JDH informs Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD] that they had an enjoyable stay in Sidmouth but sadly returned to a detailed account from [William] Farlow] of Miss Gray's illness, which appears to be a paralytic seizure of head and limbs. She may recover. Farlow has suffered a succession of misfortunes: a 7 year old niece operated on for appendicitis; death of a nephew; a friend lost his eye and another fell from a balcony. JDH writes that he returned to find a copy of [Alfred] Wallace's MY LIFE with an enclosed letter which WTTD might like to see [enclosure is not present]. JDH writes that he has not seen [Edward] Clodd's citation of [Henry] Bate's work but he must get it. Notes that he must find time to read [Robert Hugh] Mill's SIEGE OF THE ANTARCTIC. JDH says that WTTD must tell him if he wants to see either of the above books. JDH notes that he encloses a book catalogue of which no. 264 might be worth WTTD's attentions [enclosure is not present]. Offers WTTD a copy of FRUTICETUM VILMORINIANUM for the RBG Kew library. JDH asks how [Otto] Stapf's application to the Botany Department of the British Museum [of Natural History] is proceeding. Says that Stapf has not approached JDH and JDH would not encourage Stapf if he did. JDH believes that other assistants in the department such as [Alfred Barton] Rendle and Baker are suitable to fill the vacancy. JDH reports that he has bad eczema on one leg. Asks what [David] Prain's prospects are.
Transcript
Nov[ember].12.1905
THE CAMP,
SUNNINGDALE.
My dear Dyer*1
We came back last Thursday from a most enjoyable stay at Sidmouth, saddened by the receipt of a long detailed account from Farlow*2 of Miss Gray's illness -- great weakness & what looks like a paralytic seizure of head & limbs, from which however, she may possibly recover -- I am looking anxiously for further news.
Farlow himself has had an accession of calamities this autumn -- a favourite niece of 7 under his charge operated on for appendicitis, -- the death of a nephew in Paris, "under distressing circumstances," -- a friend staying with him has is[sic] eye blown out, & another
Nov[ember].12.1905
THE CAMP,
SUNNINGDALE.
My dear Dyer*1
We came back last Thursday from a most enjoyable stay at Sidmouth, saddened by the receipt of a long detailed account from Farlow*2 of Miss Gray's illness -- great weakness & what looks like a paralytic seizure of head & limbs, from which however, she may possibly recover -- I am looking anxiously for further news.
Farlow himself has had an accession of calamities this autumn -- a favourite niece of 7 under his charge operated on for appendicitis, -- the death of a nephew in Paris, "under distressing circumstances," -- a friend staying with him has is[sic] eye blown out, & another
killed by a fall from the balcony -- a singular chapter of accidents.
On my return I find on my table a copy of Wallace[']s "My Life"*3 with the enclosed letter which you may care to see -- please return it. I have not seen Clodd's*4 citation of Bate's*5 work which I must get. Also I find Mill's ["]Siege of the Antarctic"*6 which I must read in due time. If you care to see either of the above let me know.
I enclose a book catalogue in which 264 may be worth your attention.
I have 2 copies of 'Fruticetum Vilmoreanum[sic]'*7 -- would you care for one for the Garden Library? --
How does Stapfs*8 candidature for the Mus[eum]. Brit[ish]. Bot[any]. Dep[artmen]t*9 proceed? he has
not applied to me, & I should not encourage him if he did. I think that the assistants in the Dep[artmen]t. should have fair play & either Rendle*10 or Baker would suffice to fill the vacancy.
Ever aff[ectionatel]y y[ou]rs | Jos D Hooker[signature]
One leg is bad with Eczema & lames me a little.
What are Prain's*11 prospects?
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. William Gilson Farlow (1844--1919). American botanist who specialised in cryptogamic botany.
3. Wallace, Alfred Russel (1905) My life: A record of events and opinions
4. Edward Clodd (1840--1930). English banker, writer and anthropologist.
5. Henry Walter Bates (1825--1892). English naturalist and explorer who accompanied Alfred Russel Wallace on an expedition to the Amazon.
6. Mill, Robert Hugh (1905) The siege of the South Pole: the story of Antarctic exploration
7. de Vilmorin, Maurice Lévêque & Bois, Désiré (1904) Fruticetum Vilmorinianum: Catalogus primarius
8. Otto Stapf (1857--1933). Austrian botanist and taxonomist. He moved to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in 1890 and was keeper of the Herbarium at Kew from 1909 to 1920.
9. Hooker is referring here to the Botany Department of the British Museum of Natural History, which is the former name of the Natural History Museum, London.
10. Alfred Barton Rendle (1865--1938). English botanist and Keeper of Botany at the Natural History Museum (1906--1930).
11. Sir David Prain (1857--1944). Scottish physician and botanist who succeeded Thiselton--Dyer as Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (1905--1922).
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