JDH writes to Sir WilliamTurner Thiselton-Dyer about John Reader Jackson [Keeper of the RBG Kew museums] attending the Paris Exhibition [Third Paris World's Fair]. JDH would also like to take Jackson to the Jardin des Plantes. JDH has attended a deputation from the Colonies to the Prince [Princes of Wales, later Edvard VII] offering him the colonial collections from the exhibition to establish a colonial museum. These collections will be stored in the South Kensington galleries [Victoria and Alber Museum] temporarily which means that RBG Kew will not get the Douglas fir but they wil get a Xanthorrhoea, a tree fern stem probably of Alsophilia cooperi & some other unspecified things. JDH has seen Brand's[?] collection of woods but was not impressed by the display. JDH visits the exhibition daily& is also often at the Embassy with the Prince, who sympathises with keeping RBG Kew shut [to the public during the mornings] but suggests a compromise. JDH still needs to see the horticulture diaplays at the exhbition. Also, to meet with M. Pierre about publishing Pierre's collections with government assistance, about which Joseph Decaisne is sceptical. The balls or 'fetes' at Versailles & the Ministries have been badly organised, JDH [& his wife Hyacinth Hooker] spend the evenings with the Regnals[?], relations of Hyacinth's & the Symonds family. They have been to the Hippodrome. They will catch the Boulogne train home. JDH is returning the proofs of the BOTANICAL MAGAZINE to Reeve, the publishers. William Munro is leaving for Dieppe having been disappointed with the grasses at the Jardin des Plantes. JDH reports some gossip about John Forbes Watson leaving the India Office.
Transcript
300 plants. [Joseph] Decaisne tells me this & that he is unproductive[?], but that my may not mean more than that Decaisne is so too.
The Fetes here (at the Ministers, & Versailles) have been frightful fiascos & we have shunned them, & spend the evenings at M. & Madam Regnals[?], a most nice persons. She is sister of Mrs Symonds. -- last night we went to the Hippodrome. & I must make out a Theatre if I can.
I cannot give another day to the Jardin des Plantes without waiting over Sunday, which we shall do, the more as it will save us getting up at 5 am to catch the Boulogne train at 7 -- the hour moves on to 9 on Monday, which will bring us to Kew at 10 1/2 pm I suppose.
I return proof of Bot[anical]. Mag[azine]. to Kew Reeve today. [William] Munro leaves to night via Dieppe. he has found just nothing amongst Grasses at the Jardin.
With best love to Harriet.
Ever aff[ectionatel]y y[our]s | Jos. D. Hooker [signature]
*5 Simmonds tells me that [John] Forbes Watson is snuffed out by the India office, & has made a mess of it: & that it is doubtful if he will get his pension. & Birdwood has got on his shoulders -- This may be all gossip so please do not report it.
Royal Commission Paris Exhibition 1878
Oct[ober] [18]78*1
Friday --
11am
My dear Dyer*2
Thanks for your letter of recieved[sic] yesterday. Jackson*3 has not yet turned up. Simmonds tells me that he is coming over probably today with Holmes -- I have seen [Philip] Cunliffe Owen about him, but I do not think that will be of much use! -- so I have been round the principal Colonies & seen the lord Keepers, who are most civil, & promise all they can. Simmonds has introduced me to them, & I have asked them to attend to Jackson -- I still hope to see the latter, as I think I should take him to
to the Musée du Jardin des Plantes to pick up wrinkles[?]. I was present at a deputation from the Colonies yesterday to the Prince*4, thanking him, offering him the Colonial Collections, & begging him to accept them & use his influence with the Gov[ernmen]t. to have a Col[onial]. Museum established -- he answered that this would require active cooperation of the Governments & commerce[?] of the Colonies, & take time to consider, & that meanwhile he was authorised to offer the S[outh]. K[ensington]. Galleries as a harbor[sic] for the collections which is gratefully accepted.
This cuts us out of the Douglas fir, I am sorry to say, but not of a good Xanthorrhoea, & a lanky[?] Tree fern
stem -- I suppose Alsophila Cooperi 35 ft long, & any number of small things.
I have seen Brand's[?] splendid collection of woods, but really as to terms[?] they are not fit objects for such an exhibition as this. A selection would have been far better.
I am here every day -- but my time has been taken up with official waitings on the Prince in the middle of the day [2 words crossed out, illeg.] at the Embassy. He is very civil[,] sympathises with keeping Kew shut but [1 word crossed out, illeg.] advises a compromise, which I tell him is impossible. -- I have not yet seen half the exhibition & I have still the Horticulture especially to look at which I canot cannot shirk.
M. Pierre I have not caught yet but hope to do so this afternoon. He keeps all his collections together & wants Gov[ernmen]t assistance to publish a [3 words illeg.] -- in folio with drawings of
300 plants. [Joseph] Decaisne tells me this & that he is unproductive[?], but that my may not mean more than that Decaisne is so too.
The Fetes here (at the Ministers, & Versailles) have been frightful fiascos & we have shunned them, & spend the evenings at M. & Madam Regnals[?], a most nice persons. She is sister of Mrs Symonds. -- last night we went to the Hippodrome. & I must make out a Theatre if I can.
I cannot give another day to the Jardin des Plantes without waiting over Sunday, which we shall do, the more as it will save us getting up at 5 am to catch the Boulogne train at 7 -- the hour moves on to 9 on Monday, which will bring us to Kew at 10 1/2 pm I suppose.
I return proof of Bot[anical]. Mag[azine]. to Kew Reeve today. [William] Munro leaves to night via Dieppe. he has found just nothing amongst Grasses at the Jardin.
With best love to Harriet.
Ever aff[ectionatel]y y[our]s | Jos. D. Hooker [signature]
*5 Simmonds tells me that [John] Forbes Watson is snuffed out by the India office, & has made a mess of it: & that it is doubtful if he will get his pension. & Birdwood has got on his shoulders -- This may be all gossip so please do not report it.
1. Date added in a pencil annotation, written in another hand.
2. Sir William Turner Thiselton--Dyer (1843--1928). British botanist and third Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (1885--1905). He succeeded Joseph Hooker in the role after serving as his Assistant Director for ten years. He previously held professorships at the Royal Agricultural College Cirencester, Royal College of Science for Ireland and Royal Horticultural Society. He married Hooker's eldest daughter Harriet in 1877.
3. John Reader Jackson (1837--1920). Keeper of the museums at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew from 1858--1901.
4. Albert Edward (1841--1910). The Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, was the President of the royal commission which oversaw the United Kingdom's displays at the Paris World's Fair, 1878.
5. The wording from here to "not report it" is written vertically up the left hand margin of page 1.
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