Kew
Nov[ember] 6 1865 My dear Mrs Smith*1 I have just heard of the R.S.s award of a Royal Medal to your husband, & do most heartily congratulate you on this very tardy recognition of very extraordinary merit. I feel sure I am right in offering my congratulations to you, rather than to him, in this matter; though in another, the birth of your

little daughter, which I heard of from Mrs Sandbach[?] at Liverpool, I suppose he should have been addressed.
We returned to Kew a few days ago, & are in a state of "unstable equilibrium" between the two official homes. My mother goes to Torquay with Mrs [1 word illeg.] for the winter, she is remarkably well.
With [1 word illeg.] regards
Believe me | Very sincerely y[our]s | Jos D Hooker [signature]