JDH has been to Edinburgh with Colvile & visited his sister Mrs Maria McGilvray nee Hooker, [John Hutton] Balfour & Dickson. Isaac [Bayley Balfour] had already left for Glasgow. Describes the sickness of [Charles Wyville?] Thomson, it was a complaint of the kidneys but he is not so ill now that they should be talking about his successor [for Chair of Natural History at Ediburgh University]. Reports that John Sadler [Curator] is keeping the Edinburgh Botanic Garden in good order & making many improvements, he particularly mentions the palm house, rock garden & well named plants. JDH suggests that they send a private note to [Algernon Freeman-]Mitford, Secretary to the Office of Works, about Taylor & Wilkie's shortcomings rather than lodging an official complaint. If there is good weather JDH will go to Stirling & the Trossachs.
Transcript
Craigflower, [Torryburn, Scotland]
Sunday
*1Aug[ust]. 31. [18]79
My dear Dyer*2
Yesterday began with glorious weather, & we took advantage of it to go to Edinburgh with Colvile, -- where I saw my sister, Mrs McGilvray -- also [John Hutton] Balfour & Dickson. The former looks completely broken, & is as yellow as a Guinea. Isaac [Bayley Balfour] had left home that morning for Glasgow.
I asked Dickson about Mr Thomson: but I could not make out that he was so ill
Craigflower, [Torryburn, Scotland]
Sunday
*1Aug[ust]. 31. [18]79
My dear Dyer*2
Yesterday began with glorious weather, & we took advantage of it to go to Edinburgh with Colvile, -- where I saw my sister, Mrs McGilvray -- also [John Hutton] Balfour & Dickson. The former looks completely broken, & is as yellow as a Guinea. Isaac [Bayley Balfour] had left home that morning for Glasgow.
I asked Dickson about Mr Thomson: but I could not make out that he was so ill
as to justify my talking of a successor. Dickson had seen him quite lately, said he was better, but much broken. His attack was convulsive, & probably connected with the kidneys, as he had had symptoms of albuminuria some time previously.
I saw [John] Sadler -- the [Edinburgh Botanic] gardens are in good keep, & very much has been done to them. The Palm House was in first--rate order! New tubs & new paint every--where.
The Rock Garden is very rich indeed, but a cockney[?] affair in its'[sic] main features, & not suited to Kew. Still the number of species in splendid flower is very remarkable, & they are in excellent order as to naming.
I telegraphed to you from Edinburgh, the idea having occurred to me over-night, that a private note to Mitford*3, showing up Taylor, & Wilkie's inability to realise the responsibility of their position, as shown by Taylors neglect, & the consequences to [John] Smith, would be of more avail with him than an official letter complaint which would put him
to the trouble of enquiring & reprimanding against the grain. I should like to impress upon him the fact, that it is an affair for Hunt's[?] opinion to be final upon.
Though so fine a morning, the afternoon rained, & it continued to rain most of the night. We had torrential showers this morning, & a fine cold afternoon. It is a glorious night, & if tomorrow is fine we shall take Stirling & the Trossachs returning at night.
Ever aff[ectionatel]y y[our]s | J. D. Hooker[signature]
1. The date is written in pencil, and appears to be in a 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. Algernon Freeman-Mitford, 1st Baron Redesdale (1837--1916). British diplomat and writer. Secretary to the Office of Works from 1874--1886. The Office of Works was the Government body that oversaw the running of RBG Kew & during his tenure as secretary Mitford supported Joseph Hooker's improvement plans.
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