[[1]]
Athenaeum Club Pall Mall
Saturday
F[ebruar]y 27/[18]75
My dear Lady Jardine *1
I have just returned from your dear old friend Sir Char[les] Lyell's funeral in the
Abbey, where I walked next to your father as Pall bearer. The order was on the left
D[uke] of Argyll, J Evans, Mr Hughes, Huxley, Justice Grove. On the right Sir E.[?]
Ryan myself, your father -- Carrick Moore[?] -- I saw many faces of Lady's[sic] who I
knew in the crowd.*2 Miss Crawshay threw a beautiful wreath on the coffin. & thought
much of you & the few old dear friends who had his absolute confidence. This is
[[2]] the 4th Funeral of those most dear to me that I have attended in as many months
& I cannot tell you how it seems to draw me towards the very[?] few that are left
behind. I am sure you will let me rank you amongst those few -- I walked with your
father back, he leaving me at this door -- he was much affected, talked of you, &
asked if we had heard of you [1 word crossed out, illeg.] since you left. I told him we
had, from Paris -- that you had a tiring journey, but had not been overfatigued -- I
assure
[[3]] you that Harriet & [I] thought & talked much of you when you were crossing the
Channel & congratulated you on the fine weather.
Now may I claim my privilege of an old friend to urge you my dear Lady Jardine not
to expose yourself to fatigue or cold on arriving at Cannes. A complete change of climate
is always a trial to any constitution & weakened as yours is, it will be a severe one:
let me beg of you to rest well, eat well & not bustle about for lodgings or Pension till
you have not only recovered from fatigue but
[[4]] tried your strength. Your father is visibly very anxious about you, so are others I
assure you -- & if I write in the fullness[?] & freshness of my sympathy which with yours,
his, & my loss, you will excuse my apparent urgency in this matter of your health.
You are yet young, have a sound constitution, but are ardent[?], easily led to believe
in your being stronger than you are -- the spirit overrules the body with you -- a most
dangerous, though delightful condition when in good health & spirits under the
contrary it is doubly depressing, doubly dangerous.
I am reading the Curé it is not
[[5]] easy French, how I wish I had your help! -- I have not got beyond 40 pages &
am puzzled about Sir C.--L. I asked Leonard if he had read it -- he said no, which
surprised me as I think you told me that Mrs Lyell had.
I have promised to go to Pendock at Easter with Charles & Brian (if possible). You
father came up from the I[sle] of Wight, & had to buy black clothes. He returns there
tonight & to Pendock on Monday.
I shall be so glad if you
[[6]] will kindly write me a letter telling us how you have arrived at Cannes & adding
that you will take my advice about your health -I have some correspondence that you should see & then destroy but cannot send it
from here -- you shall have it when next I write, in answer I hope to yours.
I hope Miss Jardine is a pleasant companion.
I am dear Lady Jardine y[ou]r attached old friend | J.D. Hooker [signature]
*3 We
all go to Huxley[']s[?] tomorrow Sunday for a high Tea.
ENDNOTES
1. Lady Hyacinth Jardine (1842--1921). Wife of Sir William Jardine; 6th Baronet of
Applegirth and distinguished naturalist. She was widowed in 1874 and married Sir
Joseph Dalton Hooker in 1876.
2. The wording from here to "coffin" is written vertically up the left hand margin of
page 1.
3. The wording from here to the end of the letter is written vertically down the left
hand margin of page 6.
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