[[1]]
(Copy) *1 H.M.S. Erebus
Berkeley Sound. E. Falkland
Sep. 6. 1842.
My dear Elizabeth
The circumstance of my having just been writing to my friend [William] Colenso has caused me to make a mistake in the heading of this letter, & my paper has so nearly run out, that I must allow this disfigured sheet to remain as it is. About 14 y[ea] rs ago, there came to me a letter from you, beginning "I am wearying to see you back"; a very trifling circumstance, but which strikes me particularly when thus far distant, & yet I can fancy your sentiments towards me to be the same now, as when you & I thought Hastings *2 equally far from home as ever the Falklands Islands can be. And certainly I may, in the same words, echo my present feelings back again to you.
Dear Elizabeth, I did hope to have finished this letter today & to have made it a long one too; but I have been ordered, or at least asked "with the Captain's compliments", which is the same thing, to go dredging again; & so I have been at it ever since daylight, with 6 men, knocking about the harbor [sic] like a channel oyster--boat, blowing hard with snow--squalls & of course wet through, fishing up all sorts of submarine animals, sailing about from point to harbor [sic] , with always a foul wind.
Capt[ain]. Ross always gives me a good boat, which is a great comfort. And I suppose I shall get some credit for what is collected. Tell Maria that though I tried hard from morning till it is now night, I could only pick up one more Volute, *3 & that had such a curious sea--animal attached to it, that my conscience would not allow me to steal it for her.
Everything is in readiness for sea tomorrow morning at day light; when we shall undoubtedly start, unless detained by the weather;
[[2]] should that be the case, I shall add to this letter; but tonight I cannot, for I must put away the contents of several buckets, collected today, & write out some things.
Meantime, you must let me off with a promise of writing again to you, on our return from Cape Horn.
Thursd[a] y morning. We are really off & on the point of sailing down the harbor [sic] with a tolerably fine day & moderate wind. I have put into the bag, letters for my father, mother & Maria; which will, I hope, be answered by the time I arrive at the
Cape of Good Hope, whither you will address any communications to me. Do not send to Mr Harvey or anybody else, let the Post & or Admiralty do all. Write me a short letter by the Post at any rate, whatever you may do with the longer ones: do tell papa this: & also that I shall be much obliged to him if he will send me any books, especially on Cryptogamic Botany, to study on my [1 word crossed out, illeg.] way home. I have just written to Governor Moody, thanking him for all his kindness to me
& have given him my last duplicate copy of the Bedford Memoir. Much was I amused by his telling me that all the best educated & most accomplished girls in the
Barbados, (white, I mean) always come from Mrs Teed's school at Great Campden

House. He did not then know of my sisters' having only lately left it. So I suppose I am to find you a very fine young Lady indeed: altogether & quite above a poor wretch who has not even seen a Lady for a year & 2 months; nor will, for 6 months more.
When I get to the Cape of Good Hope, our friend *4 "thanks" will, I
[[3]] am sure, be delighted to greet me, & I shall be no less so, to fall in with so old a friend. Our voyage has been a miserable one for picking up any nice little things; for we have gone to no places where curiosities are to be got; but I am sure, if I see anything which may please you, I shall not fail to secure it. You must tell me, in your next letter, what you are about & how you spend your time. You must not give music the slip or, seriously, I shall be very angry: it is the only amusement I care about & am so fond of it that if I cannot get it at our own house, I shall soon go out for it. So I give you fair warning, & generally I keep my word (when it suits my inclination so to do). Lord George Paulet had a nice band on board the "Carysfort", which the
Officers were kind enough to order to play any tunes I wished for & as many as I pleased. All good ships have Bands of Music, supported by the Captain & Officers,
& under the management of a Leader, who is generally an excellent performer & practises the men twice a day, previous to the Officers' dinner--hour, when during which they generally play good music.
Now, my dear sister, I must indeed beg you to give up my love to all at home, -- for the anchor is nearly up.
Your most affectionate Brother | J. D. Hooker
Remember me kindly to Fitch, & ask him to send me a drawing of our new home.
How are Skye & Judy *5
ENDNOTES
1. This letter is a 19 th Century manuscript copy written in a hand not that of the original author, Joseph Dalton Hooker. The copy was probably made by Hooker’s mother or sister so that a version could be circulated amongst family and friends.
2. The words "In 1827--1828" have been written horizontally at the bottom of the page, to be read as an addition to the text at this point. This addition appears to have been made by the copier of the letter.
3. The words "The very rare Volute Magellanica [Adelomelon ancilla], of which
Joseph had found but one good specimen before," have been written horizontally at the bottom of the page, to be read as an addition to the text at this point. This addition appears to have been made by the copier of the letter.
4. The words "The Hon. W.H Harvey:-- late Colonial Secretary there -- lately returned from thence in a state of mental derangement." have been written horizontally at the

bottom of the page, to be read as an addition to the text at this point. This addition appears to have been made by the copier of the letter.
5. The words "The dog & cat:-- the latter died in Glasgow 2 years ago: she was a half--breed Persian:-- & very handsome & large:-- tortoise--shell coloured." have been written horizontally at the bottom of the page, to be read as an addition to the text at this point. This addition appears to have been made by the copier of the letter.
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