The HMS 'Erebus' has just returned from a 136 day cruise south on which they reached a more southerly latitude than the French or American expeditions. This is the first opportunity JDH has had to reply to his mother, Maria Hooker's, letter. He describes being confined to ship & how the vessels bear up in rough conditions in the Southern Ocean. JDH hopes his family is now settled in their new home at Kew 'Brick Farm House'. Comments that it has been so long since he saw a woman that they have become mythical creatures to him. Writes of his feelings at the illness of his sisters Elizabeth & Mary & the likelihood that Mary will die while he is at sea. The expedition will go south once again via St Martins cove near Cape Horn, following [James] Weddell's route, they hope to get further south than [Jules] D'Urville. The 'Erebus' will have to go to Rio de Janeiro for repairs. They will spend some months at the Falkland Islands & JDH will study the mosses, lichens & seaweed as recommended by [William Henry] Harvey. Discusses the prospect of becoming a member of the Athenaeum Club & Linnean Society. Despite the cold conditions JDH reports his health has been perfect. He was sometimes hungry during the voyage south as food supplies had to be carefully managed to make them last their time in the ice. Some bad tinned food was sold to them, they had livestock on board to slaughter for fresh meat & overall provisions were better than on their previous trip southward. They named one of the pigs Miss Franklin, which they considered an honour & compliment to the lady. JDH owes letters to various family members & scientific correspondents, whom he lists. Discusses some 'jewels' sent to for him through [Ronald] Gunn. Mentions Archibald Smith & 'little Minah' of the Smith family, his Scottish friends. JDH would rather send home his surplus pay than waste it in expensive ports. They have few newspapers but JDH has seen his father listed as on the council of the Royal Society.

JDH last wrote to his father, William Jackson Hooker, from Bay of Islands. Expedition omitted Chatham Islands & has been in open sea for 135 days but now nears Berkeley Sound, Falkland Islands. Before reaching an ice barrier they went to a record latitude south. Discusses Sargasso weed, seaweed propagating in open sea, e.g. Macrostaysis pyrifera, & implications for plant distribution. JDH will write to Ward re. New Zealand moss. Heard from Sinclair about WJH's move to Brick Farm House, that RBG Kew is to be a public park & that Balfour got the [botany] chair at Glasgow University not Arnott. Recalls that the Hookers were shunned by most Glasgow academics but he has fond wishes for some of their true Glasgow friends. Is glad James Mitchell is working for Lord Eastnor. Discusses publication of ICONES [PLANTARUM], Gardner's return to England, MONOGRAPH OF SOUTHERN FRAGI & a new sp. found by Bidwell. Describes distribution of Ballia brunoni in Kerguelen's Land & Auckland Islands. Discusses mosses of Campbell Island: new Sclotheimias, Holomitrion perichaetiale, & an Andreaea whose unusual structure he describes. Mentions a NZ Polytricha like Dawsonia, Sprengel's Maschalocarpus ciliatus, a new Hookeria from Van Diemen's Land [Tasmania] & endemic H. cristata. Pities Swainson going to NZ, explains the shortcomings of the colony & notes some disreputable emigrants: Baron Thierry, Mr Macdonnell & Mr Polack but praises the missionaries esp. Colenso. Letter continues dated 8 Apr [1842] with a description of East Falkland incl. birds: Cormorant, Cape Pigeon, Albatross & Cook's blue nosed petrel. Describes procuring skins of birds, but says he never lets ornithology overtake botany. Has some NZ shells for his sister, Maria Hooker. Hopes to go to Rio de Janeiro & collect Cryptogamia for Harvey. Reports landing at Port Louis, a mining town in a desolate landscape where the purser met with Governor Moody. Expects to be home 1843 after crossing D'Urville's Barrier in Weddell's track.