The Royal Society, Burlington House, London. W.
Confidential
Kew
June 2/[18]77

My dear Brian *1
You will be no less surprised than I was to see me gazetted K.C.S.I. [Knight Commander of the Star of India] -- I had been proposed for it some 5 years ago to the Duke of Argyll, & on hearing of this I wrote begging that it would not be done, in fact refusing to receive it if done -- (as I have since refused K.C.M.G.[Knight Commander of the Oder of St. Michael and St. George]) -- The Duke answered thanking me for my consideration[?] &

adding that to his report. The Statutes of the Order would not have admitted my Enrolment however much he had wished to meet the wishes of *2 those who had applied to him. Since that time I have repeatedly urged your claim in person with the D[uke]. of Argyll, [Mountstuart Elphintone] Grant Duff Lord S[alisbury] *3. & with Frere, Mallets & others. but to no purpose, the stereotyped objection was, that if they went back to the date of your services, which were so long before the establishment of

the Order -- it would be impossible to exclude many others.
Now they have both broken the Statute to put me in the Order, & taken one & me Entirely by surprise, not even consulting my wishes in the matter. before going to the Queen.
I found that even Strachey who is L[or]d Salisbury']s bosom official[?]! knew nothing of it, though he had spent the very day (before yesterday) with him on which he wrote informing me

to my astonishment of what he had done & apologising for not having consulted me before--hand. In fact my name was sent to the Gazette before Lord S[alisbury]. wrote informing me what he had done!.
Feeling that a "March had been stolen" upon me -- I went yesterday, as soon as I got Lord S[alisbury's] note to Enquire about it -- & found that it was a Cabinet affair. I had long been before Mr Gladstone & Disraeli for K.C.B. which I never asked for &

finding it impossible to grant this, or to offer me the St Michael & George which they I [2 words crossed out, illeg.] refused to Lord Carnarvon they struck on the bright idea of the Star of India -- & giving it in a manner that would preclude render refusal impossible & the honor special.
Of course I cannot help feeling that the [1 word crossed out, illeg.] putting me into the Indian Order is a much higher compliment than the Bath, & that with C.B. I am abundantly

recognized -- but I would infinitely rather be plain J.D.H., & I had long made up my mind not to take a title after 60 -- which I shall be next 30 June of this month!
I have only to add that their granting me this dignity heightens the regret I feel at having failed to get it for you. who deserved it infinitely better -- In fact I do not see that I

deser my services services at all justify my intrusion into the Order as now limited.
Lord Salisbury's letter was of course a most kind one. I had dined with him only the week before, & not a hint had he uttered.
Then taking the opportunity of gazetting me on the Queens Birthday & with [1 word crossed out, illeg.] the D[uke]. of Cambridge as G.C.S.I. is of course all intended to grease the wheels to my gracious acceptance!--

We shall I hope see you on the 13 for the Soiree & 14th at Every meeting for admission.
The Election is on next Thursday.
If you see the gazette before you get this, you will wonder that I made no allusion to "coming events" in my last to you. but my ignorance was absolute, & I should have ridialed ridiculed a rumour to the effect that I was even thought of for the K.C.S.I.
Ever y[our] affec[tionat]e | J.D. Hooker [signature]