JDH thanks Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD] for the copy of the Treasury letter & recounts previous correspondence sent to the Treasury [regarding his pension?]. JDH does not understand their attitude to him, but says it is now done with & should be forgotten. JDH was upset to hear about the havoc caused in the Gardens. He cites two further incidents in 1853-4 & 1865-6 or 1866-7. The former caused damage to a few old trees, but the latter, caused by snow, lead to many trees being killed or destroyed, such as Oaks, Bay & Laurel trees. Tells WTTD that there will be an allusion to it in the Kew Annual Report. Says that WTTD will be pleased to hear that Reggie [Reginald Hawthorn Hooker] has passed first class in all three divisions of his Littlego exams. JDH would like him to come to come up to Kew with him for the day but Reggie says he is too busy. Canon Girdlestone has 'taken Reggie in hand' for two days a week [at Sunningdale school].
Transcript
THE CAMP,
SUNNINGDALE.
Dec[ember] 29/ [18]86
Dear Dyer*1,
Thanks for your note & the copy of the Treasury letter -- another copy accompanied my answer to Treasury's first letter & I respected its contents in my subsequent one. So what they have done has been with their eyes open. It is difficult to fathom the nature[?] for treating me in such fashion as they have, so uncourteous & so in mockery of the grandiloquent eloge on my services as set forth in their first letter, & of the request to know if I was prepared to accept its preferred arrangements. However it is
THE CAMP,
SUNNINGDALE.
Dec[ember] 29/ [18]86
Dear Dyer*1,
Thanks for your note & the copy of the Treasury letter -- another copy accompanied my answer to Treasury's first letter & I respected its contents in my subsequent one. So what they have done has been with their eyes open. It is difficult to fathom the nature[?] for treating me in such fashion as they have, so uncourteous & so in mockery of the grandiloquent eloge on my services as set forth in their first letter, & of the request to know if I was prepared to accept its preferred arrangements. However it is
all over now. & it only remains to forget it as fast as one can.
I am distressed to hear of the havoc in the Gardens. I can remember two such, one about 1853--4, when there was but comparatively little to destroy but old trees; the other is 1865--6 or 1866--7 when the snow havoc was awful.
Evergreen oaks some smashed some killed, every Portugal Bay Laurel & Laurentia[?] trees killed altogether, in to the ground -- you will find an allusion to it in the Kew Report.
I am glad that you have good news from Malta -- you will be glad to hear that Reggie*2 has passed first class in all three divisions of the Littlego.
including the "additionals" which is equal to Honours in Littlego.
I want him to come up with me to Kew for the day, but he is working so hard at "Covies"[?] that he begs off for the present -- Canon Girdlestone*3 has most good-naturedly taken him in hand for 2 days a week.
I shall be up as soon as the Snow permits.
Sincerely yours | J.D.Hooker[signature]
1. 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.
2. Reginald Hawthorn Hooker (1867--1944). Civil servant, statistician and meteorologist. Fourth son of Joseph Dalton Hooker and his first wife, Frances.
3. Canon William Girdlestone. Founder of Sunningdale School, 1874
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