Hooker, Sir Joseph Dalton
JHC278
HMS 'Erebus', Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
JDH/1/2 f.10
Hooker, Sir William Jackson
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
31-10-1839
© Descendants of Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
Correspondence from Antarctic Expedition
The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
English
Original MS
4 page letter over 1 folio
 

Captain Crozier of the HMS 'Terror' has just informed JDH that they must sail as the weather is making it dangerous to remain anchored [in the Funchal Roads, Madeira] so JDH has little time to spend on this letter to his Father, William Jackson Hooker. Recounts his time spent in Madeira; botanised for a few days but was then bedridden by rheumatism. After recovering enough, spent some time with Mr Muir & Dr Lippard who brought him fruit. In his limited collecting time JDH only gathered plants he thought were uncommon, it was not the best season to get specimens. The expedition may go to Port Praya [Praia] in the Cape Verde Islands, they will certainly go to St Helena & St Paul's Rock on their way to the equator. JDH & Mr McCormick [surgeon on the HMS 'Erebus'] get on well. JDH has sent flowers from the convent for his Mother & sisters, including myrtle wreaths, they are sent home by Mr Muir via Mr Pamplin. Mentions that he met Mr Johnstone & a lady who were friends of his Grandfather & Mr Baker from Norwich. Notes that the date on his previous letter may be wrong. Mr Hally[?] is in Madeira & is dying. Dr Renton[?] & Mrs Montgomery Hamilton née Wallace have been attentive to JDH. Letter also contains a note from Mr Muir dated 16 Nov 1839, presumably added when he was given the letter to forward. Muir writes that the 'Erebus' & 'Terror' sailed on the 31 Oct [1839], before which he & his family enjoyed JDH's company. Mr Smith of Jordan Hill has since arrived in Madeira with his invalid daughter.

Transcript


H.M.S. "Erebus", Funchal Roads
Oct 31st 1839
My dear Father,
I went on board the Terror this morning for a few minutes & while there Capt[ain] Crozier *1 came on board with the news that we are to put to sea immediately as it is coming on to blow & the anchorage here is very dangerous. I have just returned on board my ship in a great hurry & have just time to scrawl those few lines & send these ashore to Mr Muir who will forward them by the first letter bag. My stay here has been most unfortunate for the first two days I was very busy botanising & got a few good things but caught a severe rheumatism which has confined me for a week on board & almost to my cot indeed. The pains were in my elbow, back & leg & prevented my using my limbs. Yesterday I was ashore for the first time for

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H.M.S. "Erebus", Funchal Roads
Oct 31st 1839
My dear Father,
I went on board the Terror this morning for a few minutes & while there Capt[ain] Crozier *1 came on board with the news that we are to put to sea immediately as it is coming on to blow & the anchorage here is very dangerous. I have just returned on board my ship in a great hurry & have just time to scrawl those few lines & send these ashore to Mr Muir who will forward them by the first letter bag. My stay here has been most unfortunate for the first two days I was very busy botanising & got a few good things but caught a severe rheumatism which has confined me for a week on board & almost to my cot indeed. The pains were in my elbow, back & leg & prevented my using my limbs. Yesterday I was ashore for the first time for

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a week & spent the afternoon at Mr Muir's. I cannot still carry my hand to my mouth but improve every day. Dr Lippard was to come & see me bringing some grapes & jelly of Raisin[?], Madeirense[.] Mr Muir also came after & sent grapes & basketfuls of oranges, if you can I should like you to write to Mr Muir & thank him for his unremitting kindness & attention to us all & me in particular. During the two days I had opportunity I collected as hard as I could but got on very poorly. Everything was in fruit or out of it & except of plants I thought not common I did not gather much. There are some talks of our going to Port Praya [Praia] in the Cape de Verde but the Capt[ain] is still undecided. I hope we shall[,] if not we go straight to St Helena touching at St Paul’s Rocks on our way on the Equator.
Mr McCormick*2 & I agree uncommonly well & I can get plenty of shore leave.
I have sent a few flowers from the Convent to Mamma & my sisters. There are two wreathes & enough myrtle to make another as I could not

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get three. Could I have got ashore again I would have added other things to the parcel[.] Mr Muir got them packed & sent to Mr Pamplin.
I have a full true & particular account of my stay here for you, I shall send it from St Helena it is however very dull & stupid. Excuse greatest haste as the ship is putting to sea & the boat waits for my letter. My arm is so stiff that I can hardly write but the pains are all gone.
Best love to all. A Mr Johnstone & Mrs [mss illeg. blotted] introduced themselves to me as friends of Mr Baker's at Norwich home of Grandpapas home of mine. I have no time to tell him about them but will write to him from St Helena & tell him all about it.
Best love to all | Your most affectionate son | Jos.D Hooker [signature]
I believe I dated my last letter wrong[,] we arrived on Sunday week. Mr Hally[?] is dying here I have seen him.
Dr Renton[?] & his wife Mrs Montgomery Hamilton alias Miss Wallace have been most attentive to me. I have an account of his garden for you.*3

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*4
Mr M[uir] with respect to Sir W[ilia]m H[ooker] begs to inform him that the Erebus & Terror sailed on the 31st ultimo; & have had favourable wind & weather since.
Mr M[uir] & family had much pleasure in Mr Joseph's society & the flowers he left will be sent by the first direct opportunity to London.
Mr Smith of Jordan Hill arrived in the beginning of last week & I hope that the favourable weather of the island, will prove beneficial to his invalid daughter.
Mrs S[mith] & her other daughters & Mr S. are well.
Madeira
16 Nov 1839

Sir W[illia]m J. Hooker | Woodside Crescent | Glasgow NB *5

ENDNOTES


1. Captain Francis Crozier, second in command on board the HMS 'Erebus'.
2. Robert McCormick, ship’s surgeon on board the HMS 'Erebus'.
3. Written vertically up the right hand margin of page 2, the text continues into the left hand margin of page 3.
4. The remaining text is written in a different hand, probably that of Mr Muir after the letter had been given to him to post by Hooker.
5. Written upside down to the rest of the text on the page in order to fold the page to form an envelope.

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