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.

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JDH explains why he has not been able to see his father, Sir William Jackson Hooker. He had Captain [James Clark] Ross's permission to leave the ship for home as soon as they arrived at Deptford or Woolwich but Mr Bird, the Commander, refused JDH leave.

JDH writes to his Father from HMS 'Erebus'. He reports that the expedition reached 71 degrees South on Mar 5, further south than anyone except Weddell. JDH recounts the details of the cruise, recording the latititude & conditions on dates from 17 Dec [1842] to 29 Mar [1843]. The expedition sailed via Berkeley Sound, Cape Pembroke, Clarence Island & South Shetlands. Throughout the letter JDH describes sailing in pack ice, bergs & floes. Saw: white Chionis, Petrels, Finner whales, Macrocystis seaweed, confervoid remains, seals & penguins. Encountered land previously charted under different names by D'Urville & Weddel: Terre Louis Philippe, Terre Joinville & Hope Island near Point Francaise. JDH describes & illustrates a new Sargassum collected by HMS 'Terror'. Describes the appearacnce & geology of land & islands seen, especially one unamed 'conical' island where JDH collected specimens of the most southerly plants incl Ulva crispa & Desmarestia aculeata; the only Antarctic & Arctic plants, & an algae he will name after his godfather Dalton. Received gifts from Her Majesty Queen Victoria. On 5 Feb sailed further South than D'Urville, their course was similar to Bellinghausen's. He describes the extreme boredom, discomfort, anxiety & danger of Antarctic exploration. Only Captain Ross JDH & possibly McCormick care about the science of the expedition, for the men there is no entertainment. Continues to recount their travels south through Mar until they could go no further. Re-crossed the Anatarctic circle 11 Mar heading for Cape Circumcision, Bouvet Island but could not find it. Describes a Lamaria, possibly D'urvillea utilis, collected Latitude 43, & compares it with other algae: Himanthalia & Ecklonia. At the Cape they will anchor at Simon's Bay. JDH will collect Cryptogamia & phenogamiae there & visit Mr Jardine & Baron Ludwig in Cape Town. JDH discusses preapring his Campbell Island mosses for publication. Mentions classification of Southern Gymostoma. Discusses Endlicher & Leary's clasfication of Musci & refers to Fries, Brown & Berkeley. Discusses his work on lichens, Flora of Falklands & geographical distribution of Antarctic plants. Mentions the lack of young British botanists. Commments on Smith & WJH's work on ferns. JDH believes a Stegamia from Kerguelen Islands to be the most Antarctic fern. Discusses his hopes for Captain Vidal & Watson's work on plant distribution. JDH thinks the difference in Falkland & Fuegian flora can be explained by his climatic observations. Mentions Prince Albert's interest in the expedition. JDH has collected some rocks from icebergs for Lyell. En route to Rio [de Janeiro] he will return to the study of marine animals. Working with a microscope & the harsh conditions in the ice have taxed JDH's eyes. The men of the 'Terror' have bred a cat for JDH's sister Bessy. Mentions his dog Skye at home. JDH discusses his finances, WJH's new journal & plans for RBG Kew as a public institution vs private royal garden.

Asks WJH to thank his son [J. D. Hooker, away on Antarctic survey] for his note. Has also read a letter JDH wrote to Lyell. Hopes JDH will publish a journal. If he publishes an Antarctic flora, CD will place his collection of South American alpine plants at his disposal.

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JDH informs his Father, William Jackson Hooker, that he has just returned to HMS 'Erebus' after dining on the HMS 'Lilly'. The 'Erebus' is reportedly leaving for St Helena the following day but JDH is uncertain whether this will really be the case. JDH has received his father's letters from Jan 1843, they were brought by HMS 'Samarang' along with copies of the ATHENAEUM, ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, BRITISH FLORA, NATURALISTS ALMANAC, & LONDON BOTANICAL JOURNAL. JDH is sending letters to Frank, Giffy, Sinclair, J. Adamson, Gardner, Aunt May & Grandmother Turner, Westwood, R. Brown, Grandfather Turner & Mitchell, all under cover to WJH & transmitted through Captain Beaufort.

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JDH informs his father, William Jackson Hooker, that he is sending him some bird skins, through Lieutenant Matson of HMS 'Waterwitch'. They were collected by Lieutenant Oakley of the HMS 'Erebus' & are to be shared between them. JDH has more private collections to send home by first opportunity. By the ship 'Queen' JDH sent letters to his mother & sisters via Captain Beaufort. He left letters for his father at Simons' Bay [Simon's Town, South Africa] to be delivered by the yacht 'Waterwitch'. WJH's St Helena Correspondent, Bennett, & his widowed mother have the best garden on the island. Captain [James Clark] Ross intends to suggest JDH for promotion, along with Lyall, he proposes that JDH continue in Naval service to serve only on scientific expeditions as a naturalist. JDH explained that he would prefer to get a job on land & expected to be employed by WJH [at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew] but would not turn down a certain promotion given that he has not yet got a definite alternative. He would not want to enter 'ordinary service' or to go on any Government Expedition lasting longer than a year. Ross also intends to apply for a grant to publish the natural history of the voyage & wants the Navy to give JDH half pay whilst he prepares the botany section. Explains some changes that mean JDH will not have to pass the navy boards to qualify for promotion because of his diploma from Edinburgh. If given the opportunity to go on a short Navy expedition as naturalist JDH would take it. JDH is sending WJH moss drawings through the Hydrographer. The 'Erebus' is preparing to do some very deep sea soundings. JDH asks WJH to send his apologies to William Burnett for not sending him any collections, JDH is only allowed to send specimens to official government depots but will give Burnett or Henslow a set after publication. The Ross Antarctic expedition goes next to Ascension then Rio de Janeiro to set up observatories & JDH expects to be home sometime in Sep.

JDH informs his father, William Jackson Hooker, that he expects to be home soon after this letter arrives. Captain Ross is keen to leave Rio de Janeiro as soon as the Bowsprit is replaced & before despatched from Monte Video can order them to stay. JDH reflects on the expedition now it is nearly over. He is glad to have done it, though it was not what he expected, & he would have found it tedious if not for the study of botany to fill his hours with. Captain Ross has been kind to JDH & he is grateful but he does not love the man & thinks he should have shown kindness to other deserving parties. JDH briefly speculates on his future with the Naval Service, before receiving a Surgeon's Commission he would have to take further exams at Edinburgh [University]. He would rather remain in the service than be a burden on his family but thinks he will be able to pay his way by acting as an assistant to his father in his work at Kew. JDH collected 22 different species of fern at St Helena & 8 at Ascension with only 1 species common to both. Some of JDH's duplicate Auckland Island plant specimens have begun to moulder but the New Zealand ferns are resisting the damp. He discusses the morphology of a Diplazium fern species from St Helena. JDH wrote to Brown from the Cape of Good Hope. Under the heading 8pm JDH continues that e has received a letter from [George] Gardner with letters of introduction to people in Rio, but JDH will have little time to make use of the introductions. JDH regrets that he has been prevented from making his planned excursion to Tejuca in the Sierra dos Organõs to collect Cladonia perfilata. JDH is pleased WJH has got Gardner a position with Fielding. He wishes the prospects for Arnott were as good.

[Responding to WH's 1843-12-6], JH has written to [William H.] Harvey and, in support of Harvey, to William R. Hamilton at Trinity College, Dublin. Thanks for invitation to visit Kew Gardens.

Discusses his success in growing in England various flowers JH brought back from the Cape.

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JDH gives his opinion of the botanic garden in Brussels; he was impressed by the palm collection incl. Elate sylvestris & Caryota urens. The garden secretary Mr Drapier is unpopular. Mentions some other botanists of Brussels: Lucien; Dumortier; Galiotti, whose nursery he visited; Quetelet, who he met at the Brussels Academy. JDH admired the picture gallery in Brussels, especially the Rubens, & the Church of St Gudula. In Ghent he saw further fine paintings & churches. He also wen to Van Houtens nursery with [Joseph] Decaisne's brother, a regimental surgeon. Van Houten has impressive collections of camellias & palms. His collectors in Guiana, Brazil & West Africa were not productive. He is willing to exchange plants with William Jackson Hooker, for things from Antipodes & Jamaica plants such as [Ronald Campbell] Gunn's seeds. All 3 Decaisne brothers, botanist, painter & surgeon, have received the Legion of Honour. At Antwerp saw the cathedral, exposition of plants & botanic garden. Went on to Breda on the 'Diligence' then to Rotterdam & Leiden. At Leiden he has met with [Caspar Georg Carl] Reinwardt & seen the botanic garden, with excellent succulents & Japan duplicates to be sent to RBG Kew. JDH recommends further plant exchanges with the Dutch botanists as they have good connections with the Japan & Java. [Carl Ludwig von] Blume has shown JDH [the Rijkshrbarium] collection of Japan things; which he has at the expense of Siebold & is willing to share with JDH, incl specimen of Staffleria patina. JDH may extend his trip to see HORTUS CLIFFORTIANUS in Harlem & Linnaeus' Lapland dress in Amsterdam. JDH notes how spectacular Blume's collection of Orchideae, drawings & birds is. Visiting Leiden & the Jardin de Plantes, Paris have been epochs in JDH's life. Mentions the high opinion of WJH & his publications in Europe. Discusses his plans for taking over Robert Graham's lectures [at Edinburgh]. Muscologists in Leiden want [George] Gardner's Brazilian mosses.

JDH informs his father, Sir William Jackson Hooker, that he has been looking through specimens at the Leyden [Leiden] herbarium with Carl Ludwig Blume. He is impressed by the number of things from Borneo, Java, Sumatra & Japan & wishes Blume would share duplicate specimens more readily. He suggests that they might exchange specimens if more willingly if places ever actually sent them things for their museum. JDH particularly notes how impressive Korthal's Nepenthes are. Blume & Sibeold have established a garden for things from Japan & Dutch colonies. Blume has promised JDH a specimen of a Sumatran Rafflesia & his described ferns & mosses. JDH describes his impressions of Blume & his wife. Explains that the Leiden herbarium did give India & Madagascar specimens to [Joseph] Decaisne in Paris in return for him doing dissections for RUMPHIA. JDH is disappointed that Blume has published nothing since BIJDRAGEN TOT DE FLORA VAN NEDERLANDSCH INDIË. Siebold only looks after the living plants. Miguel is developing connections with Japan & may in time be able to send specimens to RBG Kew but it will be a long time before his collections match those at Leiden. JDH suggests they send Blume named Java things to try & get Japanese specimens in return. There are two moss men at the Leiden herbarium: Dr Dozy & Dr Molkenboer who send duplicate material to Paris, the latter apparently wrote to WJH but got no reply. JDH thinks Miguel is a very promising botanist & RBG Kew should buy his work on Cycadeae. Miguel is working on peppers, figs & Suriname & Java plants. Many people ask JDH about Charles Darwin because of his book [about the voyage of HMS Beagle]. They also ask after [Robert] Brown. JDH informs WJH of his plans to travel to England from Brill or Hellevoetsluis via Rotterdam. He mentions the British Flora for Edinburgh students, he is glad in Scotland he will not have to lecture in Latin as they do in Leiden. He discusses the merits of Heward's plan for a plant & book agency.

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