Item 9 - Letter from Joseph Dalton Hooker to Brian Houghton Hodgson

Jany 30 1849

Dear H
I have written to [Lahine/Sahine/Sabine?] a very long letter, told him our gratitude and that we would communicate with Mr Peterman next mail - further that Humboldt has housed us with long advice on the construction of the charts and seems to desire our employing Berghaus also that we shall endeavour to arrange with Mr. Peterman something to his advantage if we do not still give him this. My father (in an overlooked letter) which I intended to have read with you, offers to take the superintendence of the affair in London paying the money to Humboldt and receiving the charts as constructed. Should you then think of accepting [H's?] suggestion and I do not see how we are to get out of the [hobble?] it might be well to think of letting Mr. Peterman translate and print the maps in England, we securing him a sale of 50 copies of the English Ed. in India, which I should think we could do, supposing the price not above 10 shillings. Two Banghys came up for me yesterday, one with [Thurman] from Neuman all in beautiful condition, but a whacking bill. The other books from my Father, including the [Periant?] publication. I have been reading it and seen nothing absolutely objectionable it is [meagre?] flippant and puerile here and there, but apparently no food for a slashing Ath. article I certainly should not myself have printed 3/4 of it. Also a paper on coal fossils, written for the Geol. Society who generously sent me 1 copy but I believe more are coming. Muller is reading it. Wretched weather here and I see no chance of getting down yet - I have not got through drying the plants brought home nor arranging them dries, and this is indispensable or I shall forget all about them. I have 30 packages already dried from [Nepal] Jongri etc. and 20 have been dried at Darj. during my absence. All this over and above the 60 lying in the house. Happily I have got through the seed root [stocks] wood and fruit and Museum specimens. You may guess I am over head and ears in work and this and part of 2 coming days must be devoted mainly to correspondence. Muller has just passed a considerable sized gall stone is better; it did not lay him up.

Ever yours affectionate

Jos. D. Hooker