JDH has already written to his brother William Henslow Hooker & sister Bessy [Elizabeth Hooker] and now writes to his father, William Jackson Hooker. He explains that the expedition will not sail as soon as expected but JDH is unlikely to be allowed leave, by Captain [James Clark] Ross. The result is JDH will not be able to come home to Glasgow in the interim, certainly not until the surgeon, McCormick has returned to the ship. JDH & a Mr Ward are going on an excursion to Cobham. The Botanical commission of the R.S. [Royal Society] did not have the civility to say bon voyage to JDH. Mentions sending seeds to the East India Company. Mentions his father's communications with Talbot, Arnott & Champion & other botanists. Comments that Cape Palmas & Fernando Po are 'glorious stations', he regrets that the expedition will not stop at the Cape de Vers [Cape Verde islands]. Asks if WJH knows of a cruciferous Kerguelens Land plant, which he has heard from Brown appears in Anderson's journal. Asks if his sister Maria would copy out a list of Antarctica & Enderby Land plants for Ross. Asks about the Murrays' being in London. Commiserates with Dr [Harry] Rainey who he considers an excellent lecturer, only equalled at [Glasgow] college by WJH & McKenzie.
Transcript
land plant without a dissepiment between the valves Brown read me an account of it in Andersons Journal. Ross is very anxious for a list of all the Enderby's land or other Antarctic plants is there not some acc[oun]t in a vol of the An[nals] de le Nat. one of the first vols, I think there are figs in the 4th plates in compartments perhaps Maria w[oul]d copy the titles[?] of[?] mss[?] if there is any thing worth such trouble.
When is Mr Murray to be found in London, is Mrs M. with him, who is to be his interpreter.
I am very very sorry about poor Dr [Harry] Rainey I had as much respect for him as for any lecturer in College. He you & McKenzie are far far the best lecturers in College as to matter, It is almost wrong of me so to hurry a letter to you I am afraid you will think me disrespectful, but I must finish before going to the sick bay or then I shall be too late for the Post. I have written a long letter [mss missing.],
H.M.S. Erebus, Chatham
July 20th [1839]
My dear father
I have just written a long letter to William & another to Bessy, so that I shall have little time remaining to write to you who deserve most. I am very much obliged to you for your kind letter which arrived this morning, as also to Mamma for her addition. I have however to beg your pardon for not remembering to congratulate you on your birthday I remembered it just after my letter was dispatched. We do not sail so soon as was expected but Capt[ain] Ross will allow no one to be absent after the first of August. Mr McCormick*1 does not return until Wednesday next, until which I cannot ask to leave, Capt[ain] Ross comes here on Tuesday next & I shall ask him for 6 days leave, though I much fear the result. If I can come it will be most probably by the steam carriage on Thursday evening & on by steamer if they suit if not by Mail. I shall if possible manage through interest with the purser to
make my 6 days 7, but have more doubt of the leave, than of the adding to it afterwards. If I get leave I shall write at once, I should like to spend one day in Glasgow & the others in Inveresk, while in Glasgow I must be collecting my things, I find I have left a whole lot of little things behind.
Mr Ward is coming to join me in an excursion to Cobham on Monday first. As to the Botanical Commission at the R.S. I scorn them, they had not even the civility to bid me good bye & a pleasant voyage on leaving the room -- I wish the E[ast].I[ndia].C[ompany]. joy of all the seeds they get from me, Capt[ain] Ross shall order me before I send them, & then I think I shall bake them first to make them keep dry.
You did not tell me before of Mr Talbots invitation. Thank you for writing to Mr Arnott also for the news of Mr Champion, &c &c I like very much to hear of all the parcels & letters that come from Botanists. Cape Palmas & Fernando Po are glorious stations I am sorry we do not touch at the Cape de Verds.
Do you know any thing of a Cruciferous Kerguelens
land plant without a dissepiment between the valves Brown read me an account of it in Andersons Journal. Ross is very anxious for a list of all the Enderby's land or other Antarctic plants is there not some acc[oun]t in a vol of the An[nals] de le Nat. one of the first vols, I think there are figs in the 4th plates in compartments perhaps Maria w[oul]d copy the titles[?] of[?] mss[?] if there is any thing worth such trouble.
When is Mr Murray to be found in London, is Mrs M. with him, who is to be his interpreter.
I am very very sorry about poor Dr [Harry] Rainey I had as much respect for him as for any lecturer in College. He you & McKenzie are far far the best lecturers in College as to matter, It is almost wrong of me so to hurry a letter to you I am afraid you will think me disrespectful, but I must finish before going to the sick bay or then I shall be too late for the Post. I have written a long letter [mss missing.],
your candid opinion upon it & if there is any way in which I can write a better I will with pleasure & more promptly. If I cannot go North you will have plenty of time to wait until Mary should be ready & yet see me long before I sail. if I see there is any chance of succeeding I shall try for leave 6 days before the 10th that we may all come South together. I must stop here -- Best love to all. Hoping to see you all soon.
Believe me my dear father | Your most affectionate Son | Jos.D. Hooker [signature]*2
1. Robert McCormick (1800--1890). British Royal Navy Surgeon, explorer and naturalist. Surgeon on board the H.M.S. 'Erebus' during Ross' Antarctica Expedition of 1839--43. he was also instructed to collect zoological and geological specimens. Joseph Hooker served as assistant surgeon to McCormick during the voyage and collected botanical specimens in his spare time.
2. The address of the recipient appears below the signature written at a right angle accross the page, as the letter would originally have been folded in such a way that it formed its own 'envelope'. The address reads "To | Sir Wm. J. Hooker | Woodside Crescent | Glasgow | N[orth].B[ritain]." The postmarks on the letter are for the year 1839.
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