Document information

Physical location:

RBG Kew, archives, Letters from Joseph Hooker vol. 1, Ada-Bar, ff. 204-6. M73.02.04

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Joseph Hooker to Henry Barkly, 1873-02-04 [M73.02.04]. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id//letters/mentions/selected/M73-02-04-final.odt>, accessed May 10, 2026

1
This volume consists mainly of transcriptions, most in the form of typescript carbon copies, of Hooker's letters. There is no indication in the volume as to the date or author of the transcriptions, or the location of the originals, and the Archivist at Kew in June 2000 had no knowledge of the provenance of the volume. Folios 152-260 are to Sir Henry Barkly, October 1865 to November 1876, with one of 18 August 1866 (possibly an enclosure) to Charles Meller (see below) and ff. 261-3 to Lady Annie M. Barkly, July-Aug 1867. There are some gaps in the text and a few possible misreadings. Many letters have been annotated or asterisked in red ink or in pencil. Each letter in the Barkly series has been numbered. The subjects of the early letters are Hooker's various difficulties with the Board of Works 'under a department of Govt. already tired of scientific expenditure on Kew' (19 January 1866; f. 154), and Meller's journey to and health, conduct, and position at Mauritius, where Barkly was Governor, that apparently gave cause for concern.
No 15.
Kew, February 4th 1873
My Dear Sir Henry
[…]
2
Ellipses indicate editorial omissions from this extract.
I saw at Baron Rothschild's last week 2
Dicksonia Antarctica

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s 25ft high and 2 ft in diameter — their fronds were very poor, and not to compare with ours, which have 120 in a crown. […]
Bentham is busy working at Australian
Orchideae

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, which have increases wonderfully of late. I have heard again from poor Mueller, he writes in deep dejection; the poor fellow overdoes it, and loses sympathy. I think I told you that I have urged his having a good Curator under him, and applying at once for one who should be a decorator.
[…]
The armed truce holds between Ayrton and myself, and I sincerely trust that no Bouverie, or other indiscreet member, will allude to the subject in the House.
I have had a correspondence with Mr Gladstone about his very inconsiderate remarks on the relative advance of Science by English and Germans, etc, contained in his address to the LIverpool College. He professes himself quite ready to modify his expressions and adds that he did not refer so much to the physical sciences. Of the mental I am not much of a judge, but I should have thought that Locke, Reid, J. S. Mill, Sir W. Hamilton and Hubert
3
Herbert? Mistranscription by copiest?
Spencer, not to mention Berkeley and Bain, were a match for any men that France or Germany have produced, and have left their mark on metaphysics. Gladstone's mind must be a very peculiar one. I suppose that it squints
With united kind regards to Lady Barkly,
Most truly yours,
J. D. Hooker
[…]