Royal Gardens Kew
April 28/[18]85
My dear Brian [Hodgson] *1,
I have two kind letters of your's[sic] to thank you for. I am glad to find that both give a fair account of your health, though I wish you could get rid of the cough. We have a sudden burst of lovely weather, though it is not warm at night.
Hyacinth *2 was laid up in bed for a week with rheumatism & a nasty pain in the side. She would not see a doctor but he should

do any thing[sic] that would interfere with her running -- so I had to do my best, & she got well enough to go for change of air to Hythe where I left her last Monday greatly improved -- as was Joey [Joseph Symonds Hooker], who like all my children felt feels the relaxing air of Kew. We should have gone to the Camp -- but there I am building! For Symonds' resuscitation, & remaining with us, compels me to add to the house. So I am building 2 small additional rooms which

will do for children, & bachelors at a pinch. We shall not go there I think till the children come from Paris in end of July.
We are well. Charlie [Charles Paget Hooker] is engaged to be married to a Miss Evans Lombe, an exceedingly nice & pretty girl, & as well connected with Norfolk country families as could possibly be. He will probably "set up" in Norwich. Reggie [Reginald Hawthorn Hooker] will try for his "Dr in Sciences" degree before he returns to us & if he gets it I shall send him to Germany for the winter to perfect that language.
Poor Willy [William Henslow Hooker] is very hard worked, supervising the transmission of stores for the troops in India, a very responsible duty. I hope

you may see Reggie & Grace [Grace Ellen Hooker] in Paris if they know your address they will call. Grace is immensely improved. She had to perform to the piano before 800 people people the other day -- you may suppose how nervous she was -- however she had a very great success -- but was so shy that she did not hear the plaudits. I believe she plays exceedingly well -- she was quite the best at the "exhibition".
Yes we are in a political and diplomatic mess; & the Comments comments on us for the last year in foreign journals have not been pleasant reading. If Russia persists, fight we must -- but why did we allow them her to break their her volunteered

pledge, not to take revenge[?]? We allowed Arabia on in his rebellion, through inaction till we had to fight a great battle & knock to pieces the final town in the Levant. We have played the fool with Gordon *3, with Khartoum, with Osman Digna *4 with Gebu[?] and at the Cape & now we have have a Russian war staring us in the face, & this with France hostile & Germany contemptuous. Poor Gladstone*5 they tell me hates the whole subject; his Ministers are at sixes & sevens sevens, & Granville is too soft. It is curious to see Dizzy's [Benjamin Disraeli's]*6 bust or portrait suddenly emerging & stuck up in every other shop in London! -- in stationers, booksellers, print--sellers, on plates! on handkerchiefs!! In public houses

& every where[sic] -- it is quite curious. He made messes enough, goodness knows! but somehow he made national credit a capital out of them.
I suspect that if Govt. have a Soudan policy & that it is to get Italy to take the charge of the Red Sea coast & railroad, & to garrison Khartoum etc. with Turkish troops under European offices. We shall see.
How gloriously Indian confidence in British Rule is showing up; does it not gladden your heart?
Ever my dear old Brian with love to Susie[?] in which Hyacinth would join if here.
Yours faithfully | JDHooker [signature]
Old Grote[?] looks well. I saw your cousin A. Hogdson at the Geographical [Society] last night. I am pressed hard to take the Presidency of the Geographical but absolutely refused it, it would be too great labour & expense & I must finish the India Flora.