JDH writes to Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD] regarding the upcoming election for Sir Robert Harry Francis Inglis Palgrave's entry to the Athenaeum Society. Palgrave is anxious about the election as JDH will not be able to attend. JDH has lobbied for positive votes from Evans, Flower, Huxley, Rutsen & Francis Palgrave & asks that if WTTD attends he induce any 'Savilians' to vote for Palgrave. JDH attended a party at Mr Ruterson's[?] where he met with Reverend & Mrs Adie, Sir & Lady Grant Duff, Mrs Stanley, a daughter of Lowthian Bell. Also [Sir Arthur Dyke?] Acland a Member of Parliament who is on the forestry commission but knows nothing about trees, specifically why European Oak is not planted for timber or what an Acacia tree is under any of its names: Robinia, Pseudacacia, False Acacia, or Locust Tree. JDH will be away for his daughter Harriet [Thiselton-Dyer nee Hooker's] birthday but promises to write & sends an enclosure for her [enclosure not present]. JDH mentions hearing about a telegraph[?] from the RBG Kew Board.
Transcript
The Camp
June 28 [18]/87
Dear Dyer*1
I[nglis]. Palgrave is in despair about his Athenaeum election, & especially [1 word crossed out, illeg.] because of my absence & his doubt whether you can be there. I have written to Evans & spoken to Flower, Huxley, Rutsen[?] & various others, who I have met, & I have written urging Frank P[algrave]. to be there & stay it out. If you can go I am sure you will, & induce any Savilians especially to vote for Inglis.
The Camp
June 28 [18]/87
Dear Dyer*1
I[nglis]. Palgrave is in despair about his Athenaeum election, & especially [1 word crossed out, illeg.] because of my absence & his doubt whether you can be there. I have written to Evans & spoken to Flower, Huxley, Rutsen[?] & various others, who I have met, & I have written urging Frank P[algrave]. to be there & stay it out. If you can go I am sure you will, & induce any Savilians especially to vote for Inglis.
We had a very pleasant small party at Mr Ruterson[?] & a simple good dinner in excellent taste. A Cousin, a Mrs Adie & her Revd husband were "in residence" -- Grant Duff was "gloomily grand", & Lady G.D. graciousness itself. I took in Mrs Stanley, wife of Old Lady Ss second son, & a dau[ghter]. of Lo[w]thian Bell, a very agreeable sensible woman. I had a talk with [Sir Arthur Dyke?] Acland, M. P. grandson of my father's old friend, -- such a feeble creature -- He is in the Forestry Commission, wondered European Oak were not planted for timber, & did not know what I meant by the Acacia tree, under any of its names,
Robinia, or Pseud[o]acacia or Locust tree, or False Acacia. His wife was very nice, as were her diamonds & emeralds.
I shall be away on Harriet[']s birthday -- please give her the Enclosed -- I will write to her on the day.
E[ve]r aff[ectionately] y[our]s | J. D. Hooker[signature]
I was awfully put out at hearing of the tegraph[sic] from the Board.
1. 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.
2. Sir Robert Harry Inglis Palgrave (1827--1919). British economist. Joseph Hooker's cousin. Son of Francis Palgrave and Elizabeth Turner; Joseph Hooker's maternal aunt.
3. Francis 'Frank' Turner Palgrave, (1824--1897). British critic and poet. Joseph Dalton's Hooker's cousin, son of his maternal Aunt Elizabeth Palgrave & her husband, also called Francis Palgrave.
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