[[1]] August 1874*1
We go to Belfast on 19th for Brit[ish]. Ass[ociation] where I take a Presidency of
subsection of D. & read an address which is not begun -- I am awfully sick of Brit[ish]
Associ[ation]. Then I shall have Sept[ember] & Oct[obe]r at Kew before beginning
R[oyal]. S[ociety]. in November. -I forget whether I told you that Lord Carnarvon had pressed me hard to take a Knight
Commandership of St Michael & George -- which I stoutly declined -- I really don't
want knighthood, nor to does my wife Ladyhood, & I dislike losing my individuality in a
title. I could make good excuse for not taking K.C.M.G. on the ground that it was not
good enough for me! as P[resident]. [of the] R[oyal]. S[ociety]., my two predecessors
who were not C[ompanion]. [of the order of the] B[ath]. having been being made K[night].C[ommander]. [of
the order of the] B[ath]. with far less Gov[ernmen]t. services than mine. So I have
staved off the evil day till K.C.B. is offered, if ever, -- that I believe I could not refuse
so long as I remain in office. I regard these titles in a partly
[[2]] official light, and now I have exhausted my subjects.
Ever y[ou]r affecti[onate] | J D Hooker [signature]
Baker bids me say that he has lots of Gay's plants ready when you are.
Mrs Lombe is very unwell & suffers from melancholia.
ENDNOTES
1. Date added in pencil in a hand not that of the original author, Joseph Dalton
Hooker. Letter may be incomplete as there is no other date or salutation in Hooker's
hand.
Please note that work on this transcript is ongoing. Users are advised to study
electronic image(s) of this document where possible.