[[1]]
Herbarium
Saturday [c.1890] *1
Dearest H[yacinth]. *2
My writing to you from here is a signal proof of devotion, for every moment is of
untold worth, -- botanically!
I have given up all thoughts of Cornwall, -- for the moment at any rate. As to going
down to Hythe on Monday it must depend on weather; if it is really mild -- but as you
do not come back till Saturday I could not afford the week away. The going is no
fatigue, & the pleasure of being with you & the children is very great. I will see about
it, & telegraph on Monday -- as I shall be at R[oyal]. G[eographic].S[ociety]. I could
get away by the 4.30 train from C[haring.C[ross].
I am glad you have written as you have to Grace *3. My objections to
[[2]] her music are not only so much the want of airs (I do not care only for airs), but of feeling, &
that I get the same old piece over & over again -- I have [1 word crossed out, illeg.]
known it for 40 years I should think. If Mozart[']s, Handel[']s & Rossini's airs are not
good music for practice, it is a pity. We are however in perfect [2 words crossed out,
illeg.] accord that she must keep up that kind of music in which she excels at all
hazards & an hour a day is all too little for that. I cannot understand her drawing for
me interfering with that. though I shall be glad when her perspective is over -- I had
hoped that with her mathematical ability she would have felt it to be more of a mental
exercise; as it is it is mere copying. I do not complain -- far from it -- I am very
pleased indeed with Gracie all round, but if if I were to ask her now to draw an
"interior" I
[[3]] doubt if it would occur to her to apply the rules of perspective -- & I do not think
that Miss Hodge has ever even told her to look at the corner of her bed room, & draw
it as an exercise of perspective -- or a table, or a chair.
Now I must stop. [Daniel] Oliver *4 has just brought me a most wonderful new genus
from China to ponder over & find its Nat[ural]. ord[er]..
I even went home from the Phil[osophical]. Club with Dyer, & slept at Harriett[']s *5 but
it was not like the old home -- I heard that Willy [William Henslow Hooker] *6 is poorly
again with headaches & sickness, but will take no care of himself. I am very sorry.
Ever with love to the children, & thanks to little Lion*7 for his nice letter, & kindest
regards to the Hookers.
Your ever aff[ectionate] husband | J.D. Hooker [signature]
ENDNOTES
1. Approximate year: 1890, inferred from date of preceding letter in the volume (16
Apr 1890).
2. Lady Hyacinth Hooker née Symonds later Jardine (1843--1921). Joseph Hooker's
second wife, they married in 1876.
3. Grace Ellen Hooker (1886--1953). Joseph Hooker's daughter by his first wife:
Frances Hooker née Henslow.
4. Daniel Oliver (1830--1916). Botanist. Keeper of the Herbarium of the Royal
Botanic Gardens, Kew from 1864--1890.
5. Sir Willliam Turner Thiselton--Dyer (1843--1928) and Lady Harriet Anne Thiselton-Dyer née Hooker (1854--1945). Sir William married Joseph Hooker's daughter in
1877. He was assistant Director to Joseph Hooker at Kew from 1875--1885 and
succeeded him as Director from 1885--1905.
6. William Henslow Hooker (1853--1942). Jopseph Hooker's eldest child by his first
wife: Frances Hooker née Henslow.
7. Little lion (and later young lion) was the nickname Joseph Dalton Hooker gave his
son Joseph Symonds Hooker (1877--1940), in their correspondence Joseph Hooker
senior calls himself 'old lion'.
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