Hooker, Sir Joseph Dalton
JHC454
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom
JDH/2/16 f.98
Thiselton-Dyer nee Hooker, Lady Harriet Anne
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
© Descendants of Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
Letters to Thiselton-Dyer
The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
English
Original MS
3 page letter over 1 folio
 

JDH writes to his daughter, Harriet Anne Thiselton-Dyer, congratulating her on the promotion of her husband, William Turner Thiselton-Dyer, to the post of Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. JDH considers the promotion well deserved & hopes it will be advantageous to Harriet's family, though there will although there will also be 'bitter' aspects. JDH thinks that Harriet will regret leaving her current, pretty home for the Director's house, but reassures her that it is very suitable, especially for a Government house. He is very pleased that Thiselton-Dyer will have his own Clerk of the Works. JDH adds that he will bring his letter for Lord Iddesleigh [Stafford Northcote].

Transcript

unspeakable blessing!
I will bring my letter for Lord Iddesleigh this ev[enin]g.
Ever heartily | y[ou]r aff[ectionate] father | Jos D Hooker [signature]

Page 1


ROYAL GARDENS KEW
1885*1
Tuesday
Dearest Harriet*2
I must write you a few lines of congratulation -- & most hearty they are on Willy's*3 promotion, heightened as it is by Lord Iddesleigh's letter. It is a matter of family rejoicing to find our dear ones services so highly appreciated as he has worked hard for it, & though it was only to be expected it is not the least matter for congratulations that it was justly to have been have been expected.
Long may

Page 2

you both live to enjoy such [one word crossed through illeg.] advantages as it should secure, & these are many & substantial for ourselves & our children -- though not unmixed with bitters. You will regret leaving your pretty house, & so did I that now the Olivers['] -- but you will find this a v[ery] charming residence taken for all in all, & as a Government one, it is exceptionally good & suitable to your income & requirements & to have a clerk of the works of one's own is an

Page 3

unspeakable blessing!
I will bring my letter for Lord Iddesleigh this ev[enin]g.
Ever heartily | y[ou]r aff[ectionate] father | Jos D Hooker [signature]

ENDNOTES


1. The year '1885' has been added as a pencil annotation written in another hand.
2. Harriet Anne Thiselton-Dyer née Hooker (1854--1945). Oldest child of Joseph Hooker and his first wife Frances. Harriet was a botanical illustrator. She married William Turner Thiselton--Dyer who was Assistant Director of RBG Kew (1875--1885) and later Director (1885--1905), succeeding Harriet's father.
3. 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.
4. Stafford Henry Northcote, 1st Earl of Iddesleigh (1818--1887). British Conservative politician. He served as Chancellor of the Exchequer between 1874 and 1880 and as Foreign Secretary between 1885 and 1886.

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