WCP6707

[1]¹

Box 226[,] P.O. Victoria[,] British Columbia

19 December 1882.

My dear Hooker

Your much prised[sic] letter of March 29/[18]69 your first is before me and a strong desire is on me to address you once more. Your replies to mine of Feb[ruar]y [18]69 alluded primarily, if memory serves, to your address in [18]68 before the British Association on [1 word illeg] matters — but also to many [2 words illeg].

Our correspondence lasted at least to until 1872. You always expressed a desire for seeds or bulbs. Do you still wish for any from around Victoria? For two or three years past I have been sending bulbs to A.R. Wallace now at Nutwood Cottage[,] Godalming. Was glad to notice that he had been pensioned by Gov[ernmen]t. Name what you wish should you want either seeds or bulbs and I will gladly send them. Thanks for the annual report of doings at Kew. Nuttall² who failed to deliver the Kamass³ has gone to the [2 words illeg] years ago.

My old age has been cheered by a conviction of the truth of Modern Spiritualism on which commenced correspondence with Wallace, who has latterly been an apostle of what a Glasgow adverse critic termed the Land[?] Gospel or [1 word illeg] national[.] [2] On this subject have ^you seen Progress and Poverty by the American Henry George⁴, a learned[,] eloquent and able writer. Remember when abolition of West India negro slavery was regarded as a "delusion and a snare" — The Land Gospel from its acceptance by those grateful men regard as the next great change to be peacably[sic] carried out in the British Isles — Greatly liked your friend Tyndall's⁵suggestion that a statue to Emerson (R.W.)⁶ should stand at Chelsea near to that of [1 word illeg] Tammas [Thomas] Carlyle⁷ lately unveiled by T[yndall]. Both writers have been long[?] favourites with me. — If the idea has taken, I would be proud to make a very small contribution to the Emerson fund — Nothing would be more honourable to Britishers than to do the thing quietly without ostentations [1 word illeg] — Kindly send me Dr. James Hector's⁸ present address as I desire to write him before I go hence — Have not yet done so —

Have been a widower since 23 June 1880 when after a serious and hopeless illness (scirrhus of the rectum) my good and large hearted wife, after thirty years of married life, passed to a higher stage of being — often since in [1or 2 words illeg] family circle has she communicated but not for some months past — She withdrew gradually intimating that her duties there were increasing. Four of my sons are doing for themselves — The third, fourth and seventh are managing our farm within some two miles of Victoria P. O. — Simon Fraser T[olmie].⁹ who will be 16 next 25 Jan.[,] the Benjamin¹⁰[,] is much with me — Two of my daughters are grown up. The third goes to school — Tell me about your young people[.] Those mentioned in your letter of 1860 must now be grown up or nearly so — Crease¹¹ told me of your marriage with Lady Jardine¹² —

You may mind my having recommended to you the writings of James Smith¹³ in 70[,] 71 or 2. His brother Dr. R[.] Angus Smith¹⁴ of Manchester was at school with you for years at [1word illeg] Glasgow before and time at the [2 words illeg] road Botanic Gardens. Was Dawie[?] a teacher in the Grammar school, or a private one. — Dr Smith has at my suggestion sent to various important libraries in the United States a copy of his brother's [3] Divine Drama of History And Civilisation.......................

Wishing you and yours many happy returns of the near at hand festive season[.]

I am yours ever | W. F. Tolmie [signature]