JDH congratulates his father, William Jackson Hooker, on his appointment as Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. He heard the news from Clowes & it was in the March papers. Has also heard that his sister, Mary Harriet, is still very ill. He speculates about the salary & housing arrangements for WJH & family at Kew & what will happen to [William Townsend] Aiton. Arnott & [Walter Hood] Fitch will assist WJH in the move from Glasgow. In consideration of WJH's new position JDH has asked [Ronald Campbell] Gunn to cultivate Tasmanian plants that could be sent to Kew. Gunn used to a have an amazing garden in Launceston. Mr Levy[?] has also offered to send Kew things from Port Jackson & new parts of the colony e.g. Moreton Bay, McQuarrie [Macquarie] harbour & the McLeay [Macleay] river, incl. live specimens of the moss; Dawsonia. Mr Bidwell, a merchant who has recently returned from a tour of the North Island of New Zealand, including ascent of the volcano Tongadido, has sent specimens from the expedition to Lindley & others. His specimens of Dawsonia compared to Gunn's & a figure in the MUSCI EXOTICA have made JDH wonder if there are 3 different species or not. JDH has met Captain King, who gave him a letter of introduction to [William] Colenso & told him all about [Allan] Cunningham's death. Clowes' health has improved & he plans to settle at Hunter River, he has been looked after by the McLeays. William Sharpe is engaged in horticulture & has laid out a garden of 25 acres full of Australian & East & West Indian plants growing alongside European species such as snowdrops & Jonquils. Fruits grow very well in Sydney, except for Gooseberries & Currants, as do palms, conifers & tropical Orchids. The 'Erebus' is leaving for Bay of Islands, from where JDH will write again. He does not expect to receive more mail until they reach the Falkland Islands in 8 months. He has a cabin filled with bottles & buckets of animals to work on.
Transcript
-- pondence with you. I sat next to him at table & he told me a good deal about poor Cunningham's death. Richard he said was too fond of the bottle -- Young Clowes came on board being in town for only a few hours, he did not look so ill as I expected & should think from what he & others say that his health is improving, he intends to turn settler at the Hunter river; The McLeays have shown him very great kindness I was quite ignorant of his being here till Mr McLeay told me of it; the only intimation I had of it previously was from Maria's saying "I suppose you will see young Clowes" but whether in V.D.L. Sydney or New Zealand I was left to guess -- The former have shown me great attention indeed & I have been a good deal among them W[illia]m Sharpe is extremely attentive & a most clever fellow as you know, nothing comes amiss to him. Now he is paying particular attention to Horticulture & has a noble garden here of 25 acres laid out in the most beautiful manner especially loaded with Australian E & W Indian plants all of which do well here in the open air alongside of Snowdrops[,] Jonquils & other European productions. All fruits are here found to perfection except Gooseberries & Currants -- In Palms and Conifers he is particularly rich as also in tropical Orchidea.
But I must close this suddenly as we are up Anchor & off for Bay of Islands where I you shall hear from me. I do not expect to get news from home till [1 word crossed out, illeg.] we arrive at the Falklands 8 months hence. I have lots more to tell you but there are 2 buckets of animals in the cabins & 10 dozen of bottles just bought for new things all kicking about the cabin.
Best love to all | Your most affectionate Son | Jos. D. Hooker [signature]
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H.M.S. "Erebus", Sydney,
August 5th 1841.
received Dec[embe]r 13th.
My dear father
Allow me to congratulate you upon your appointment to Kew Gardens which young Clowes told me of a few days ago & which I afterwards saw in a paper of March 23d. Clowes also told me that Mary Harriette was still very ill in Jersey & that you were looking for a house in the neighbourhood of the Gardens, from this I conjecture that Aiton will not give up his shell, but whether he is pensioned off & you are in the receipt of his salary or whether they provide a pittance for you out of the Contingency fund is quite unknown to me, perhaps you have the salary & an addition from the Government to buy you a house -- I very much rejoice however at your having obtained a situation you have so long wished for, though again you must be very awkwardly situated with regard to my sisters & Grandfather, the latter I fear is bedridden in Glasgow & the only one you have to assist you in your labours is Arnott & perhaps Fitch. By this time however I suppose most of the work is over; though I do not know when I shall hear that you are all comfortably settled -- I have already begun to cater for your new command & have written to Gunn begging him to increase his own Garden with Alpine & subalpine Tasmanian plants which would bear the open air in England that he may be ready to send to you when you want them this I am sure will delight him beyond any thing for he is passionately fond of a Garden & when living before in Launceston had one of the finest in the Island Mr Levy[?] is another who could be of immense service & he offers to send capital things both from Port Jackson & from the new parts of the Colony at Moreton Bay -- McQuarrie [Macquarie] harbor[sic] & the McLeay river from which latter place he brought specimens alive of the Dawsonia & of which he will send you some. Another person who is very fond of Gardening & knows a good deal of plants is a Mr Bidwell a merchant here who is going to retire on his property at Moreton Bay, he has lately returned from a most interesting tour in New Zealand having crossed the centre of the Northern Island & ascended Tongadido 10,000 ft the highest Mt (volcanic) in the Island. he brought some very good plants which he has sent to [John] Lindley among others he showed me a noble specimen of the Dawsonia as large as Gunn's but with as fine a bunch of leaves as those figured in the M[usci].E[xotica]. whither these may not be three[?] species I am not sure. Since arriving here I have met Capt[ain] King at the Captains table who very kindly gave me a letter to Mr Collenso[sic] [William Colenso] who he had previously put into correspon
-- pondence with you. I sat next to him at table & he told me a good deal about poor Cunningham's death. Richard he said was too fond of the bottle -- Young Clowes came on board being in town for only a few hours, he did not look so ill as I expected & should think from what he & others say that his health is improving, he intends to turn settler at the Hunter river; The McLeays have shown him very great kindness I was quite ignorant of his being here till Mr McLeay told me of it; the only intimation I had of it previously was from Maria's saying "I suppose you will see young Clowes" but whether in V.D.L. Sydney or New Zealand I was left to guess -- The former have shown me great attention indeed & I have been a good deal among them W[illia]m Sharpe is extremely attentive & a most clever fellow as you know, nothing comes amiss to him. Now he is paying particular attention to Horticulture & has a noble garden here of 25 acres laid out in the most beautiful manner especially loaded with Australian E & W Indian plants all of which do well here in the open air alongside of Snowdrops[,] Jonquils & other European productions. All fruits are here found to perfection except Gooseberries & Currants -- In Palms and Conifers he is particularly rich as also in tropical Orchidea.
But I must close this suddenly as we are up Anchor & off for Bay of Islands where I you shall hear from me. I do not expect to get news from home till [1 word crossed out, illeg.] we arrive at the Falklands 8 months hence. I have lots more to tell you but there are 2 buckets of animals in the cabins & 10 dozen of bottles just bought for new things all kicking about the cabin.
Best love to all | Your most affectionate Son | Jos. D. Hooker [signature]
Please note that work on this transcript is ongoing. Users are advised to study electronic image(s) of this document where possible.
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