From J. D. Hooker 29 May 1877
Royal Gardens Kew
May 29/77
Dear Darwin
1000 thanks for your kind letter— the only objection to Dyer for Harriet is that it is ridiculously a propos1 ie common-place—& reminds me of Hogarth’s industrious apprentice—as it did Huxley.2 I never had any ambitious desires for my sons or daughters, & a good scientific man though poor (if otherwise honest, as Sydney Smith? says of a poor man) is the best of all matches in my eyes3. Not that Dyer is poor— he has some £750 of income & will have a few thousands when his Mother4 dies.— What especially pleases me is that he is just the Brother in law I should like my sons to have5 I had long wondered whether D. cared for Harriet & neither my late wife nor this ever made out.6 Still less did we know whether H. cared for him— Now it appears that the attachment has been most strong on Dyer’s part for 4 years, & that Harriet has of late returned it.
I am very glad that you will take up bloom again. I think we can easily send you almost all the things you want.7 We generally have plenty of Desmod. gyrans.8 The nurserymen always come to us for it.— I will let you know immediately. Dyer or Smith9 will attend to all your wants in my absence.
Ever aff yrs | Jos D Hooker
Footnotes
Summary
JDH’s view of Thiselton-Dyer’s engagement to his daughter, Harriet.
JDH is pleased to help with "bloom" questions.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-10975
- From
- Joseph Dalton Hooker
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Kew
- Source of text
- DAR 104: 82–3
- Physical description
- ALS 4pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 10975,” accessed on 24 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-10975.xml