[[1]] Copy *1
H.M.S. "Erebus" Simon's Bay
Cape of Good Hope (a capital name)
Apr. 5 1843
To Lady Palgrave *2
My dear aunt Palgrave,
I have now to thank you for two of your nice letters, one received before we left
the Falklands, but which to my shame, I did not answer, from what I call want of
time, but which is, more likely, mismanagement of the same;--the 2d (written by
you on the 3d, January 1842) was put into my hands, along with many others, but
few of them more acceptable, only last night, after we cast anchor in the Bay.
You may imagine with what different feelings I look on every object here, from
those experienced exactly 3 yrs ago; when my only letter, the first of a continued
series of sad ones, informed me of Willy's *3 bad health & his departure for
Jamaica. Such has been God's will, that my selfish joy at arriving in each Port
should be suddenly checked by sorrowful tidings. My brother's death was
announced to me on first arrival in Van Diemen's Land, my sister's fatal illness,
soon after our second visit to that Port & her death at the Falklands; besides the
anxiety of my dear Grandfather *4 & Elizabeth's *5 state. To be sure, I am now all
grateful & joyful--though none of my news is less than 9 months old: & who
knows what an hour may bring forth? I have too much cause to be thankful for
the loving friends & you among them, who are left; & I trust , in full hope &
confidence, that humanly speaking they are permanently well,-- as it is arranged
for the best. Sorrow is a very selfish thing;--& although I mourned my Mary dead
nearly 2 years ago, still my dear mother's & the loving Maria's *6 & Bessy's letters
on the subject, did not fail to pinch, when I read them first yesterday night. "Yes,"
you will say, "sorrow is a
[[2]] selfish thing when you rake up the scenes of Mary's death, she who was as
dear to me as to you." You loved her as much as we all did, & I feel that it was so
when you kindly explained her state fully to me; & again I thank you, for having,
with others, prepared my mind for the event.
How many good things have befallen me to temper these afflictions, & to make
me one of the happiest fellows alive in this Port! To begin with self; we may
conscientiously say that we have done our duty to the best of our abilities, though
the results may not be great striking. The eyes of the great & good have been
upon us, & we have no reason to fear their censure. Our harassing labors are
over; we are in safety, which we have more than once despaired of & to crown
all, we are "homeward bound." My great delight, however, is on my Father's *7
account; he is enraptured with Kew, his house, his own K[ew] the Royal gardens,
his masters, &, if I am to credit him, with what I have done. He is settled where,
of all places I should have liked to see him (barring the want of mountains), & is
near you, which you know he thinks a privilege. Then my Mother *8 delights in his
contentment, & her own proximity to her relations. Maria & Elizabeth, too,
whether they marry or not, are in good society, quite what is suited to their
parents' views & their own true comfort.
I am very much gratified at what you tell me of Frank *9 & Giffy *10 & that they & all
get on well with their studies & most particularly that my dear Uncle's *11 health
continues fair. You say "he is as poor as ever" which is always a drawback, & no
more; Cousins will be soon, I hope, in a condition to help themselves & their
father, too. The Italian Guide Book I often see advertised, & Murray *12 should be
liberal. It gave me great pleasure to observe that your contributions &
[[3]] those of Lady Callcott *13 to the little volume on Westminster Abbey, are
thought so much of[.] I remember going with you to see that lady in 1829, when
she called me a "little Scotchy" & I said I held my tongue because I could speak
no English! Among the many pictures in her study, one, in particular, a Madonna,
struck me so strongly that I think I should recognize it even yet.
On my return you shall, for I know you will, teach me how to judge of pictures. My
unpracticed eye sadly wants some hints, nor should I like to travel, without being
able to admire what most truly deserves praise. Of all the pleasures of
Imagination, none is so severely felt (by the want of objects) as Music & Pictures,
when it is impossible to gratify even such a taste as I have got for these subjects.
Except a small Band, on board H.M.S. "Carysfort" when in Berkeley Sound, I
have heard no music since leaving Van Diemen's Land. At Government House
there, some ladies had to play very well indeed, generally opera pieces. The
Flagship, the "Winchester," here, has a band; but it is not very good. However I
go up every morning & night to hear it; it is Brasses, of course, & there are about
15 performers. Strauss's *14 Waltzes & some opera airs are their favorites.
We have just heard the news of the subjection of Cabul [Kabul] & Affganistan[sic]
[Afghanistan], so you are in no more alarm about Gurney*15. I ought to have
written to him, long ago, but my time is so taken up in Port; & when at sea, I am
generally not so much inclined as I might be. You must remember me very kindly
to him when you write & say that I very often think of his kindness to me. He is, I
hope, on the fair road to advancement; better friends he could not wish in all India.
Dawson *16 has written to me several kind letters to which I returned a short
answer from the Falklands.
[[4]] Among my letters from Kew, I find my father has accidentally enclosed me in
his own handwriting, refusing an invitation for Sunday to Hampstead, & thanking
uncle for a book of prayers. I do hope that my uncle may obtain some situation,
where he would not require to work so hard, even though he had no more
money. It is far better for my father to have less to do at Kew, than more
involvement in Glasgow.
In five months we hope to be at anchor in Old England not that I am in a great
hurry, except for seeing my friends. I am very happy here & the sea agrees well
with me. Best love to all | your truly affectionate Nephew | J.D. Hooker.
ENDNOTES
1. This letter is a contemporary 19th century copy, not written in the hand of the
original author Joseph Dalton Hooker, and not signed by him. The copy was
probably made by Hooker's Mother or one of his sisters to be circulated amongst
family and friends.
2. Elizabeth, Lady Palgrave, (1799--1852). Wife of Sir Francis Palgrave, sister of
Maria Turner Hooker, aunt of Joseph Dalton Hooker.
3. William Dawson Hooker, (1816--1840). Older brother of Joseph Dalton
Hooker.
4. Joseph Hooker, (1753--1845). Father of William Jackson Hooker, grandfather
of Joseph Dalton Hooker.
5. Elizabeth Hooker aka Bessy, (1820--1898). Sister of Joseph Dalton Hooker.
6. Maria Hooker, (1819--1889). Sister of Joseph Dalton Hooker.
7. Sir William Jackson Hooker (1841--1865). Joseph Dalton Hooker's Father.
Regius Professor of Botany at Glasgow University from 1820 to 1841 and the
first Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew from 1841 until his death in
1865, upon which his son Joseph succeeded him as Director.
8. Lady Maria Hooker nee Turner (1797--1872). Wife of William Jackson Hooker,
Mother of Joseph Dalton Hooker.
9. Francis Turner Palgrave, (1824--1897). British critic and poet. Joseph Dalton's
Hooker's cousin, son of his maternal Aunt Elizabeth Palgrave.
10. William Gifford Palgrave, (1826--1888). Jesuit priest turned diplomat. Joseph
Dalton Hooker's cousin, second son of his maternal Aunt Elizabeth Palgrave.
11. Sir Francis Palgrave, (1788--1861). Born Francis Ephraim Cohen, English
archivist and historian. Joseph Dalton Hooker's uncle by marriage. Married
Elizabeth Turner, Joseph Dalton Hooker's maternal aunt.
12. John Murray, London publisher of Murray's Handbooks for Travellers. Francis
Palgrave was the author of Handbook for Travellers in North Italy, (1842).
13. Maria, Lady Callcott, (1785--1842). British writer of travel and children's
books, also an accomplished illustrator.
14. Johann Strauss I, (1804--1849). Austrian Romantic composer, famous for his
waltzes.
15. Gurney Turner, (1813--1848). Third son of Dawson Turner, brother of Maria
Hooker and Elizabeth Palgrave (both nee Turner), uncle of Joseph Dalton
Hooker.
16. Dawson William Turner, (1815--1885). Youngest son of Dawson Turner,
brother of Maria Hooker and Elizabeth Palgrave (both nee Turner), uncle of
Joseph Dalton Hooker.
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