[[1]]
April 16/[18]90
The Camp,
Sunningdale.
Dea[res]t H[yacinth]. *1
You are most welcome to the portrait -- with my love. & hopes of many happy returns
of your birthday.
I shall be down on Friday whichever way I go. I had arranged for this supposing that
Saturday was your birthday. I thought of leaving on Tuesday.
I fear Westward Ho would be a fatiguing affair, we sh[oul]d leave Dawlish at 8.38. &
not get back till 8.2.
[[2]] It would give about 4 -- 41/2 hours at W[estward]. H[o].
We might go to Torquay on Saturday. If you agree please write to Tom.
I drove to Farnborough to day & took the train on to Winchfield. Then carriages met
us & took us to Gibbles (4 or 5 miles) where Mr Russell lives who married one of the Miss
Lefroys of your neighbourhood other Miss R. asked for you & Granny[?] -- we lunched
there & drove 20 miles on to Crondall where the funeral took place -- I knew few
people but Sir J. Adie, Admiral Farfax Fairfax & a Mr Engelbach C.B. a very able
man formerly in the War Office -- now Commissioner of
[[3]] Customs. Also a Mr Willis a School Inspector, who knew me, but alas I cannot
recall. -- Lady Lefroy was not there, she will remain at Lewarne for another year at
least. The day was lovely & much rain had fallen during the night. The service was
choral[?] in a large X, ugly outside but very fine within, chiefly Norman with grand
vaulted arches, dog--toothed, supporting the roof & aisles.
The grave was belted with primroses all round, & for a foot down the sides, whole
plants set in moss, very tasteful.
The horse came to day, but I have not seen it. Sir I. Fagren[?] pronounces Reggie
[Reginald Hawthorn Hooker] fit for India but not robust. He has given
[[4]] him a certificate.
I wonder that Mr LaTouche has not written to me since he left.
No more news dearest from | J.D. Hooker [signature]
I find that by leaving Sunningdale at 10.53 I arrive at Reading at 11.33 leaving me
17' to get across & catch[?] the down 11.50. which should be plenty of time.
ENDNOTES
1. Lady Hyacinth Hooker née Symonds later Jardine (1843--1921). Joseph Hooker's
second wife, they married in 1876.
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