Hooker, Sir Joseph Dalton
JHC548
The Camp, Sunningdale, Berkshire, United Kingdom
JDH/2/16 f.190
Thiselton-Dyer, Sir William Turner
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
5-12-1905
© Descendants of Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
Letters to Thiselton-Dyer
The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
English
Original MS
4 page letter over 1 folio
 
Transcript


THE CAMP,*1 SUNNINGDALE.
Dec[ember]r 5 1905
My dear Dyer*2
I am concerned to hear that poor Inglis*3 has appealed to you. His craving for Knighthood has gone on for some 5 years I think -- I did (some three? years ago) all I could with Lubbock*4 who regarded P[algrave]'s work as worthy of recognition by Gov[ernmen]t & wrote myself to Mr Goschen*5 (a perfect stranger), posing as a late P[resident] R[oyal] S[ociety] & present a councillor under whose tenure of office P[algrave]'s claims for election as F[ellow] of the R[oyal] S[ociety] had been laid & approved. Mr Goschen's answer was a civilly expressed curt opinion, that Mr Palgrave had no claim whatever to Knighthood. I naturally hoped that this answer, which I sent to Inglis, would have put a stop to further solicitations, as it is

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THE CAMP,*1 SUNNINGDALE.
Dec[ember]r 5 1905
My dear Dyer*2
I am concerned to hear that poor Inglis*3 has appealed to you. His craving for Knighthood has gone on for some 5 years I think -- I did (some three? years ago) all I could with Lubbock*4 who regarded P[algrave]'s work as worthy of recognition by Gov[ernmen]t & wrote myself to Mr Goschen*5 (a perfect stranger), posing as a late P[resident] R[oyal] S[ociety] & present a councillor under whose tenure of office P[algrave]'s claims for election as F[ellow] of the R[oyal] S[ociety] had been laid & approved. Mr Goschen's answer was a civilly expressed curt opinion, that Mr Palgrave had no claim whatever to Knighthood. I naturally hoped that this answer, which I sent to Inglis, would have put a stop to further solicitations, as it is

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in answer to the a further appeal to me to help by Avebury & by writing to Balfour*6 (with whom I have not even a nodding acquaintance). I have told him exactly what you have! that his best, & indeed only backing for good would be Sir John Colomb.*7
If I am not mistaken, the Patronage Secretary listens in the case of a dissolution to the appeals of members who have been distinguished for their support of the outgoing Government; if this is so, & Sir J[ohn] Colomb is in earnest, Inglis has a chance.
I returned Bates,*8 directed to you, two days ago. I reread it with increased admiration of his courage, perseverance & fascinating description of human, savage & insect life. He mentions in one or two places his Herbarium collection -- probably it

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was confined to species illustrative of Insect life.
The Dioscorides*8a reproduction must be of extraordinary interest. I long to see it.
I have had to keep in & out of bed the last few days from the incessant calls of a diarrhoea. I think that, thanks to my youth & a good doctor, I am all right again. I am at my desk now, clothed & with my right bowels (I hope).
Harriet will be glad to hear that Mrs Gray*9 is much better -- Miss Loring writes that the doctors do not think that the attack was paralytic, though it certainly affected both speech & muscles of the trunk & limbs.
Lady H[ooker]*10 is suffering agonies from rheumatism in the right leg.
Ever aff[ectionatel]y your | Jos D Hooker. [signature]
I am concerned about poor John Smith. I have been making made not very long ago, enquiries about him from

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the Charity Organ[isation] "Soc[iety]" & the clergymen of his parish, all speak well of him & he has I am told good testimonials from various posts mostly temporary, which he has held. Some friends contribute a few shillings for his weekly support, in which I join, & Lady Hooker sends him some warm clothing. I am assured that he is thoroughly dependable, & really sedulously seeks employment. Should you hear of any small place where lowly honest service is required, I am sure he would deserve it. As far as I can make out he has never lost character & his condition is really distressful.

ENDNOTES


1. Joseph Hooker had a residence built in Sunningdale, Berkshire called 'The Camp'. Completed in 1882 he lived there full time, with his second wife Hyacinth and their family, after retiring from RBG Kew in 1885.
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 the Royal Horticultural Society. He married Hooker's eldest daughter Harriet in 1877.
3. Sir Robert Harry Inglis Palgrave (1827--1919). British economist and cousin of Joseph Hooker. In 1877 he became the financial editor of the Economist, rising to editor-in-chief from later the same year to 1883. He completed three volumes of "Palgrave's Dictionary of Political Economy" and also edited the collective historical works of his father, Francis Palgrave. He was knighted in 1909.
4. John Lubbock, 1st Baron Avebury (1834--1913). Banker, Liberal politician, philanthropist, scientist and polymath. He was influential in 19th Century debates concerning evolutionary theory.
5. George Goschen, 2nd Viscount Goschen (1866--1952). British politician who served as Member of Parliament for East Grinstead from 1895--1906 and as Governor of Madras from 1924--1929.
6. Arthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour (1848--1930). British Conservative politician who was Prime Minister from 1902--1905. He resigned as Prime minister in December 1905 and the following month the Conservatives suffered a landslide defeat.
7. Sir John Charles Ready Colomb (1838--1909). British defence strategist and advocate of imperial federation, who graduated from the Royal Naval College in 1854, into the Royal Marine Artillery. After retiring in 1869 with the rank of Captain he devoted himself to the study of naval and military problems, becoming Member of Parliament for Great Yarmouth 1895--1906.
8. Henry Walter Bates (1825--1892). English naturalist and explorer, who gave the first scientific account of mimicry in animals. He made an expedition to the Amazon rainforests with Alfred Russel Wallace starting in 1848. From 1868--69 and 1878 he was the President of the Entomological Society of London. Hooker is possibly referring here to Bates' book The Naturalist on the River Amazon.
8a. Pedanius Dioscorides (c.40--90AD). Ancient Greek physician, pharmacologist, Roman army medic and botanist. Author of De Materia Medica, an encyclopaedia of herbal medicine and other medicinal substances widely read for the next 1500 years.
9. Jane Lathrop Loring Gray (1821--1909), daughter of Charles Greely Loring, a prominent Boston lawyer. Wife of American botanist Asa Gray.
10. Lady Hyacinth Hooker, neé Symonds then Jardine (1843--1921). Joseph Hooker's second wife, they married in 1876.

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