JDH is behind with correspondence as usual, he has been promised some assistance by the Treasury. He thanks Asa Gray for delicate notice of JDH's wife. States Romneya seeds are acceptable. Describes the recent poor health of [Charles] Lyell, including epileptic fits. Mentions books for the Linnean & Horticultural Societies. Sargent has written & JDH has received his trees. Expresses how touched he is by Mrs Gray's letter to his sister. Notes Sechium is: 'all right'. The Catalogue of Scientific Papers is on the agenda for the next Library[?] meeting. From what Henry has written JDH is not clear whether the collections of [William] Jameson were bought or lent. Jameson died on the road from Guayaquil to Quito, he was over 80 & did not have sufficient money or food for the trip. Jameson's family did not support his botanising, he had family in Quito & Dundee & his representative is probably a son who was living in Chile. JDH asks that this letter be forwarded to Miss Grace Ellis, a friend of Tyndale. Tyndale has sent JDH some "wood-hangings".
Transcript
Kew
Ja[nuar]y 18/[18]75
My dear [Asa] Gray
I have as usual several letters of yours to answer -- & am equally in arrears to others -- but except I get material assistance I see nothing for it but to throw up. This is as good as promised me by the Treasury.
I have many thanks to send you in primis for the delicate little notice of my darling wife which I have this
Kew
Ja[nuar]y 18/[18]75
My dear [Asa] Gray
I have as usual several letters of yours to answer -- & am equally in arrears to others -- but except I get material assistance I see nothing for it but to throw up. This is as good as promised me by the Treasury.
I have many thanks to send you in primis for the delicate little notice of my darling wife which I have this
moment read.
Romneya seeds are most acceptable -- how I hope we can raise them.
Lyell has had a bad long epileptic fit & is very weak. He fell down stairs a month ago & cut his head, was laid up for 3 weeks recovery -- Came down to lunch on Xmas & caught influenza & has been laid up since -- last week was getting up well when epilepsy (so called) came on & lasted from 10 -- 4 PM[?] -- a succession of fits with vomiting.
Books for Linn[ean] Soc[iety] & Hort[icultural] Soc[iety] &c -- all right.
Sargent has indeed written most affectionately. I have a great
regard for it himself & his wife. His trees have arrived in capital order.
Mrs Gray[']s letter to my sister has touched me more than all the rest I have received put together. I she have got it & shall keep it as long as I live.
Sechium is all right --
I had not forgotten the Catalogue of Scientific Papers, but we have not had a meeting of the Library[?] Committee since I was able to attend to it -- it is on the agenda. But do you also apply -- whether I succeed or no, though sure[?].
I do not quite understand from enclosed letter of Henry’s whether the Jamesonian collections *1 were bought, lent, or sent for inspection only, but assume the
latter -- his family at Quito were bigotted[sic] Romanists & hated him & his Botany & the poor fellow died of starvation on his way from Guayaquil to Quito -- He was upward of 80 & started without sufficient cash or food, which he might have had from our Consul who knew him well -- I should be disposed to keep them till I heard. He has relations near Dundee. His representative is I suppose a son who was in Chile & who was Protestant[?] (I think) & got on well with the father. The memorials of Wymans are very interesting. *2 Please if you can, forward this to a Miss Grace Ellis, who came here with a Brother last spring. They were friends of Tyndale-- He has sent me some “wood--hangings”.
Ev[er] y[our]s affectionately J.D. Hooker [signature]
1. The collections of botanist William Jameson (1796--1873).
2. The text which runs from here until the end of the letter is written vertically up the left margin of page 4.
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