JDH writes to his mother [Lady Maria Hooker] from Choongtam. He has been successful in his trip to the pass at Lachen & the plateau of Tibet. JDH discusses [Archibald] Campbell’s & [Brian Houghton] Hodgson’s attempts to get Lord Dalhousie & the Indian Government to defray JDH’s expenses. JDH declined the offer as he did not want to cause animosity with the E.I.C. [East Indian Company]. JDH talks of the successes of his Rhododendron book & jungle journal extracts which were printed in the Asiatic Society’s Journal. He would like WJH’s telescope sent out, & suggests sending it to Carey or Dolland for repair. He would like to be able to observe the eclipses of Jupiter’s satellites. JDH discusses the sale of Newman’s & Adie’s instruments in Calcutta [Kolkata]. He wants a Kater Azimuth Compass as his is borrowed from CaptainThuillier, Deputy Surgeon General.
Transcript
smashes & out of order & I have lost ten times the difference of the charge en route it was a year reaching my hands! -- All the overland boxes arrive in perfect order. I declare I would willingly give £30 for that big Telescope even as it is -- to have it here or at Darjeeling now. Also please ask my Father to send me all Newmans bills 3 I think & Adies bills if he can lay his hands upon them -- As I sell my instruments to profit here. & don't know the prices. In Calcutta all these instruments are charged double for, & people are extremely glad to get mine at the prices I gave, & cover that of the carriage of the box of course, I make no profit -- but it is all a clear gain.
To what instrument you refer as to be had from Newman's agent: Calcutta, I have not the least Idea you told me nothing of it -- Scott, Thomson &c, Newman's agents, charge exactly double of N[ewman]'s London prices. & have a very small assortment. What I asked about -- was an Katers Azimuth Compass of 4 inches radius with black glass reflecting & ball & socket joint, for a stand, from Carey -- The one I use was kindly lent me by Capt Thuillier, the Dep[uty]. Surgeon General on whose recent promotion I had the opportunity of doing him a little service. to replace this instrument would cost me £14. whereas I think Carey should not charge more than £6 for a first rate one.
I doubt not you will be glad that Borneo is done up as far as I am concerned. Best love to Bessy to whom I will write soon & to Frances but I have a heavy mail to answer just at present Ever your affectionate Son Jos D Hooker [signature]
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Choongtam
August 8/[18]49
My dearest Mother
I am here all safe again & extremely busy with my collections. I wrote to my Father but a few days ago about my trip to the Pass at Lachen & that as far as entering on the plateaux of Thibet [Tibet] & comparing the vegetation & snow line of both faces of the Himalayah I am much gratified with my own success. I also said that an application had been made by Campbell to defray my coolie expenses for this trip, Lord D[alhousie]. has answered it of course favourably provided I agree to refund if the HEIC [Honorable East India Company]. at home do not sanction it: which of course they will. This was offered me last year winter on my return from Nepal, but I refused it. Again Hodgson without my knowledge, & it should have been without my consent had I known it wrote to Lord D[alhousie]. to suggest that my services demanded recognition & aid from the Indian Govt. -- Lord D[alhousie]. answered that I was in no way recognised by the Indian Govt. & that but if any application came from myself he would be happy to forward it. I wrote at once to Lord D[alhousie]. refusing to make an application
on the grounds that the my salary was sufficient with the help my Father gave. That my desire was to prove to the E.I.C. [East India Company] that my motives in desiring a passage with my Lord were pure & had no ulterior aim on the Indian purse & that had I known of H[odgson]'s. making such an application I should have refused to sanction it. I added that C[ampbell]. had offered on my return from Nepal to defray my coolie hire & food which I then immediately declined. & that should I ever feel pecuniary pressure I would write myself to my Lord at once. In the mean time Campbell's representation of which I was equally ignorant was before Lord D[alhousie]. & answered favorably! Lord D[alhousie]. is a thorough niggard of public money & woe is Kew when he shall be Chancellor. I firmly believe he would rather give me from his own pocket. -- This double pressure of my claims on him, by individuals of rank in Govt service & well able to appreciate, must lift me up in Lord D[alhosie]s. eyes Ever did I want a pitch, which I am sure I do not.
This will save me full £100 in one year & as I am spending absolutely nothing but on my collections & correspondence here
I am very well off -- Hodgson won't let me pay for a scrap of food & as he is very well off & has a great larder & garden I do not hesitate to receive as freely as be given generously. All the Indian world is in love with my Rhododendron book; & extracts from my Tonglo journal which I sent to the Asiatic Soc[iety']s. Journal have been praised in all the public papers, really the feeling towards me thus displayed by perfect strangers is very gratifying.
Now that I can afford it -- I want to do a thing I have long set my heart upon, to get my Father's great Telescope put in order & sent out to me. it is a great pity so fine an instrument should lie useless on a shelf & here it would be invaluable to me. I wanted very much to take it out with me, but could not afford the repairs. It wants a new steady stand & rack work & that is all if my Father approves as I doubt not he will, pray send it to Carey or Dolland, either are excellent, Carey the cheapest I should think & let him supply it with a good steady tripod stand & rack work that will fit into the case. & if he can suggest any extra power, for observing the Eclipses of Jupiter satellites or for other celestial or terrestrial purposes, I am willing to spend £10 or £12 on that above what the stand will cost. He must do it at once & let it come out overland at whatever cost = no money can compensate the loss of time, delays & destructions of the cape passage. Adies box is all
smashes & out of order & I have lost ten times the difference of the charge en route it was a year reaching my hands! -- All the overland boxes arrive in perfect order. I declare I would willingly give £30 for that big Telescope even as it is -- to have it here or at Darjeeling now. Also please ask my Father to send me all Newmans bills 3 I think & Adies bills if he can lay his hands upon them -- As I sell my instruments to profit here. & don't know the prices. In Calcutta all these instruments are charged double for, & people are extremely glad to get mine at the prices I gave, & cover that of the carriage of the box of course, I make no profit -- but it is all a clear gain.
To what instrument you refer as to be had from Newman's agent: Calcutta, I have not the least Idea you told me nothing of it -- Scott, Thomson &c, Newman's agents, charge exactly double of N[ewman]'s London prices. & have a very small assortment. What I asked about -- was an Katers Azimuth Compass of 4 inches radius with black glass reflecting & ball & socket joint, for a stand, from Carey -- The one I use was kindly lent me by Capt Thuillier, the Dep[uty]. Surgeon General on whose recent promotion I had the opportunity of doing him a little service. to replace this instrument would cost me £14. whereas I think Carey should not charge more than £6 for a first rate one.
I doubt not you will be glad that Borneo is done up as far as I am concerned. Best love to Bessy to whom I will write soon & to Frances but I have a heavy mail to answer just at present Ever your affectionate Son Jos D Hooker [signature]
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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