JDH writes to Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD], who is in Gavernie, [France]. Since WTTD left, RBG Kew has had many visitors: the French Royal family including JDH's 'old acquaintances' the Comte de Paris & Duc de Chartres, also [George] Bentham's family & Madame Ragnal. The death of [Algernon Freeman-] Mitford's father in law in Denver, Colorado will delay Mitford coming to RBG Kew. Reports that the Palms in the Palm House have recovered after over heating. A box of Cycad leaves has arrived for WTTD from Denmark also Bangalore Cycas specimens from Cameron & 2 cases of palms from Thornton. [Ferdinand von] Mueller, whom JDH calls 'little better than a lunatic', sent some Andersonias; blue flowered Epacridaceae to be figured in the Magazine [CURTIS'S BTOANICAL MAGAZINE?] but all arrived dead. JDH summarises his correspondence with Maw regarding rock gardens. John Smith, [Kew Curator] will soon return from Cornwall, but he need not as JDH gets on well with his deputy George Nicholson & William Watson is also doing well. JDH, in agreement with Walters, has dismissed 2 lads he found messing around in the Palm House. [William] Nock has not yet turned up [at Hakgala, Sri Lanka]. [James] Zohrab has visited RBG Kew, he expects to go to St Thomas, [Danish West Indies, now the United States Virgin Islands]. JDH has not received the 'Report' & has written to Reid. JDH gathers from the newspapers that Colonel Johnston is in India. JDH hopes that Watt will go to Manipur. JDH describes what a struggle it has been for him & his father, William Jackson Hooker, to develop the RBG Kew herbarium over the last 40 years, with the British Museum [of Natural History] as an impediment. Things have improved for Henry Trimen at Hakgala Garden, [Sri Lanka], & he has received the Landolphias & Cinchonas. [Daniel] Morris also received his cases in good order. JDH is working hard in the arboretum & praises Nicholson's work there. JDH must give his list of palm genera to [George] Bentham.

JDH writes, in response to a letter from Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD], that he is disappointed by the decision of the Board regarding Ernst Gottlieb von Steudel [and the updating of the Nomenclator Botanicus]. JDH advises WTTD to be cautious in appealing to the Board for resources for the Cryptogamic department until it is known how the division of labour on Cryptogams will fall between RBG Kew & the British Museum [of Natural History] under Lefever. JDH also speculates that Algernon Freeman-Mitford may not be first Commissioner [of Works] much longer & this may have a bearing on the matter. Comments on the length of a biography of [Charles] Lyell & wonders whether Hughes will write up the life of Adam Sedgewick. It was foggy in the Severn Valley the day JDH travelled to Pendock, picking up Harriet [Thiselton-Dyer nee Hooker] on the way, at Gloucester. En route JDH saw Frederick William Waller, who he is thinking about engaging to do some building work. JDH is working on Aroideae, his final contribution to GEBERA PLANTARUM. He finds Heinrich Engler's arrangement of Aroideae unnatural & his descriptions verbose. In a post script JDH thanks WTTD for forwarding a Gas Company receipt.

JDH thanks Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer for his letters & replies to his question regarding Mr Woodbridge's concerns about varnishing Marianne North's pictures. JDH discusses an answer to the Board regarding appointment of a permanent foreman for the Herbaceous ground. JDH is not certain whether Dewar should yet be raised to the position of permanent propagating foreman but they will need someone to take on that role too. JDH cannot understand why the First Commissioner of Works [Algernon Freeman-Mitford] will not answer his letter on the subject. JDH thinks that the erroneous report of [George] Bentham's death arose through the death of Mrs Bentham & has been perpetuated by gossip. JDH has met with Frederick William Waller about building a house & likes what he has seen of his work. JDH [& Lady Hyacinth Hooker] are to have lunch with Sir William Guise at Elmore.

JDH writes to Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer regarding a misunderstanding about the building of the Marianne North Gallery at RBG Kew by [John] Lessels & [James] Fergusson. Specifically regarding the vestibule, veranda & some water. JDH also criticizes The Treasury's handling of the matter. He has enjoyed a visit to Barton, he likes his host at Morton Hall [George Duckett Berney] whom he describes as: 'a liberal conservative & enlightened man amongst a neighbourhood sunk in Torydom'. JDH also comments on the decline of farming in the area [Norfolk].

JDH informs Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer that he is sending him an enclosure which he is very pleased about [enclosure not present or described]. He hopes it will also please Harriet Anne Thiselton-Dyer nee Hooker & asks for an answer.

JDH reports to Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD] on the meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science in Southampton. Lawson is attending. The only botanist apart from JDH is [John] Ball. Lord Rayleigh's address was well attended. JDH compliments George Darwin's paper on the effects of the tide in squeezing the earth's surface, a subject that Italian physicists have also been investigating. The President's address was a dull one describing electric & gaseous modes of lighting with a mention of solar speculation. The meeting is small &lacks scientific men. The geology section has been the best with a good paper by Yule. JDH will wait to accompany Lady Hyacinth Hooker back from Poole to Kew unless his presence is required. JDH asks WTTD to forward any letters from his architect Waller. Charles Darwin's sons Frank [Francis], George & Horace are all at the meeting. William Darwin has a place near Southampton & JDH is stating with him, he asks that proofs of the BOTANICAL MAGAZINE from Reeves be forwarded to him there: Ridgemount, Bassett, Southampton.

No summary available.

No summary available.

JDH has just received a long letter from Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD] who is travelling on the continent. JDH responds to his account of a railway accident. JDH comments on the town of Frijberg [Freiberg, Germany]. He notes that he never saw the 'Titi sea' & found the Black Forest 'deficient in water'. JDH liked the Volk's train he saw at the 1862 exhibition. He has considered sending his son Reginald Hooker to the German school WTTD saw. RBG Kew can send plants to de Barg. JDH mentions that he ran into Maximilian Leichtlin at Kew Bridge station. JDH plans to 'shift Xanthoceras'. JDH advises that WTTD will not be impressed by Lavalle's garden though he has a fine French country house. In RBG Kew news, JDH reports that he has condemned Mitford & Lessel's plan for the offices & lists its shortcomings for the offices of WTTD, Oliver, Smith & the Miss Hodgsons. Discusses negotiations regarding Kew Palace, P. Fane has reported that the Queen would be willing to give it up in exchange for an equivalent & Mr Leferne may have a scheme. [George] King has sent a memo to the Government of Bengal regarding the manufacture of the febrifuge [quinine] & JDH has received a letter from Colonel Henderson regarding a quinine factory in the Neilgherries [Nilgiris]. JDH briefly discusses the deficiencies in botany exams, specifically referring to some corrected proofs for the London University Exams & an article written by WTTD on the subject. Marianne north has written from the Cape saying she still wishes to see Welwitschia. JDH reports that Palms have gone to press & printing of Liliaceae is just finishing. JDH has named a curious species of Junceae after [Everard] im Thurn. Harriet [Thiselton Dyer nee Turner's] drawings have been lithographed & are ready for her to colour. Mentions the improvement to the herbarium grounds. Travelling expenses have been curtailed by the Board.

JDH agrees with what Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD] has observed about the lateness of spring vegetation immediately south of the Alps. JDH met Mr Duckworth at the Royal Institute, he had recently seen WTTD & Harriet Thiselton-Dyer, they attended Balfour's lecture which was good in substance but not style. JDH never saw McMurdo's garden but imagines it was a 'floriferousness' looked after by his wife, a skilled gardener. JDH discusses plans for the Temperate House at RBG Kew & what should be put in the 'octagons', wings & centre depending on the conditions. He is certain they should be able to grow Banksias, south European plants & things from the Cape & Australia as they used to do in the abysmal old glass houses No.1 & No.3 museum, figures of the plants grown there can be seen in the BOTANICAL MAGAZINE. JDH hopes de Barg will 'be carried'. Bliss is going on holiday & will prepare the pay sheets before he goes. [John] Smith has returned to RBG Kew but will leave again soon & still does not look well. JDH praise the work of Garrett as foreman & the improvements made to the No. 4 glasshouse. [William] Watson is generally doing well but JDH complains he put the sick palms in the unheated Cinchona pits, among other things. JDH doubts 'Master Derry's competence'. Heavy transplanting work is going on in the arboretum & lumber needs moving from the Zinnia[?] garden. He is about to begin work in glasshouse No.1 where things along the paths are killing each other whilst the middle is a vacuum. JDH wants [George] Bentham to arrange Munro's grasses, he needs to work if he is to recoup his expenses for the last part of GENERA [PLANTARUM]. Spottiswoode has gone to Italy for his health, Huxley is also reportedly ill. Tyndall & his wife visited, they are building a house. WTTD is invited to dine at the Pharmaceutical Society. Brandis will arrive in a week. Sends regards to Bessie White as was.

No summary available.

No summary available.

JDH returned to RBG Kew on 2 Aug 1884 to find John Smith was away in Harrogate with his seriously ill wife. In his absence JDH has made arrangements with [George] Nicholson. JDH last wrote to Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer from Edinburgh. JDH expresses surprise that [George Samuel] Jenman has refused to accompany Everard Ferdinand im Thurn [on his expedition to ascend Mt Roraima?] & suggests he might raise the money for Jenman to go 'as guest'. He is writing to Geological Society & the Royal Society on the matter. He asks if Thomas[?] Foster is going to Montreal. George Bentham has returned to Wilton Place. JDH asks how [William?] Watson's beautiful plan of the palm house should be represented in the guidebook, he thinks it is too complicated for a wood-cut.

JDH informs Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer that he has written to [John] Lubbock to arrange a meeting. He thinks WTTD can make a better plan for 'the offices' than John Lessels [of The Office of Works]. Smith has had a mild heart attack but expects to be back at work at RBG Kew in a day. JDH praises the rock garden. JDH is digesting [James Edward Tierney] Aitchison's letter, JDH wrote to Aitchison about his rose a moth previously. JDH will return to RBG Kew on Monday, 27 July 1885.

No summary available.

JDH describes the grounds of Cragside in Rothbury. He calls it a beautiful 'wilderness' rather than a garden & compares it to the Rhododendron region of the Himalayas & the Alleghenies of South Carolina. The owner Sir William Armstrong plants 650,00 plants a year, prominent species JDH mentons incl: Rhododendrons, Gaultheria, Ramie[?] Callunas, Ericas, Kalmias, Sedum Vaccinium myrtillus, Arbuti, Pernettyas, Polygonum sffine, Berberis & Cornel. Armstrong has offered to exchange plants with RBG Kew. There is a rock garden with [Eucalyptus?] nitens trees caulked by rock plants & a profusion of procumbent Cotoneasters. The gardener reports that the area is untroubled by weeds & JDH saw none. Was surprised by the presence of Cisti [Cistus] in such a cold place. JDH describes Cragside house as 'large & awkward' but admires the collection of paintings & extraordinary marble fire surround created by Richard Norman Shaw, who's work JDH does not generally admire. He criticises Shaw's design of the interior, commenting that is dark; even the [hydro] electric lighting being unable illuminate some areas. The house is isolated, an hour and a half from Morpeth. Describes Lady [Margaret] Armstrong as a cheery old lady who is her own housekeeper. Sir William is an wealthy ex solicitor with no family. John Hancock is at Cragside & JDH visited Newcastle Museum with him, where JDH admired the arrangement of the birds, which were superior to Landseer's & Hecknel's. A soldier Captain Salvin, relative of Osbert Salvin, is also at Cragside & has with him an otter & cormorants trained to fish.

JDH writes to Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD] from [Cragside], Rothbury as he forgot to mention in his last letter, the presence of ferns along with Gaultheria, Heathers & Rhododendrons in the grounds there. Inglis Palgrave has advised JDH that he can afford to retire. JDH goes on to list his reasons for wanting to retire & his reservations about leaving RBG Kew. There should be someone competent in place to assume WTTD's position as Assistant Director when he is elevated to Director. Compliments the competency of WTTD in all areas of RBG Kew's work. Already he does things beyond JDH's understanding e.g. with the [Jodrell] laboratory. Currently JDH worries what would happen to RBG Kew if one of them fell ill, his own strength is failing & he is going deaf. His own retirement is not necessarily an opportunity to get rid of Curator John Smith but would be a good lever to induce the Board to make necessary changes. JDH discusses changes to be made in the Arboretum by WTTD with the help of a good bailiff, William Truelove, & George Nicholson & JDH would help even after retirement if needed. Also mentions planting rare trees & a 'formation' by the lake. He mentions the journey from his home 'The Camp'. Overall JDH thinks it wise to offer his retirement. He insists that WTTD should stay on at RBG Kew, where his work has earned him many plaudits from Government. JDH understands WTTD's nervousness about the change & had intended to work until he was 70 but is glad he can afford to retire now. Comments on WTTD's departmental reorganisation mentioning Truelove & Binden. JDH hopes that the Government might give him a consultant position as they did with Huxley, which would allow him to continue work on his 'beloved' FLORA INDICA & spend more time on the ICONES PLANTARUM & BOTANICAL MAGAZINE. JDH has 'worked in or for Kew for near 45 years, as a Collector, Describer & Director'. The Bentham bequest & necessary supervision of the herbarium will need to be discussed.

JDH informs Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer that he must stay at the Hodgson's until the following Monday. JDH may need to send him a cheque to sign during the extended absence. JDH finds that [Brian Houghton] Hodgson has changed, his memory is poor and he has a cough & bad knee, he may go to Mentone for his health in the winter. The train journey brought back JDH's ear ache but it has passed again.

JDH writes to Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer about his plans to meet with Algernon Freeman-Mitford, Secretary to the Office of Works, on returning to RBG Kew. JDH wishes to discuss with Mitford where to put more offices, potentially the Directors' House or Kew Palace. JDH writes of the decline of John Smith's health & control as Curator of RBG Kew. Smith has promised JDH that all the mould from the [glass] houses will go to the arboretum, & first to the starving horse chestnuts. JDH will be glad to return to Kew, though his hosts at Alderley Grange, the Hodgsons, are very kind.

JDH writes to inform Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer that, sue to illness, he is unable to come to the herbarium as planned. JDH is reading [James Anthony] Froude's OCEANA, Froude is a fan of the Australian gardens. JDH has received a letter from Asa Gray, whose only news is that he is starting work on the Ranunculaceae for the American Flora, JDH thinks Gray will find the Thalamiflorae easy.