Hooker, Sir Joseph Dalton
JHC139
author address unknown,
JDH/2/22/1/1 f.10-11
Gray, Asa
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
© Descendants of Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
Asa Gray Correspondence
The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
English
Original MS
4 page letter over 2 folios
 

JDH thanks Asa Gray for his letter & review of [Rev. Miles Joseph] Berkeley. Berkeley will not like Gray's review or JDH's in JOURNAL OF BOTANY. JDH comments on Gray's criticism of his ideas on physiology, comparing them to a firework, and to his own less ordered style of critique. Declares that he will not take account of a 'vital force' until anyone else does. Compares American & British terminology i.e. in the United States physiology is synonymous with biology. Discusses nomenclature & the use of the English 'anth' in names such as Ranunculanths, compared to using the suffixes: 'ads' or 'worts' in place of aceae. This was started by [John Stevens] Henslow & despite misgivings JDH has advised [George] Bentham to retain them as they are now effectively sanctioned by the government; being used in the National Schools. He asks Gray not to deter Bentham from using the system as it is the current vogue & it is hard enough to get government to publish such books for the amateur, & this class of people cares a great deal about terminology. JDH thinks [John] Lindley is correct to refer Podostemons to near Lentibulariaceae though he previously thought their place was with Scrophulariaceae.

Transcript

Majestys Government, no less; for the delectation of National Schools. & as the Henslow diagrams will be the great engine of instruction for Schools, ladies, parsons & the like, it would "meo sensu" be most unwise of us B[entham]. to have ignored them or adopted any new fangled ones. I hate & despise the whole English system both for ordinal & generic names. You know how difficult it is to get any really good books put into gov[ernmen]t: circulation, & it would be a most serious draw--back to the good Benthams would do were he not to make his uniform with the system in vogue. These things are trifles to us, but terminology is a serious affair to the classes the book is intended for. So whatever you do do not put Bentham off using anths -- I advised saying Ranunculaceae -- Ranunculus family & in brackets (Ranunculanths) after.

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Dear Asa Gray
Many thanks for your letter & the swishing review of [Reverend Miles Joseph] Berkeley -- it serves him right, but he certainly will not like it. He has made no remarks on my review in the Journal of Botany; I suppose that like another friend of mine (the last letters of whose names are Asa Gray) he thinks I am wrong wherever I find faults! *1
I am charmed with your criticisms on my ideas of Physiology &c &c Your ideas remind me of a fire work called the serpent which makes fiery circles -- ascends, makes more circles, -- descends then flares up & goes out. mine you may compare to a similar work called a whirlygig cracker, which does the same in a less methodical form. They both end as your our ideas may end -- in a blaze, a bang & a stink[.] We neither understand one another

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nor our[?] subject in one another’s eyes. & the stink of each alone remains to each. I shall be very glad to take any amount of account of vital force when I find any one else doing so -- with me it stands in the same relation to[?] other forces that magnetism does to Heat, Electricity; Sound, Sight; each of[?] which is a tertium quid investigated by then following up the laws of the others[.] With you Physiology = Biology -- with us they have a totally different meaning. I mention this to show you how far we are at cross--purposes in diction. Developement [sic] = growth, I agree & generally use the latter term, but it is raw & undignified.
Heaven defend me from my friends I put [George] Bentham up to Ranunculanths! I who cannot tolerate English names in any shape/-- They are [John Stevens] Henslow[']s children, & bad; though they best, being infinitely better than =ads. = worts & =aceae. I think Bentham right to adopt them, because they are now solemnly sanctioned by Her

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Majestys Government, no less; for the delectation of National Schools. & as the Henslow diagrams will be the great engine of instruction for Schools, ladies, parsons & the like, it would "meo sensu" be most unwise of us B[entham]. to have ignored them or adopted any new fangled ones. I hate & despise the whole English system both for ordinal & generic names. You know how difficult it is to get any really good books put into gov[ernmen]t: circulation, & it would be a most serious draw--back to the good Benthams would do were he not to make his uniform with the system in vogue. These things are trifles to us, but terminology is a serious affair to the classes the book is intended for. So whatever you do do not put Bentham off using anths -- I advised saying Ranunculaceae -- Ranunculus family & in brackets (Ranunculanths) after.

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I think that you will find [John] Lindley right in referring Podostemons to to near Lentibulariaceae I did to Scrophs [Scrophulariaceae] originally, which Lindley followed I think first -- by proposing Plantaginea (through Littorella) & then Lentibulariceae[sic]. I am sure that Scrophs or Lentib[ulariaceae]. are their place.
I must break off | Ever y[ou]r aff[ectionate] | J D Hooker [signature]

ENDNOTES


1. Probably refers to reviews of Berkeley's book Introduction to Cryptogamic Botany (1857).

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