From J. D. Hooker 2 July 1862
Kew
July 2/62
My dear Darwin
One line to say, that I have given instructions to Gower about Masdevallia,1 & will write to the Cape for Bonatea-roots.2
We have got a Cook, who I hope will suit, she was Sir F. Palgrave’s, during all his widowerhood & is a most trustworthy person, too old, but that is a fault on the right side in our case:3 & at any rate she will enable me to get things belowstairs put on a proper footing— you cannot conceive the relief it is to us to have found a suitable person! Children & Governess go to Worthing tomorrow—we on Friday to Dover, we shall travel slowly. I also fear length &c of journey to Switzerland, but her heart is there, & just see what weather we have here!4 I saw Dr Walshe yesterday who examined her & assures me she has no organic complaint & that it is all functional5
I saw Lady Bell6 on Monday who gave a very poor account of Lyell I am grieved to say. I called in Harley street yesterday (of course did not ask to see anyone). the servant told me he was not so well that day, but that he & all would go to Eastbourne on Saturday.7
I heard of Lyell having had to be put in a warm bath after arrival in England.8
I do hope you will unravel the Melastoma mystery.9
Your Eczema must be very different from my father’s, which gives little or no pain.10 Paget told me that Eczema was a sort of nom de guerre for any skin complaint that had no other recognized name,—a sort of “suppressed gout:” I suppose, wh. means any thing but Gout!.11
Ever yrs affec | J D Hooker
P.S. We have just heard from Lady Lyell— Sir Charles is not well enough to go to Eastbourne on Saturday— she says she sees no one
Footnotes
Bibliography
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
DNB: Dictionary of national biography. Edited by Leslie Stephen and Sidney Lee. 63 vols. and 2 supplements (6 vols.). London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1912. Dictionary of national biography 1912–90. Edited by H. W. C. Davis et al. 9 vols. London: Oxford University Press. 1927–96.
Orchids: On the various contrivances by which British and foreign orchids are fertilised by insects, and on the good effects of intercrossing. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1862.
Summary
Will see to Masdevallia and Bonatea.
Domestic matters.
Lyell’s health.
CD’s eczema.
Hopes CD will solve the mystery of Melastoma.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-3636
- From
- Joseph Dalton Hooker
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Kew
- Source of text
- DAR 101: 44–5
- Physical description
- ALS 4pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 3636,” accessed on 26 September 2022, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-3636.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 10