Hooker, Sir Joseph Dalton
JHC159
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom
JDH/2/22/1/1 f.45
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
2 page letter over 1 folio
 

[Letter appears to be incomplete as it bears no formal salutation, & the only date given has been added in pencil in a hand not that of the original author.] In the letter JDH writes to [Asa Gray] informing him that he is going to Belfast for the British Association. He will 'begin' at the Royal Society in November. Explains why he has refused Knight Commandership of St Michael & St George. As President of the Royal Society he feels he will inevitably be offered Knight Commandership of the Order of the Bath & will be obliged to accept even though he & his wife, Hyacinth Hooker, do not like such titles. In a post script he adds that Baker has Gay's plants ready for Gray & Mrs [Elizabeth] Lombe is unwell.

Transcript

August 1874*1
We go to Belfast on 19th for Brit[ish]. Ass[ociation] where I take a Presidency of subsection of D. & read an address which is not begun -- I am awfully sick of Brit[ish] Associ[ation]. Then I shall have Sept[ember] & Oct[obe]r at Kew before beginning R[oyal]. S[ociety]. in November. --
I forget whether I told you that Lord Carnarvon had pressed me hard to take a Knight Commandership of St Michael & George -- which I stoutly declined -- I really don't want knighthood, nor to does my wife Ladyhood, & I dislike losing my individuality in a title. I could make good excuse for not taking K.C.M.G. on the ground that it was not good enough for me! as P[resident]. [of the] R[oyal]. S[ociety]., my two predecessors who were not C[ompanion]. [of the order of the] B[ath]. having been being made K[night].C[ommander]. [of the order of the] B[ath]. with far less Gov[ernmen]t. services than mine. So I have staved off the evil day till K.C.B. is offered, if ever, -- that I believe I could not refuse so long as I remain in office. I regard these titles in a partly

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August 1874*1
We go to Belfast on 19th for Brit[ish]. Ass[ociation] where I take a Presidency of subsection of D. & read an address which is not begun -- I am awfully sick of Brit[ish] Associ[ation]. Then I shall have Sept[ember] & Oct[obe]r at Kew before beginning R[oyal]. S[ociety]. in November. --
I forget whether I told you that Lord Carnarvon had pressed me hard to take a Knight Commandership of St Michael & George -- which I stoutly declined -- I really don't want knighthood, nor to does my wife Ladyhood, & I dislike losing my individuality in a title. I could make good excuse for not taking K.C.M.G. on the ground that it was not good enough for me! as P[resident]. [of the] R[oyal]. S[ociety]., my two predecessors who were not C[ompanion]. [of the order of the] B[ath]. having been being made K[night].C[ommander]. [of the order of the] B[ath]. with far less Gov[ernmen]t. services than mine. So I have staved off the evil day till K.C.B. is offered, if ever, -- that I believe I could not refuse so long as I remain in office. I regard these titles in a partly

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official light, and now I have exhausted my subjects.
Ever y[ou]r affecti[onate] | J D Hooker [signature]
Baker bids me say that he has lots of Gay's plants ready when you are.
Mrs Lombe is very unwell & suffers from melancholia.

ENDNOTES


1. Date added in pencil in a hand not that of the original author, Joseph Dalton Hooker. Letter may be incomplete as there is no other date or salutation in Hooker's hand.

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