From J. D. Hooker [23] December 18651
Kew
Saturday 22 Dec | /65.
My dear Darwin
When I read your letter & came to the part that said you could work an hour a day, my heart leaped—2 I am so glad, & like the boys I say ‘Oh my how jolly—’
No one believes Karsten—3 he has been asked to come forward & would not: I heard the subject discussed by Decaisne & Naudin when in Paris,4 & by Braun & others at Vienna in 1858 I think Karsten is a very bad observer— Braun you know I think it was who found a pollen tube in the ovary, but attributed it to some other plant.—5 I have often selected a plant of Cœleb. to operate upon, but one & another thing always put it off! I think Brauns paper is in Ann. Sc. Nat. but am not sure.6
Your observation on the undoubted offspring of species simulating hybrids is a surprizing fact, & I cannot understand it— have you ever had 2 or more such pseudo-hybrids from one capsule or plant; or produced the same pseudo-hybrid twice.7
John Scotts observations were always too much for me— but I do not like to be churlish in my estimate of success in a line of enquiry I have not followed—& could only be guided to a judgment by appearances.8 Then too I was suspicious of results obtained by snatches at a time when he should have been doing something else & was always in dread of being caught.9
I would let Palestine alone just now— we have shipped an explorer off, & if at all successful more funds will be wanted & then will be the time.10
Anderson has given Scott a capital appt. at Calcutta11 I hope he has squared with you.12
I am diverted at your quandary about membership of societies—as it was only yesterday that I got a hint that I had not had the civility to acknowledge one that I had forgotten all about— Latterly I have taken to send my titles as they come to Kippist who inserts them in the Linnæan list—13 I do not like to parade them in the Royal, & it is not polite to the said Academies to ignore them altogether The Linnæan list seemed to me a modest way of embalming them & if I had only kept it up, it would have been a means of reference useful to myself. The Berlin, St. Petersburgh & Austrian Academys’ are real honors, also the Bavarian.—14 The French Institute is no longer worth having quoad Correspondence but membership is the greatest continental honor that can be passed on a foreigner.15
I am surprized at your election to Edinbh. R. S.16—the Edinburgh people being as prejudiced partial & unfair as the Parisian.
The Berlin Academy does not send proceedings to Foreign correspondents or members I believe.
By all means sign Haasts paper when drawn up,17 I shall—but I am in a bit of a fix here Haast asked me to draw up & sign his paper, being no Geologist I transferred it to Murchison, who being then on Council transferred it to Ramsay, who will do it.—18 I however felt very strongly that if Haast is F.R.S. before Hector it will be a bad thing.19 Because 1. Hectors claims are far higher as previously Geologist to American Expedition; 2. Hector is Director Genl. of Geolog. Survey of all N. Z. & high above Haast who is only provincial Geologist to Canterbury. 3. There is an ugly attack made on Haast in the Colony, for appropriating some other mans facts & theories bodily.20 Considering all these facts, & as a friend to both parties, & knowing that modesty alone kept Hector from putting his name forward—I wrote consulted confidentially Ramsay & Lyell,21 & both agreeing, I wrote to Hector the other day saying that I would have him proposed, though there will not be time to get his answer or approval.— I was also influenced by the fear that Haast was not elected (& I hear he would not be) the first year & Hector comes forward the next with Haasts name still up, the collision would be awkward Hector I think would get in at once—22 Haast I think not, there being a more deserving Geologist on the list; but one not superior to Hector.
I am really extremely well though still a little stiff in the joints—23 I have taken to Gardening i.e. laying out walks lawns shrubberies & planting trees &c, with enthusiasm24
I shall look to go down to Bromley at an early Sunday— Frances cannot till the bairns go back to school.25
Ever Yrs affec | J D Hooker
I send a quip to amuse the boys.26
I do not think I quite understand the Hybrid affair.27
Footnotes
Bibliography
Braun, Alexander Carl Heinrich. 1856. Über Parthenogenesis bei Pflanzen. [Read 23 October 1856.] Abhandlungen der Königlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin (1857): 311–76.
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Desmond, Ray. 1995. Kew: the history of the Royal Botanic Gardens. London: Harvill Press with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
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.
Freeman, Richard Broke. 1978. Charles Darwin: a companion. Folkestone, Kent: William Dawson & Sons. Hamden, Conn.: Archon Books, Shoe String Press.
List of the Linnean Society of London. London: [Linnean Society of London]. 1805–1939.
Radlkofer, Ludwig. 1857. On true parthenogenesis in plants. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 2d ser. 20: 204–10.
Summary
No one believes in Karsten.
Surprised by CD’s observations that illegitimate crosses within a species produce hybrid-like offspring.
JDH’s scepticism of Scott’s observations.
On proposing James Hector vs Julius von Haast for Royal Society; on learned society honours.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-4954
- From
- Joseph Dalton Hooker
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Kew
- Source of text
- DAR 102: 47–50
- Physical description
- ALS 8pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 4954,” accessed on 20 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-4954.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 13