Cork Harbour. Friday morning.
Dearest Hyacinth*1 We embarked at 11 30 yesterday. The steamer is large and comfortable; there are only some 35 cabin passengers, chiefly women and children, and I have a State cabin all to myself which is most comfortable. I find some excellent books on board and I am keeping up my Journal for you. The weather has been fine but cloudy, the sea quiet and the barometer steady, which is a great comfort. The food is good but I can't say as much for drinks -- Coffee abominable, Tea middling, and the Brandy I cannot drink; so I am puzzled about my liquor. There is a good Vin ordinaire on board which I shall try, and as my Ears are in statu[s] quo under any diet and climate, I don't suppose it will make the smallest matter. I must post this in haste. Goodbye my darling. Love to Grace*2 and Amy and kindest regards to Miss Symonds and the Miss C[.] This is a slow boat, and if these West winds continue I despair of a 10 days passage!
Ever your affectionate husband and lover | J.D.Hooker. Kiss Grace for me. Please tell your Mother that I fully intended writing to her before I left Liverpool, but I was shopping and helping the Stracheys to shop till the last moment.