
16 April 1871
Source of text:
JDH/1/9 f.554-557, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:

No summary available.

Contributor:
Hooker Project
From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Frances Harriet Hooker (nee Henslow)
Date:
16 April 1871
Source of text:
JDH/1/9 f.570-571, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:

JDH writes to his wife Frances Hooker nee Henslow about his recent travels in Morocco. He describes the celebrations of the last day of Passover, which he spent with a Jewish family in Tetuan. He describes the journey by mule across flat plains from Tetuan to Ceuta & notes that the vegetation included Tamarix Africana, mulberry & Juniperus phoenicea. He describes the view approaching Ceuta, the agriculture around the Spanish town, the people he observed including Riffians, & the character of the fortified town. They stayed at the Fonda Italiana then went by Felucca to Algericas where they botanised in the hills & observed the differences in vegetation with the opposite coast. The Algericas vegetation included cork oak trees festooned with the fern Davalia canariensis, undergrowth of bracken, brambles, Genista, Ulex, Cistus & heaths as in Morocco. Algerica plants not found in Morocco were Rhododendron ponticum, Erica ciliaris & Sibthorpia europeana [europaea], several grasses & a Helianthemum. The flora was more advanced than in the Marrakech area, the habitat being drier, & the scenery prettier. They travelled on to Gibraltar, where presently stuck waiting for a boat to Tangiers, all their luggage having gone ahead to Tangier. Whilst waiting visited the Governor of Gibraltar, Sir William Williams of Kars, who had been informed of their travels by the Secretary of War, Mr Cardwell. The Governor's house is a new building on the site of an old convent with some fine trees: Norfolk Island Pine, Date Palm & Dracaena draco or 'Dragon's blood tree'. In the hills the vegetation included: Cerastium gibraltaricum, Linaria tristis, Phytolacca trees. They stayed at Fonda Españole near to the offices of the hospitable Mr Cowell. Under date Apr 18 he continues; they arrived late at Tangier & had to pay to have the gates opened. They met with [George] Maw who had travelled South & found the beautiful Iris Sir John Hay Drummond Hay made them aware of.

Contributor:
Hooker Project
From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Frances Harriet Hooker (nee Henslow)
Date:
5 May 1871
Source of text:
JDH/1/9 f.582-584, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:

JDH informs his wife Frances that he has arrived in Marocco [Marrakesh] after a 4 day journey from Mogadore [Essaouira]. He, John Ball & George Maw, are not good horsemen. The Argan forest they rode through was hilly with evergreen trees full of flowers & olive like fruit. They rode through a fertile hilly region then a vast stony plain. They saw Artemisia & Salicornia. Zizyphus & Withania frutescens. Springs from underground streams create oasis where some barley fields grow & straw & mud villages develop around them. JDH describes the wildlife. They saw the tower of the great mosque in Marocco from 20 miles away. They saw Atriplex, Zizyphus, Salicornia & Lycium barbarum, & Oleander. Irrigation wells mark subterranean streams but more of the city cannot be seen until it is reached, apart from some date palm groves & a few other mosque towers. Palm tree stems are used for lintels & rafters in mud houses, the leaves used for sweeping. It takes 3 hours to ride around the city walls which have figs, olives, poplars & palms & Celtis growing over them. JDH describes the tile-covered mosques. Inside of the city is mainly ruinous. JDH describes the population as poor, diseased & lame. JDH has been granted an audience with the Governor, El Graoui [El Glaoui], whom the Sultan has ordered to help JDH. JDH describes El Graoui & his palace. They are staying in Sir Moses Montefiore's on-time house, which has a garden with fruit trees. He lists the principal authorities as the Viceroy; El Graoui & Ben Daud, Governor of the City proper. JDH describes the Atlas mountains as lofty but not very rugged. The Sultan is opposed to Europeans, so the access that JDH has been given is unique. He describes the extent of the Sultan's authority & the government. The Sultan will not have the mountains worked for their copper, iron, lead etc. The party are well, although Edward Crump is variable in his work. JDH invites Daniel Oliver to share his letter with General Council.

Contributor:
Hooker Project
From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Frances Harriet Hooker (nee Henslow)
Date:
14 May 1871
Source of text:
JDH/1/9 f.598, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:

JDH writes to his wife, Frances Hooker, to inform her that he is in a camp at the 'axis' of a high ridge in the Atlas Mountains. The party travelled from Morocco to the place where [John] Washington made an attempted ascent, as described in the JOURNAL OF THE GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY. The 'Caid' or chief of that part of the mountains hates Christians & tried to persuade them not to go further, however they climbed to 5000 feet & could see enough to establish that it was not a god route to the peaks that Washington had been trying to reach. They then went further West. Their progress that way was hampered by the mules being unable to continue for more than a few hours in the rugged terrain & they were unable to reach the snowline there. Instead they travelled to the province of Reraia on the headwaters of the Oued El Fist [elsewhere spelt Enfisk, possibly referring to Tensift River], & then further south to their current position at 3-4000 feet above sea level in the district of Sheik El Graoui. El Graoui has taken them to the lowest snow bed, at 8000 feet. They will next make camp at the highest village, 7000 feet, & use it as a base for botanising higher. They will then try an ascent of the great peaks to the West en route to Mogadore [Essaouira]. The mountains are inhabited by a race called the Shelloos [Shilhah], to whom JDH is administering medical treatment. JDH saw the first sign of ancient ice action in a moraine at 6000 feet but there were no other indications of glaciation in the surroundings. He describes the landscape. He characterises the vegetation as 'mainly Spanish' & notes the presence of: Cisti, Lentisk, Arbutus, Phillyrea, Roses, Honey-suckle, Willow, Ash, Oak, Laurustinus Juniper, Callitris, Walnut, Olive, Chamerops & Elder. Also many species of unspecified herbaceous plants including new ones. Above 6000 feet: wild Gooseberry, harsh grass, many herbaceous Compositae, 2 or 3 Saxifrages, Cruciferae & Leguminosae. They have seen remarkably few ferns.

Contributor:
Hooker Project
From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Frances Harriet Hooker (nee Henslow)
Date:
19 May 1871
Source of text:
JDH/1/9 f.602-603, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:

No summary available.

Contributor:
Hooker Project
From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Frances Harriet Hooker (nee Henslow)
Date:
13 June 1871
Source of text:
JDH/1/9 f.611, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:

JDH informs his wife Frances Hooker, that he has arrived at Tangier having taken a slow boat, the 'Lady Havelock', from Mogadore [Essaouira]. He now hopes to transfer to a China passenger ship bound for London, called the 'Burmah', which will provide a faster passage. [Edward] Crump will complete the journey to England on the 'Lady Havelock' with the luggage.

Contributor:
Hooker Project