JDH writes to inform Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer that [Isabella] Hooker has asked JDH [& his wife Hyacinth] to stay at Largs for a few days after the funeral [of Willielma Dawson Campbell] to support the widower James Campbell. He mentions the Glasgow weather & the aragnements for the funeral at St George's Church. JDH has been walking around Glasgow remebering the places he & his brother [William Dawson Hooker] used to visit when they lived there from 1821 to 1839. They did not like Glasgow but it holds many memories never the less.
Transcript
"friend[s] are to meet at St. George[']s X [Church], (hard by this) at 2pm", I know nothing of the programme, but assume that relations are expected at the House & I am now going up to ascertain.
I have had one a two strolls about the old place, where my brother & I passed 18 years of our lives (1821--39); but it is dreary work, none of us ever liked the place,
July 22/[18]79*1
Glasgow
Tuesday[?] 9.30
Address -- Manse - Largs [Ayrshire]
My dear Dyer*2,
Mrs Hooker*3 has written begging us to stay at Largs for a day or two after the funeral [;] James Campbell being so perturbed that she is quite anxious about him. We shall therefore go there this afternoon – but shall not stay over Friday, if so long.
It was Glasgow weather on our arrival last night but this morning is fine. I requested that
"friend[s] are to meet at St. George[']s X [Church], (hard by this) at 2pm", I know nothing of the programme, but assume that relations are expected at the House & I am now going up to ascertain.
I have had one a two strolls about the old place, where my brother & I passed 18 years of our lives (1821--39); but it is dreary work, none of us ever liked the place,
Indeed we detested it, but some -- how old associations cleave to it, & well up in a curious manner at many turns.
Ever aff[ectionately] | J. D. Hooker [signature]
1. Date written in different 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. Isabella Whitehead Hooker née Smith (1819--1880). Married Joseph Hooker's older brother William Dawson Hooker in 1839 and was widowed in 1840 shortly before the birth of their daughter Willielma.
4. James Campbell (1836--1884). Husband of Joseph Hooker's niece Willielma Campbell née Hooker. Willielma died in childbirth in March 1879.
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