This letter appears to be a draft copy, it is not signed by Joseph Dalton Hooker, though it is written in his hand, & it contains extensive corrections & struck through text. JDH writes to [William Henry] Smith regarding a potential conflict over the HMS 'Challenger' expedition collections, which he fears may arise between the scientific staff of the expedition & the British Museum. His fears stem from correspondence sent to the Royal Society by the Admiralty & Treasury. JDH offers his services as a mediator to head off this dispute as he knows the parties involved & has experience dealing with scientific expeditions. He asks to be put in contact with anyone at the Treasury who takes an interest in the matter.
Transcript
Oct[ober] 14 [18]76
Dear Mr Smith*1
The Admiralty & Treasury have sent to the R[oyal]. S[ociety]. some correspondence regarding the Challenger Expedition collections. From this & from what I hear elsewhere, I fear that there may be a collision that will be disastrous between the British Museum & the scientific staff of the expedition, if the subject is not handled with care & in with respect to previous expeditions & to the rights of the President [of the Royal Society?] afforded by the exchange grounds for of by previous expeditions.
*2 It would be best if the matter could be put arranged without an official referee[?] as[?] discussed before
Oct[ober] 14 [18]76
Dear Mr Smith*1
The Admiralty & Treasury have sent to the R[oyal]. S[ociety]. some correspondence regarding the Challenger Expedition collections. From this & from what I hear elsewhere, I fear that there may be a collision that will be disastrous between the British Museum & the scientific staff of the expedition, if the subject is not handled with care & in with respect to previous expeditions & to the rights of the President [of the Royal Society?] afforded by the exchange grounds for of by previous expeditions.
*2 It would be best if the matter could be put arranged without an official referee[?] as[?] discussed before
*3 The Royal Briefs are prearranged as far as possible before such referees[?] -- & I shall be most happy to be of any use I can place my 40 years experience of such scientific expeditions at the court[?] at the disposal of the Treasury.
*4 I should be very glad if to be of any use in this matter,
It would be is most desirable that this should be avoided, & from having had 40 years experience of these people I should be glad to be it might help matters if I were put into conversation with any one at the Treasury who takes cognizance of the matter.*5
1. Probably William Henry Smith (1825--1891). English bookseller and newsagent of the family firm W.H. Smith, he was at this time Financial Secretary to the Treasury (1874--1877). He was later First Lord of the Admiralty (1877--1880), twice Secretary of State for War, Chief Secretary for Ireland, First Lord of the Treasury and Leader of the House of Commons.
2. In the original letter a diagonal line strikes through from the word 'best' and carries on to the end of the paragraph to just below the word 'official'. Indicating that the entirety of this paragraph was being deleted from the draft. in addition to the text that was struck through
3. In the original letter a diagonal line strikes across this paragraph from the beginning of the word 'Briefs' and finishes on the same line as the word 'Treasury' at the end of the paragraph. Indicating that this entire paragraph was being deleted in this draft in addition to other text in the paragraph already struck through.
4. In the original letter a short diagonal line is struck through between the words 'be' and 'very', to end just below the 't' in 'this' [matter] at the end of the sentence. Indicating that the entire sentence was to be deleted from this draft.
5. The letter ends here with no formal valediction or signature. It appears to be a draft letter that may never have been fully completed and was never sent. The entirety of the letter as it survives in the archive has been transcribed The letter is not signed but it is written in the hand of Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker.
Please note that work on this transcript is ongoing. Users are advised to study electronic image(s) of this document where possible.
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