Hooker, Sir Joseph Dalton
JHC84
Momay Samdong, Lachoong [Lachung] River, Sikkim, Himalayas, Tibet frontier, India
JDH/1/10 f.213-214
Hooker, Sir William Jackson
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
28-9-1849
© Descendants of Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
Indian Letters 1847-1851
The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
English
Original MS
6 page letter over 2 folios
 

JDH informs WJH that regarding Nepal, Hodgson says Sir B. Shakespeare, Resident, will support him with £300. Lord Dalhousie will sanction Government payment of JDH’s expenses, pending application to the Court at Home. Courtenay has written asking about JDH’s prospects in India. JDH is pleased with WJH’s success with cultivating his Rhododendrons at Kew but would like to see the Tchuka rhubarb growing. JDH discusses Lobb & Jenkins. JDH is content about Himalaya vs. Borneo. He asks if Harvey got his letter & comments that Edgeworth is a good fellow. After seeing his Tonglo paper, Edgeworth sent him copies of Ruprecht’s descriptions of Bamboo. Edgeworth asked if WJH grew the 'Cleime' from Aden. JDH will send ferns from Darjeeling. He has heard of McNab’s death in Edinburgh. WJH should see Roxburgh for information on the Toddy Palm at Madras [Chennai], it is Phoenix sylvestris, though other plants also yield toddy. There are two Stracheys: Henry is travelling up the Indus to Neeli Pass & Richard is awaiting him there. He instructs WJH not to be jostled out of the house by Aiton. JDH sends regards to the Deleports. Tayler intends to send JDH’s portrait as a gift for Frances Henslow. Wight has sent JDH his ILLUSTRATIONS [OF INDIAN BOTANY] & JDH wants to give him, & the Rajah of Nepal copies of the RHODODENDROND [OF THE SIKKIM-HIMALAYA]. JDH adds that most of the seeds he sends should be grown as alpines, some may be mislabelled.

Transcript


Camp Momay Samdong
Sept[ember] 28. [1849] *1
Dear F[ather].
I write in great haste a sort of P.S. to what goes along with it & as it encloses a few more seeds I hope you won't disclaim the Postage.
I. Hodgson pressures Nepal, without i.e. before receiving my letters, says Sir B. Shakespeare is appointed Resident that I may look on the Residency as my home & that he can so powerfully aid me that he hopes the £300 will do.
II. Lord D[alhousie]. writes most kindly to say he has had great pleasure in sanctioning the expenses of my coolies food being paid out of Govt. pending an application to the Court at Home.
III. Courtenay writes asking my future

Page 1


Camp Momay Samdong
Sept[ember] 28. [1849] *1
Dear F[ather].
I write in great haste a sort of P.S. to what goes along with it & as it encloses a few more seeds I hope you won't disclaim the Postage.
I. Hodgson pressures Nepal, without i.e. before receiving my letters, says Sir B. Shakespeare is appointed Resident that I may look on the Residency as my home & that he can so powerfully aid me that he hopes the £300 will do.
II. Lord D[alhousie]. writes most kindly to say he has had great pleasure in sanctioning the expenses of my coolies food being paid out of Govt. pending an application to the Court at Home.
III. Courtenay writes asking my future

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prospects in India & hints at proposing something for me.
IV. Your letter of 12th July has just arrived enclosing my mothers very many thanks for both.
I rejoice at the Rhod[odendron]'s growing but I would for my own sake ten times rather see Tchulla Rhubarb as it grows here. I will send bales & Lauri in wax this year.
Lobb sneered at fevers & has caught a Tartar in consequence, is better Jenkins praises him up to the skyes[sic] -- he seems a very fine fellow -- I don't know what to say about his coming here if I am gone. The expense & obstructions are so great.
All right don't send Aneroid. I am quite content & happy about Himal versus Borneo, true the money loss is terrible & Navy prospects

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not to be despaired: but in imports. Did Harvey get a long letter from me. I only ask because I lose so many.
Edgeworth is really a good fellow the very day after writing me a long & most interesting letter, he saw my Tonglo paper & forthwith copied out all Ruprecht's descriptions of Bambusae & sent them me! He particularly asks if you grew the beautiful Cleime he sent from Aden. I saw it in bud, Do answer him.
I am glad Monroe gets on -- I have an awful lot of ferns -- I will send a complete set of my dried plants direct to you from Dorjiling [Darjeeling] -- but you must help me with money.
Nobody ever told me that poor dear old McNab in Edinburgh is dead.
Copies of journal &c arrived up here last night with a long rigmarole letter from Reeves -- but no decision[?.] It is kindly meant & I will write to him.
Look in Roxburgh for all inform[ation]

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as to Economic Botany of the Peninsula, Toddy Palm at Madras *2 & all my travels is Phoenix sylvestris but the Berapur? also yields toddy. I never knew the Couva not to.
Have you received nothing from me for the museum?
There are two Stracheys (not Strachan -- 3 indeed -- but only two travelling ones, both very clever enterprizing men. Henry was Tom's companion & is now en route in disguise up the Indus which he will follow SW. to Neeli pass if as Madden tells me the Stars & Zoompoons (all Dingpuns I believe) prove propitious -- it is most hazardous as to as to success for detection is all but sure, no harm can come of it -- The other brother Richard is at Neeli hoping to receive his brother -- he is busy with Botany Meteorology &c:
My best & kindest regards to the Deleports in whose house I spent so many happy evenings at Paris

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I quite comprehend about old Aiton, don't be Joselyned jostled out of the house.
Tayler proposes sending my picture as a present to you or to Miss Henslow -- it is a splendid gift indeed. Hodgson insists it shall be to Miss H. & as he is the motive body in the matter I am of course as in gallantry bound accept. H. too wants to write to tender it in his name to Frances. -- You must send Tayler a Rhod[odendron]: book & any thing else you can lay your hands upon. It should be kept at Kew.
Please tell Reeves to send me 2 or 3 copies of Rhod[odendon] book. putting them down to my (running? or standing?) acct[oun]t. I will send one to the Rajah of Nepaul [Nepal] & ensure a good reception there. the Nepalese are very sensible people & not savages like these.
Wright has just made me present of a complete copy of his "Illustrations" [of Indian Botany] I must send him the Rhod[odendron]s please ask Reeves to do so.

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Ever your most affectn | Jos D Hooker [signature]
It is awfully cold work collecting seeds up here. Those sent are often mixed so don't be surprized if a Leontodon comes up for an Aster.
Is any list kept of the seeds received I keep none.--
Please tell me now & then what are coming up.
The most of these things should be grown as alpines in frames at first.
Shall I send more seeds at a time as letters?

ENDNOTES


1. A note written in another hand records that the letter was received Dec 29 1849.
2. The city formerly known as Madras is now called Chennai.

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