[[1]]
Thursday [c.Feb 1863] *1a
Dear Hodgson *1
I make the opportunity of Lyell[']s *2 book appearing that of scribbling a few
lines to you. I have read a good deal but by no means all of it. It certainly is a
grand book & in some parts equal to any thing that he ever wrote -- but this
does not apply to the first 150 pages or so, which though excellent, & reading
like so many chapters our of the "Principles" are but a resume of what others
have done, with little scope for the excellence
[[2]] of Lyell[']s reasoning powers. They are rather diffuse too & rather
persuade by the accumulation of parts than by the skilful marshalling of the
same. There is an absence of evidence of the want of contemporary relative
antiquities of the Stone, Bronze & Iron periods, ditto (to the uninitiated) of
evidence of the flint makers being bona fide of human manufacture -- not that
I doubt in the smallest, having myself a very fine collection -- but I think that a
large class who will read Lyell belong to the sceptical[sic] school of
[[3]] ignorant Churchmen.
The Chapter on Owen, Huxley & Falconer etc, -- that I mean on the great
Brain question -- is very apt indeed, very fearless, honest & quite grand.
When I tell you that Darwin, Huxley & Falconer are all pleased, you may
suppose that this is a success -- I have not read further of his Darwinian
Chapter than to see how he had quoted me & so cannot speak of that. I then
turned to the last few pages, & thought them very beautifully written &
evidently with intense
[[4]] care & thought.
Lyell tells me that Murray has sold off all the Edition before it was out, & wants
another! The Skull discussion is very interesting & apt. Huxley is to be out in
a day or two. Have you read his Lectures to working classes on the Origin of
Species? They are singularly forcible, logical & lucid though containing
nothing new.
Darwin spent yesterday forenoon here, looking pretty well but has been
suffering much:-- he is making wonderful discoveries
[[5]] connected with the sexuality of plants -- even of the very commonest -- &
is experimenting away.
I have skimmed Markham's *3 book, & I think it poor on the whole. I have had
not time to read any thing else, being busy now with a manual of the New
Zealand Flora for the N.Z. Gov[ernmen]t. I declare I do think that the Flora of
every British possession will be out before that of India!
The Athenaeum committed a sad betise in regard to poor Colville that vexed
me very much. Old Crawford
[[6]] finding that Judges of the English bench were eligible for membership
without enduring ballots, & misled by seeing that C[olville]. was Judge on the
P[rivy]. Council -- had him put on the Club books, & C[olville] actually paid his
subscription -- when the L[ord]. Chancellor stumbling by accident on the
Election pointed out that it was a breach of all the rules, C[olville] not being a
Judge bona fide at all & the club had therefore to repudiate him! Most
fortunately the Committee election of
[[7]] 9 -- was then under consideration & of course the amende honorable was
made by bringing him in on that list -- (a step I agreed 4 years ago quite
independently)--so all's well that ends well.
I have gone mad after Wedgewood ware, and especially the medallions -things of another world. I have Nelson, Cromwell, Shakespeare, Mr Garrick,
old Wedgewood & Linnaeus if you come across any good specimen of old
Wedgewood pray beg buy borrow & steal for
[[8]] me-- I bought 3 lovely Vases in Paris with Flaxman's designs on them.
The children are bravely[sic] & Brian now rides without holding on by the ears,
tail or saddle of his Rocking Horse.
With united affectionate regards to yourself to self & Mrs Hodgson | Ever
d[ea]r[?] Brian | Y[ou]r Aff[ectionate] | J D Hooker [signature]
ENDNOTES
1a. Letter bears no date. Date surmised to be around Feb 1863 as it includes
mention of a recent publication by Lyell, probably Geological Evidences of the
Antiquity of Man, first published Feb 1863.
1. Brian Houghton Hodgson (1801—1894). A pioneer naturalist and
ethnologist working in India and Nepal where he was a British civil servant.
Joseph Hooker stayed at Hodgson’s house in Darjeeling periodically during
his expedition to India and the Himalayas, 1847--1851, and named one of his
sons after him.
2. Sir Charles Lyell (1797 – 1875), FRS British lawyer and geologist, best
known as the author of Principles of Geology.
3. Sir Clements Robert Markham (1830--1916) FRS. English geographer,
explorer, and writer.
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