To J. D. Hooker 1 October [1879]1
Down, | Beckenham, Kent. | Railway Station | Orpington. S.E.R.
Oct 1st
My dear Hooker
Do not hate me too much for bothering you. Ld. Walsingham says G. Sleigh is sober, honest & industrious; & he evidently wishes to give him a good character, but adds “he is likely to be a useful gardener under a good head. He is a strong able working man, but requires instruction & experience”. Now having done the thing most odious to me of making a change in my servants, I think it would be a pity not to get a really good gardener. Pray tell me what you think. I have written to Sleigh that he would not do, but I could easily take him if you thought that I had better; I agreed that I wd give him 28s per week to be raised to 30s. I have sent him a present to make up for his disappointment.2
Can you or Mr Smith aid me?3 Miss Laura Forster, who is staying here says she has known of 6 good gardeners procured through Mrs Veitch.; but I do not know the Veitch’s.4 For love of Heaven advise me | Your affect | C. Darwin
I forgot to thank you for Tecoma & Mimosa; the former like all other apheliotropic plants proves at present to be a beast.5
Pray tell Lady Hooker that I have thoroughly appreciated her Bananas: they were excellent & she the best of women.—6
Footnotes
Summary
Searching for the right gardener.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-12241
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- Joseph Dalton Hooker
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- DAR 95: 489–90
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 12241,” accessed on 24 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-12241.xml