[[1]]
St Louis
July 17/[18]77
Dearest Hyacinth *1
Yours of first July just received as I was about to write to you was a most unexpected
treat! Thank you dearest for writing so soon. I do so long to hear from you & see
you & did not expect the letter till I had arrived at Pueblo the day after tomorrow (if
then).
We arrived here yesterday after a very tiring railway journey though of only 14 hours
from Cincinnati whence I wrote last to you, the [Thiselton] Dyer's, & Smith. Now I am
writing only to you. We have had really cool weather but the dust & dirt of the
railway cars: then bituminous coal districts is horrible & the sleeping in the
[[2]] Palmer cars is simply infernal you could not have stood it. Yet one there are no
good & high enough backs for support in the [1 word crossed out, illeg.] seats of the
carriages you are driven to then. Nothing can exceed their cleanlyness[sic] & the
goodness of the carriage's bed & bedding, but you are enclosed by thick curtains have
no air, & the broad long high carriages, upon very badly metalled roads, swing, jerk,
jump, tip & role[sic], so that it is often impossible to stand & the noise is awful: sitting
down one does not feel it much, but the lying down, high above the centre of gravity
of the car, is simply being tossed the night long in a blanket! Had you been with us
we must have taken short stages & slept every night at Hotels. The latter are
admirable but very dear -- you pay 16/ -- 20/a day for every thing whether you eat or
no! Exclusive of wine or
[[3]] beer & these are tremendously high. I cannot tell you how constantly you are in
my thoughts, envying Gray & Strachey having their wives, wishing I could show you
this & that, & there again glad that you have escaped some discomfort -- but in the
Hotels I miss you most, & dream of you all night, incongruous dreams, happily never
bad ones, though so often unsatisfactory or rather unintelligible[?]!
I am very very busy making notes on the vegetation. Our party has increased to 10!
The Grays & Stracheys 4, Dr Lamburn [Lambourne] -- very interesting -- Prof Leidy
the very great geologist who Huxley swears by who wants to explore the minute animals,
Diatoms, Rhizaphora &c of the Colorado waters, his wife a decent body & adopted
child of 8 or so a pallid over fed girl. Mr Hayden head of the Geol[ogical] Survey & a
Capt Stevenson his [1 word crossed out, illeg.] chief Asst who appears to be a very
able & agreeable man. We shall leave the Ladies somewhere I suppose. The more
I see of Mrs Strachey the more
[[4]] I think you would have liked her she can't help being clever & odd, but she is so
considerate & truly kind, candid earnest & dependable -- Mrs Gray is most sweet --
has a perpetual smile & is very loveable, she is so anxious to know you -- you cannot
think how pleased she was with the little photograph in my locket she is well on to 55 or
60 I suppose. Gray is 67 as sharp as a needle, pleasant, laughing & full of animal
spirits & information.
Why should any not come home for the holidays? You know dear that I have often
wished (not only suggested) it. Let them both come at Xmas. I am anxious to hear
of Willy [William Henslow Hooker], Charles [Paget Hooker] & Brian[']s [Harvey
Hodgson Hooker's] several results. Willy wrote to me calling you Madre in his letter
& speaking so nicely -- he is a good fellow.
I am up to the eyes in trees flowers & shrubs. My next letter must be for all to see,
this is for your own dear self my beloved & darling wife. From your devoted husband
| J.D. Hooker [signature]
Kiss Gracie Reggie [Reginald Hawthorn Hooker] from me & give much love to your
father & mother. How is Powell[?]?
*2 Remember
me especially[?] to Pendock neighbours who know me especially our
old Priest of Carmes[?]. I cannot recall their names! & the Roberts'. & all at
Hereford.
*3 Therm[ometre]
only 83 but was 98º two days a<go be> happy we had not arrived.
ENDNOTES
1. Lady Hyacinth Hooker, née Symonds then Jardine (1842--1921). Joseph Hooker's
second wife, they married in 1876.
2. The wording from here to "Hereford" is written vertically up the left hand side of
page 1.
3. The wording from here to the end of the letter is written in the top left hand corner
of page 1.