JDH writes that he is glad to hear of Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer's [WTTD's] appointment to the Dublin chair [of the Royal College of Science for Ireland, Dublin]. Has seen Dr [Edward Percival] Wright who is happy for WTTD to have access to, & make use of, the T[rinity] C[ollege] Herbarium. However, Wright wishes WTTD to wait a little before taking a more prominent position than himself so that 'matters will arrange themselves'. Wright is talking of getting leave for 2 years & going abroad, leaving WTTD in charge. JDH says that the vegetable products museum should be attached to the Botanic Garden, along with a Herbarium & Library, without which the garden will be useless. JDH cannot supply structural specimens of plants from the RBG Kew museum as all duplicates are sent to places which give things in return. Will be happy to give advice about Cape Flora & thinks it is a worthy endeavour to finish it. Notes that WTTD will probably not be ready to embark on the descriptive part of the flora, & therefore need the herbarium, before Wright leaves anyway.
Transcript
it would not look well for you to take a more prominent place in it than himself, at the first going off; & that if you can afford to wait a little, matters will so far arrange themselves as you wish. He talks of getting leave for 2 years, to go abroad, & leaving all his botanical to you as a locum tenens.
With regard to the museum of vegetable
ROYAL GARDENS KEW*1
Apr[il] 4 / [18]70
My dear Sir*2
I was very glad to hear your appointment to the Dublin chair, though it was only accidentally, & many weeks after the event, that I heard of it.
I have since seen Dr Wright*3, who professes himself most favourably disposed to your having every access to the T[rinity] C[ollege] Herbarium, & making unreserved use of it ; he adds however that
it would not look well for you to take a more prominent place in it than himself, at the first going off; & that if you can afford to wait a little, matters will so far arrange themselves as you wish. He talks of getting leave for 2 years, to go abroad, & leaving all his botanical to you as a locum tenens.
With regard to the museum of vegetable
products, my strong opinion is that it should be attached to the Botanic Garden, together with a Herbarium & Library -- a Bot[anical] Garden being practically use-less without these adjuncts. With regards to structural specimens of plants from our museums, I regret that I cannot help you -- the whole of our duplicates being sent to institutions which send us things in return.
I shall be glad to give you any advice about the Cape Flora in my power; you could not be
better employed than in finishing it -- & as you would require some preparation before commencing the descriptive part, there is you would probably not be ready to make use of the Herbarium before Dr Wright leaves home.
Very faithfully yours | Jos.D.Hooker[signature]
1. Letterhead is also embossed with the Royal Gardens Kew coat of arms.
2. Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer (1843--1928). Appointed Assistant Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew under Joseph Hooker in 1875. Succeeded Hooker as Director Nov 1885--1905. Earlier in his career he was a Professor at The Royal Agriculture College Cirencester, Royal College of Science for Ireland in Dublin and the Royal Horticultural Society. Notable published works include editions of the Flora Capensis and the Flora of Tropical Africa. He married Joseph Hooker’s daughter Harriet Anne Hooker in 1877.
3. Edward Percival Wright (1834 -- 1914). Ophthalmic surgeon, botanist and zoologist. Professor of Botany, Trinity College, Dublin, 1869 -- 1905. Also curator of Trinity College Herbarium.
Please note that work on this transcript is ongoing. Users are advised to study electronic image(s) of this document where possible.
Powered by Aetopia