From J. D. Hooker 29 August 1881
Royal Gardens Kew
Aug 29/81.
My dear Darwin
I have just seen the announcement of your brother’s death & must send you a few words of heartfelt sympathy.1 I have somehow come to think those the happiest, who, like myself, lost an only brother when very young—2 it seems now as if they could then be best spared,—a blunder no doubt—but we know better what we lose after we having lived so long together, as you & your brother have.
It was in your brother’s house, near Park Lane, that I first became acquainted with you—& shall never forget his kind face & kinder welcome. That was nearly 40 years ago!— I well remember thinking him then quite an elderly man, & yet I see he was then under 40.3
Ever my dear Darwin | Affly yrs | Jos D Hooker
Footnotes
Summary
Condolences on death of CD’s brother Erasmus. Recalls first meeting CD in Erasmus’ rooms over 40 years ago.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-13302
- From
- Joseph Dalton Hooker
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Kew
- Source of text
- DAR 104: 166–7
- Physical description
- ALS 2pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 13302,” accessed on 20 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-13302.xml