Hooker, Sir Joseph Dalton
JHC265
The Camp, Sunningdale, Berkshire, United Kingdom
JDH/2/22/2 f.107
Hodgson, Brian Houghton
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
8-1-1886
© Descendants of Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
Asa Gray Correspondence
The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
English
Original MS
4 page letter over 1 folio
 
Transcript

I must try & get to see her when next I visit my sister at Torquay, who I have not seen for 3 or 4 years! -- When spring comes we propose to go there, & I shall also go to L[or]d Blachford's*5, who has invited me over & over again.
This is not much of a place for fun, but we continue to make very agreeable acquaintances in the neighbourhood.
I go on laying out my ground, chiefly with -- Rhododendrons & ornamental

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The Camp, Sunningdale
Jan 8/[18]86
My dear Brian*1
This reciprocates your affectionate good wishes & would if possible bear interest, but that I know is not possible for you are my most affectionate friend in the world. & are ever in my thoughts.
We have had a peaceful time at the Camp, but rather worried about Kew, where, Dyer*2 is all alone in the garden, with Smith seriously ill & he himself (Dyer) not over well. & he naturally "troubled with much serving". -- Harriet*3​ is partly well but has

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had a sharp touch in the throat & chest. This happily yielded at once to treatment [.] We are not "out of the wood" in the matter of change of quarters. My books still lie packed in boxes at Kew ready for transport here when my library is shelved, which will be I hope next week.
We have settled quickly[?] in a little house at Kew, where there are 2 rooms for Hyacinth*4 & myself [.]
I had a nice letter from Charlotte Colvile on seeing my retirement in the paper

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I must try & get to see her when next I visit my sister at Torquay, who I have not seen for 3 or 4 years! -- When spring comes we propose to go there, & I shall also go to L[or]d Blachford's*5, who has invited me over & over again.
This is not much of a place for fun, but we continue to make very agreeable acquaintances in the neighbourhood.
I go on laying out my ground, chiefly with -- Rhododendrons & ornamental

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bushes & trees. I have no word yet about my pension which is awkward, as I must now determine my style of living, which will depend upon it. -- & I have still outhouse & other expensive items to meet.
With Hyacinth's best love to you both & thanks for the flowers some of which are now on my desk.
Ever dear Brian | your affectionate & ever old[?] | Jos D Hooker [Signature]
Joey*6 sends his love & a Kiss to Susy[?]*7. -- He reads Robinson Crusoe & the History of England every evening[?] with me for 1 ½ hours enthusiastically & so beautifully in expression & tone.

ENDNOTES


1. Brian Houghton Hodgson (1801--1894). A pioneer naturalist and ethnologist working in India and Nepal where he was a British civil servant. Joseph Hooker stayed at Hodgson’s house in Darjeeling periodically during his expedition to India and the Himalayas, 1847--1851, and named one of his sons after him.
2. Sir William Turner Thiselton--Dyer (1843--1928). British botanist and third Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. He succeeded Joseph Hooker in the role after serving as his Assistant Director for ten years. He was also married to Hooker's eldest daughter Harriet.
3. Harriet Anne Thiselton--Dyer née Hooker (1854--1945). Oldest child of Joseph Hooker and his first wife Frances. Botanical illustrator and wife of William Turner Thiselton--Dyer. Her husband was Assistant Director of RBG Kew (1875--1885) and later Director (1885--1905), succeeding her father.
4. Lady Hyacinth Hooker, née Symonds then Jardine (1842--1921). Joseph Hooker's second wife, they married in 1876.
5. Frederic Rogers, 1st Baron Blachford (1811--1889). British civil servant. Between 1857 and 1859 he was engaged in government missions abroad, connected with colonial questions, and in 1860 he was appointed permanent Under--Secretary of State for the Colonies.
6. Joseph Symonds Hooker (1877--1940). The first of Hyacinth & J D Hooker's two sons. Aged nine in 1886 when the letter was written and known as Joey.
7. Susan (Susie) Hodgson née Townshend (1844--1912). Photographer and second wife of naturalist Brian Houghton Hodgson (1801--1894), they married in 1869 or 1870.

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