From Sophie Hooker   5 January 1894

Kilkivan.

Queensland.

Jan 5th/94.

Baron Sir Ferd. von Mueller, K.C.M.G.

&c. &c. &c.

 

My dear Baron,

I hope you will not be anoyed at my writing thus to you — I am Brian Hookers1 wife, but I cannot hope that you remember me —

My letter is to beg the aid of your influence in trying to procure an appointment for my husband.

He has been most unfortunate, & is still in New Zealand. He has been there for the last fourteen months, and cannot get back. He has not been idle, it is true; but his Salary was exceedingly small, and he has been compelled to take the last month or so out in shares in the Co[y], because it is short of money & cannot pay.

I am afraid it is quite impossible to get an appointment unless one has someone of influence to speak for one. May I ask you, dear Baron, to do that for him? — for the sake of your old friendship for his father.

I dread asking, but one must move if one must live; and I dare not ask anyone else. I have others, too, to think of beside myself.

I know how difficult it is to procure anything, but if you were only to speak on his behalf I am sure that it would benefit him.2

Sincerely asking your pardon for so troubling you.

Believe me

My dear Baron,

Yours faithfully

Sophie Hooker.3

1
Brian was the son of Joseph Hooker.
2
M wrote seeking a position in Tasmania for Brian Hooker, but without success; see M to J. Hooker, 18 June 1894.Brian eventually found a position on the goldfields in WA; see M to J. Hooker, 5 August 1894 and 2 March 1896.
3
MS annotations by M: 'Kilkivan.' and 'Rec and answ 13/1/94.' Letter not found.

Please cite as “FVM-94-01-05,” in Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, edited by R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora†, J.H. Voigt† and Monika Wells accessed on 18 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/94-01-05