From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
3 Feb [1850]
Source of text:
DAR 114: 117
Summary:
Hooker’s imprisonment.
Birth of Leonard Darwin.
Barnacles will never end; on to fossils.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
6 and 7 Apr 1850
Source of text:
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (India Letters 1847–51: 274–6 JDH/1/10)
Summary:
Spoke too harshly about CD’s involvement in nomenclatural reform.
JDH used to think CD "too prone to theoretical considerations about species", hence was pleased CD took up a difficult group like barnacles. CD’s theories have progressed but JDH not converted. Sikkim has not cleared up his doubts about CD’s doctrines.
Argument with Falconer.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
6 April 1850
Source of text:
JDH/1/10 f.274-276, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:
Charles Darwin [CD] has not been absent from JDH's thoughts during the long break in their correspondence. He probably spoke too strongly about CD's species work & barnacles. speculates that CD was once prone to theoretical considerations about species & unaware of certain difficulties which JDH thought a more intimate acquaintance with species might clear up. Hence was pleased CD took up a difficult group like barnacles. CD's theories have progressed but JDH is not converted. He thought the transitions from one form to another in Sikkim would be more apparent. CD reasons rightly about JDH's Yangma valley; it is undoubtedly a vast moraine. He rejects the Himalayas as an independent chain of mountains & seeks the axis of the great mountain system between the Yarou river & the plains of India. He considers the glaciers of the Himalayan range unrivalled & is convinced they are receding. Explains that it is a double chain likes CD's Andes. [Thomas] Thomson [TT] & [Hugh] Falconer [HF] both regard the greatest Asiatic axis as a sub meridional one. The whole mountain system is incredibly complicated & he exceedingly doubt's Humboldt's system of six Mountain chains. Letter continues under date of 7 Apr. JDH now with HF at Honorable East India Company Botanic Gardens. HF had kept all his letters & overland parcels for five months due to insane procrastination but is now forgiven. HF's society is as ever delightful. HF no longer associates with the Asiatic Society. JDH received CD's Feb letter today & learned that the cold water system has done him much good but is not a cure, JDH sends congratulations on the Darwins' seventh child. JDH came to Calcutta [Kolkata] to persuade Jung Bahadur [JB] to let him travel in Nepal but JB cannot guarantee his safety while absent in England. JDH will therefore go instead to Sylhet then the Khassya [Khasia] Hills & Munnipore [Manipur] with [TT].
Contributor:
Hooker Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
13 June [1850]
Source of text:
DAR 114: 115
Summary:
On Himalayan stratigraphy. Believes JDH’s observations of glacial action are the first ever done east of Urals.
Barnacles and the species theory; impressed with variation.
Effect of CD’s species sketch on JDH’s view of willow systematics.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
26 Nov 1850
Source of text:
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (India letters 1847–51: 314–15 JDH/1/10)
Summary:
Falconer’s misbehaviour.
Geology of Khashia [Khasi] mountains. Speculations on mountain building and origin of Himalayas.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
26 November 1850
Source of text:
JDH/1/10 f.315-316, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Hooker Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[c. Apr 1851]
Source of text:
DAR 100: 164
Summary:
Wants catalogue of small islands that contain peculiar plants. Thinks complete floras of islands in various stages of depression [subsidence] would provide good data.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[late Aug – early Sept 1851]
Source of text:
DAR 205.10: 98
Summary:
James Wilson reports case of salmon hybrids.
Herrings inhabit freshwater lake in Scotland during winter.
JDH will edit juror reports for the Great Exhibition.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[Nov 1851]
Source of text:
DAR 100: 82–5
Summary:
Flora of New Zealand.
Reconsidering variability of insular species.
Becoming convinced of the probability that the southern flora is a fragmentary one – all that remains of a great southern continent.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
[Apr 1852]
Source of text:
DAR 107: 66–7
Summary:
Questions on variation in nature: taxa varying in one region but not another. Variation between vs within species. Rarity of variation in important organs within a species. G. R. Waterhouse’s views on variation in highly developed organs, which CD relates to variation in rudimentary organs.
Asks for cases of obligate self-fertilising plants.
[CD annotation proposes using the Steudel Nomenclator botanicus (1821–4) to determine if variable species occur in genera with many species.]
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
25 Sept [1853]
Source of text:
DAR 114: 150
Summary:
Further response to MS of introductory essay to Flora Novae-Zelandiae.
Disbelieving in permanence of species has made little difference to CD in his barnacle work.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
[9 Oct 1853]
Source of text:
DAR 114: 149
Summary:
Detailed response to MS of introductory essay to [The botany of the Antarctic voyage, pt II] Flora Novae-Zelandiae [1853–5]. CD will curse JDH when, in a year or two, he is at his species book, for "having put so many hostile facts so confoundedly well".
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
10 [Oct 1853]
Source of text:
Swann Auction Galleries (dealers) (1984)
Summary:
Returning JDH’s MS and books.
Reading Mrs Gaskell’s Ruth [1853].
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[4 Nov 1853]
Source of text:
DAR 104: 186–7
Summary:
Royal Society votes its Royal Medal for 1853 to CD. JDH reports the debate and vote at the Royal Society Council.
Honoured for Coral reefs
and Cirripedia.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
5 Nov [1853]
Source of text:
DAR 114: 125
Summary:
Edward Sabine’s official letter announcing CD’s receipt of Royal Society Medal left him cold. JDH’s informal one moved him.
Applauds JDH for supporting John Lindley.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
[9 or 16] Feb 1854
Source of text:
Oliver N. Hooker (private collection)
Summary:
Has received JDH’s book [Himalayan journals (1854)]. Is very gratified by the dedication to him.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[26 Feb 1854]
Source of text:
DAR 100: 86–9
Summary:
Is relieved his book [Himalayan journals] has been well received and glad he has successfully completed it.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
1 Mar [1854]
Source of text:
DAR 114: 118
Summary:
Thanks JDH for dedication of Himalayan journals. CD praises the work and suggests stylistic revisions.
Lyell’s remarks on lava beds in letter from Madeira are not original – they refer exclusively to Élie de Beaumont’s data.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
10 Mar [1854]
Source of text:
DAR 114: 119
Summary:
More praise for Himalayan journals.
How remote was glacial action in Himalayas?
Implies Himalayas were birthplace of many plants.
Final volume of Cirripedia to be printed in two or three months.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[c. 25 Mar 1854]
Source of text:
DAR 205.9: 382
Summary:
JDH summarises letter from Humboldt.
JDH answers CD’s questions on glacial action in Himalayas.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
