Ɛpsilon

From J. D. Hooker   24 February [1881]1

Kew

Feby 24/80.

Dear Darwin

Dr Carpenter’s son, who has just returned from New Zealand, has left with me a roll of photographs, which I learn from a letter from Dr Hector, he wishes me to send to you, & I have done so by this post—2 He has sent me a duplicate set, but I see no interest in them whatever. & much ugliness! We are off for Italy with the Grays for 2 months, in a day or two, but are delayed by Gray taking the mumps!3 which delays our taking him to Torquay (to my sisters)—4

I have been frightfully busy all the winter, but very well— I shall however be most glad to get out of this incessant moil & toil. When I return I shall have to set to work upon the Geographical address for the British Association.5 I am thinking of a short exposition of some the striking facts of Geog. distrib. plants in connection with the voyages or journeys that have yielded these as their results, more or less directly. What do you think of this suggestion?— I should be so glad of your opinion & any hints—

Ever affly yrs | J D Hooker

1
The year is established by the reference to Hooker’s trip to Italy; see n. 3, below. Hooker mistakenly wrote ‘80’ instead of ‘81’.
2
William Lant Carpenter had visited New Zealand in December 1880 (Report of the 51st Meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, held at York (1881): 580). James Hector was director of the meteorological department of the New Zealand Institute, of the Colonial Museum, and of the botanical garden in Wellington, New Zealand.
3
Hooker and his wife Hyacinth travelled in Italy with Asa and Jane Loring Gray from the beginning of March to 12 May 1881 (L. Huxley ed. 1918, 2: 251–5).
4
Hooker’s sister Elizabeth Evans-Lombe lived in Torquay (Allan 1967, p. 224).
5
The British Association for the Advancement of Science met in York in 1881; in his capacity as president of the Geographical Section of the meeting, Hooker gave an address on geographical distribution (Hooker 1881).

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-12498,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-12498