[[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.
Please note that work on this transcript is ongoing. Users are advised to study electronic image(s) of this document where possible.