Colenso’s collections
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I have, however, a large lot of Mosses and also several phænogams yet to send you, these I shall hope to get ready and dispatch during our coming winter. In the bigger parcel are a few phænogams (sps. nov.), – also, specimens of several Gahnias, which ought to have been sent to Kew long ago with a former lot of plants, – and re which your Mr Clarke had written to me in 1890! I had always kept his note on my writing-table, and in remembrance too, but could not reply satisfactorily till now, for I could not readily find them among my many rough & unarranged bundles: – I hope these, though late, may prove of service. I would beg to call attention to my note on the genus, in vol. xviii, “Trans, N.Z. Inst.” I have also enclosed a small packet in the bigger box for Sir J.D. Hooker, which I will thank you to forward. I trust both Sir Joseph and yourself are quite well, and escaped the unwelcome visitation of La Grippe. We are all appalled with the daily news by cable of its ravages! here, too, have been several deaths, but in almost every case arising from a relapse, – the patient having gone out, or gone to work, too soon. My own recovery from two relapses (at my age, too!) has been considered marvelous. It is a terrible weakening disorder, – it laid me up for 2 months. With every kind regards, I am, my dear Sir, Yours faithfully, W. Colenso. (In JG Baker’s hand) Parcel received March 10, 1892. 21 Phænogams & Ferns. 395 Hepaticæ 178 Fungi. Mr Clarke will report on the Gahnias, Dr Cooke on the Fungi & we will send the Hepaticæ to Dr Stephani if he is willing to undertake them. J.G.B. ________________________________________________
Napier, (Dannevirke “70-mile Bush”) N. Zealand, May 17th., 1892. Dear Mr Thiselton-Dyer Your kind letter of March 12th, with enclosures, is just to hand, (having been, somehow, delayed a fortnight at Wellington) but in time for me to briefly acknowledge by this outgoing Mail: I thank you for it: am glad to find my parcels of N.Z. plants (scraps?) reached you safely. – I trust you are by this time fully recovered from secondary effects of this terrible Influenza, and also passed well through your Northern winter: I am very much better, indeed nearly quite well, got strength, again, & at last! in my legs & feet, – but only recently. – I have lately received from an acquaintance residing in the mountainous interior a few seeds of Cordyline indivisa – which I had been long desirous of obtaining for Kew. I wish they were more, but I send them as they are new and should you not have already received them from some other quarter in N.Z., may prove of use. I hope to hear of their growing at Kew. Am right glad to hear from you of dear Sir Joseph being so very well: please remember me most kindly to him. Believe me, Yours Sincerely, W. Colenso. P.S. I have written for a larger supply of those seeds, & have good hopes of getting them, & if I do, will forward to Kew. W.C. 6 July 1892307 Dannevirke,
July 6, 1892. Dear Mr Thiselton Dyer I have recently received my little lot of “Author’s Copies” of my Papers in “Trans. N.Z. Instit.” for 1891, and in distributing them I send you one of each pamphlet. And as I wish, also, to send copies to the Editor of “Nature”, and don’t recollect his address, I venture to enclose his parcel & little note to your care, and will thank you to write it on them and then post. I am still here in the woods, (but for Church Services at Woodville, 20 miles further S. but much lower,) and find it very cold at times. I am keeping pretty well: and hope you are quite well. I have collected a few more Fungi for you & Dr. Cooke: but though well able to walk 3-4 miles on open ground scarcely venture into a N.Z. wood: possibly may do so in the coming summer. Hope Sir Joseph is well: kindest regards to him (when you may meet) and to yourself. Believe me, Yours faithfully, W. Colenso. P.S. I have left my note to the Editor open that you may read it. W.C. ________________________________________________ 24 January 1893308 Napier, New Zealand Jany. 24, 1893 My very dear & valued old friend. How shall I? how can I, write to you after such a desperately long silence on my part? and though I humbly beg a 1000 pardons, and say, and reiterate, that I have had you continually in mind, with a self-accusing conscience unmercifully haunting me – how will you take it? I dare hope, however, that you have been so closely engaged on your great work (or works) as not to have been troubled with thoughts this way concerning me. But then you had written 2 letters to me since my last to you (in Jany. 92,) and here they are before me: one of June 13th. and one of Octr. 9th. – and surely these should have been replied to? True: and I must cry – peccari:309 and you, in the exuberant kindness of your loving heart will, I hope, allow. And now, having passed that barrier, and said so much in limine,310 I will (I think) astonish you with at least one of my reasons (No. 2, infra,) for this long silence. 1. About this time last year I left Napier for the Bush (forest interior 100 miles away, S.) seeking strength and health, and if possible, quittance for ever of Influenza. Within a fortnight a letter came from the Bishop, begging me to take charge of Woodville, 20 miles further S., – or the Church there must be closed! I was wholly unfitted (but the Bp. did not know of that,) weakness of legs & body generally and loss of voice, but, rather than the Ch. should be shut up, I agreed to try – though friends & Med. men opposed it. And so it came to pass, that from that time down to 24th November last, I was in charge there – when the new incumbent arrived, & entered on his duties. I have no occasion to trouble you with a long particular narration of ups & downs! how I passed the wet and cold winter – obliged even to the last, to be taken to and from Ch. in a cab to my hotel, my legs refusing to walk, and so it was, while staying in the Bush, with the forest close to me! not able to go into them! living Tantalus-like all that time; but since then – at Xmas – I again re-visited my dear old haunts – Where I was welcomed: – walking some 6-8 miles in a day though dearly paying for it afterwards. 2. (“This to thy right-eye, Philip!”311) I had received from you while there a copy of your “Himalayan Journals,” (new Ed.) – I had formerly received a copy from your Honoured Father of a portion of the same, published in the Kew Journal. – And curiously enough! at same time a letter (dated Septr. 19th. 1892) came from an old friend at Wellington, containing these words: –– “I have decided to forward you the picture of which I formerly wrote, viz. Sir J. Hooker on the hills in India gathering specimens of the Rhododendron: it is a pretty picture & true. I think it will afford you some pleasure, therefore I send it to you – to hang up in one of your rooms. I lend it to you – it is not for sale and I do not wish it copied. It was painted by an Indian acquaintance of Sir J. Hooker, from whom I purchased it.” The said picture came on by train to Napier, and my man took charge of it here until I should return: and as I read on in your fascinating book, I came to your own account (at p.259) of that interesting scene – which had been since painted and sent to me. So, I said – “I must now defer writing until I have seen this picture: [presently I will describe it.] 3. I returned to Napier in December (not a bit too soon, as all my business matters had been long sadly neglected!!) – When the Rev. C.L. Tuke, Incumbent of Taradale (6 miles distant), found me out, and begged me to help him at Xmas. time, as he needed rest. (I like Tuke, so quiet, unassuming, active, gentlemanly, and though H. Ch. free from bigotry, – and his wife, too, much like him, & they have 4 dear bairnies: T. has 3 places distant from each other to attend to every Sunday, and 4-5 services; so I agreed to help him.) Then the Dean came to see me, he, too, needed rest, and wanted me to take duty at the Cathedral for 2 Sundays (1 & 8 Jany.). I told him of Tuke: and it was ended by my being in for New Years’ Day at the Cathl. & on 8th at Taradale, – which duties I have performed. 4. I have been closely occupied in working-up my 2 Botl. Papers for “Trans. N.Z. I.” (having only shown rough first drafts – with the plants, at our last meeting,) the Hon. Secy. having given me “till 15th. Jany.” ere he should send in the Papers to Sir James Hector: by dint of sticking to it, I sent them to him on 14th. 5. During spare hours (and in times of pain when I could not write) since my return last month, I have also been engaged in putting-up a lot of Fungi &c, for Kew: these are nearly ready and will be sent to Mr Dyer by first Direct Mail: when I purpose answering his kind letters: please tell him this. So, my dear friend, though I have not written to you, I have not been idle. And yet there is still another reason why I did not earlier write to you: and it is as good to have it out – for though I cannot fulfill it at present yet as I fully purpose to do so, shortly, (before that I can hear from you in reply,) I may mention it: and that is that I had both wished & intended to send your son Joseph – the Botanist and “chip of the old block”, – a Xmas. Box or N.Year’s Gift: but owing to the backwardness of my tenants and to these late and new horrid extra demands from Tax-gatherers (Land Tax – in one yearly sum on 31st Decr. – Income Tax, ditto ditto, on 31st January, – with also new Rates & Taxes from Borough & from Harbour Board – & all payable in Decr.) I cannot now do so, but though not as a Xmas., such shall be an Easter Gift (viz. 2nd April,) – of this more anon. –– This is not intended as a reply to your 2 kind letters: but more as a preceding Herald with submission and peace-offerings – (very poor ones, though!) I hope to tell you something better in our Botanical way in my next. – one thing, however, I must not omit to notice (it has just caught my eye in your last,) you affectionately say “Little D. now 7, shows marked musical ability, and to be Organist in a Cathedral is one of Mother’s dreams for him.” Now only yesterday our Cathedral organist (after 10 years service) resigned: and on my last Sunday at Woodville, the choir, who then mustered strangely chanted “Te Deum” and “Jubilate” well – to Jackson’s glorious and ravishing music! this they did of their own accord to please me, kind, was it not? I felt my having to leave W. I had begun to know and to love the people (as well as my work), and they me. Even the dear children! such a lot, too. I had served them freely without pay – always paying all expenses. I am pretty well: much more free from Rheumatism – I do think, Infl. has lessened that but this, Infl., is at times very bad, especially in feet, soles & toes, so that sometimes I can scarcely walk at all – & very painful, but only while walking. Please present my best respects to Lady Hooker – and an old man’s sincere love to the “olive branches” and to you dearest old friend – all & every good thing. Believe me Yours faithfully W. Colenso. An outline of Picture. Size – frame, 3. 0 x 2. 6, glazed. Size – drawing, 2. 2 x 1. 5. Fine woodland scenery & creeper, high range snowy mts. in background. You (very large!) seated under a high tree, in a smart coloured robe or gown, with coloured trousers and big shoes, points turned up & a round tartar’s cap, with specs. and very fair face looking as sedate as a judge (side face only). A woman behind standing with a long vert. spear, or rod, and a large quantity of big showy bouquets of flowers on the ground by her foot – all colours! – A woman before you kneeling presenting flowers – well clothed a black dog sitting upright by her side (nearly as sedate as yourself!) and with Gold-leaf eyes!!! looking so funny. Two smartly dressed yg. men (in uniform – Indian?) at your right. Two women in further foreground (or front of you) one w. a branch of flowers & one topping another & all w. big knives. (copied hurriedly for Mail).312 W.C.
________________________________________________ 30 January 1893313 Napier, N. Zealand,
Dear Mr Thiselton Dyer At last I have completed my task, and am therefore writing to you: having this day made up another lot of Fungi, in which I hope some sps. nov. may be found and so please Dr. Cooke. I have also added about 40 lots of Hepaticæ, – although such may gain me extra animadversions from Stephani! These last I had collected during the autumn & winter of 1892, – not so much for sending to Kew as for my own future examination (however cursory), but on my receiving, through you, Stephani’s long and full correction of the large lot of Hepaticæ, I had sent you in Jany, 1892, and finding such an enormous number of repetitions, &c., I ceased gathering any more, seeing I was still working over the same ground, and should not find time to examine them – even if I possessed the requisite ability to do so. And here I would just quietly observe, (before I have done with them,) that I think Stephani might have let me down a little more gently; for he knew, at least, 2 things; – 1. that by far the larger portion of the Hepaticæ I had sent had never been examined by me, but were merely gathered and roughly put up for a future examination: and 2. that I had not the necessary modern books of reference here, – as I had previously written to him (in reply) respecting them: and, I fear I must in justice to myself, (and in writing to you at Kew,) add, 3. that my refusal to send him any Hepaticæ (made a few years before) had something to do with it. However all that is over now: I never worked for sale or gain, and though it appears I made several woeful mistakes – yet being done con amore, in the Happy Golden Age of Ignorance, I had gained many pleasant hours in collecting, examining and describing them. Sic transit Gloria, &c. and here I would specially thank you, my dear Sir, for the corrected page in the Jl. Linn. Socy., beginning with Stephani’s strictures and restorations: but enough of this. –– I duly received your kind letter of Septr. 4th, (also, an official Memorandum of 6 Octr.,) re certain Maori things (vegetable products) which had been mentioned by me in a late Paper published in “Trans. N.Z. Instit.,” vol. xxiv. – that were considered desiderata for the Kew Museum: most of them, however, are entirely matters of the past – gone for Ever!! never more to be seen: – e.g. as is Brownsonetia-flying-kite: long spears made from Rimu and Tawa woods: Resin of Aciphylla Colensoi: and a Canoe Sail of leaves of Typha angustifolia – but, the dishes of Totara bark, gum of Pittosporum tenuifolium, and Belt of orange-coloured leaves of Demoschœnus spiralis, I may be able to procure: anyhow, I will do my best & report anon. I trust you have completely recovered from the disagreeable remainders of that fell disorder Influenza! I regret to say, that I have not, and as it is now nearly 15 months since I was attacked, I do not expect (at my age, too) ever to be wholly free. It is, however, confined to my feet and toes (soles) and knees, and is very irregular, sometimes vanishing for 2-4 days, and often occurring suddenly and severely, so that I can scarcely walk or stand, owing to the severity of the pain; but on the whole I am wonderfully well, and I do think that (somehow) this Influenza has, with me, lessened Rheumatism! And I am still working professionally; yesterday I was at Taradale, a township 6 miles distant from Napier, where I took both Mg. and Evg. Church Services, returning last night at ix. 30 – but tired: and I don’t yet use specs. There are several others, and young men too, who are subject to most anomalous pains in various parts of their bodies from this Influenza. I wrote to your dear & honoured father-in-law last week, and I mentioned that I should shortly be sending to you. I trust he is keeping well, and if so, I know he is hard at work. The late Ed. of his Himalayan Journals I read with much pleasure during our last winter – the only book that I have read through for many a day! My kindest regards to him. – I have lately received several specimens of our Mountain Flora for examination, &c., but in a most wretched condition! through having been badly packed (jammed!) into one tin while fresh and wet, and so kept until half or more of them had rotted! Some, however, (prima facie) are certainly new. I shall enclose a specimen from a plant I received last year which I don’t believe to be indigenous, and which has puzzled me. When you next write, please tell me something of it. I purpose putting up for you a lot of Mosses (that have been several years in collecting), – together with some Lichens, and also some Phænogams, during our coming winter, – which may end my work in that direction! I suppose you will have long ago read my paper on “the Veg. Food of the Ancient Maoris” (“Trans. N.Z. Inst”., vol. xiii,p. 3),) if not, I think there is much therein that would interest you. I note what you say (ditto the “Standard”), re the publications of Cook’s Journals of his first voyage from his own log, &c. I shall hope to see, as I have ever believed there is much of real interest, and of value, too, that was omitted or overlooked by Hawksworth: e.g. the day of his taking possession of N.Z. (vide my paper on it in Trans. N.Z. Instit, vol. x. p.99.) Twice, during several years, did I write to our Agent-General in London, upon this subject, and also to Sir Walter Buller, when there, to get it set as best by referring to Cook’s own Log – but no! nothing was done by them – Here I must stop! Believe me, my dear Sir, Yours very sincerely,
21 February 1893314 Napier New Zealand, Feby. 21st 1893 My very dear old Friend – In a letter I wrote to you about a month ago I promised to write to you again shortly, so as to reach you by Easter, and I now do so: mainly however, to fulfill my promise made therein to your young & rising Botanist, (who is to hand down & perpetuate the grand name of Hooker,) and so to send you and him the enclosed Draft for £30 – that is, (say) half to you for your kind annual outlays on my account (in paying my yearly subscriptions to R. Society) – and remaining half to your son. I did both hope & intend when I last wrote, to write you a longer and possibly a better letter by this mail than I find I can do at present, my time has been so fully occupied with various matters long delayed, that I am obliged to postpone writing to several correspondents in various parts of the world – both of the Old and New. From letters received I should think there must now be an increasing No. of Cryptogamic Botanists at work especially Hepaticologists. Possibly Stephani’s Paper in Linn. Socys Journal on our N.Z. Hepaticæ (and on me in particular) may have been a means of bringing them out, – or, at all events, to write to me for specimens!! Among them is a recent Paper (from Trans. Connt. Academy, 1892) from a Mr A.W. Evans of New Haven Connt. U.S.A., in which he breaks up our known Hepaticæ into 117 genera! and in so doing ignores or destroys old-estabd. ones: no doubt some of them were too large, but, for my part, I would rather that such were broken into groups, like you did on N.Z. Hypnum: but I must stop this. –– I worked hard after my last to you to finish making up my box of Fungi, &c for Kew: I dare say you will hear of this or of my accompanying note to Mr Thiselton-Dyer, before this can reach you. I have received another letter from my old Wellington friend the kind lender of the big picture I mentioned in my last, I extract from it for your information or amusement, – the following: – “Glad you were pleased w. the picture. The Painter of it, (a Mr Taylor, I think, was the name,) a Commissioner in Govt. Serv. for years in India, explained to me, he had suggested if not lent the dress (a Chinese gown) to Sir J. Hooker: that those natives were his attendants, and of the small hill tribe: the Dog, I did not question him about: the Natives carry very long knives. It was a picture that most pleased me of his collection which was not so complete when I saw it, as some of his paintings had been previously purchased for some Institution in London. I have some further notes of these paintings, but have not them now handy”. – And again, he says: “Your nice present, ‘Hookers’ Him. Journals,’ – for this I thank you very much. I shall look into it w. deep interest, shall not forget you when doing so: the first plate shewing a view from Darjeeling, my brother would likely recognize; he had & may have still, a tea plantation up at Darjeeling.” – (I had sent my friend a copy of your work, which I purchased here.)315 I have recently received a kind of Circular from XtCh (N.Z.) asking me to join in requesting our N.Z. Govt. to republish your “Hdbook” with additions, & for Kirk to become Editor! This latter I could not support. Here I must close: Kindest regards to Lady Hooker & yourself & believe me Ever & always yours W. Colenso.
92° down in Bank &c in town!! P.S. I have been keeping pretty well of late – with more of Ch. duty on Sundays at outlying villages – TM. away. _______________________________________________
14 October 1893316 (Cook & Banks in H. Bay, and near Napier, on this day!) (With a local newspaper) Napier, N. Zealand, October 14th 1893. My dear old & highly esteemed Friend, How can I sufficiently thank you for your very long and interesting letter of August 14th ? containing such narration of Sir Jos. Banks’ Journals, &c. I have just again gone over it for the 3rd time, and, “upon my word”, I scarcely know which of two emotions is uppermost in my mind – Joy at your having, at last, got hold of Banks’ valuable Journals in their entirety: or more Wonder, at your doing so much – so very much in the way of writing, – collating, correcting, &c, &c, for that fresh opus magnum – “the Index” – added to your former Herculean Job – “Flora Indica”, and, also, your numerous monthly works in Botany!! I stand aghast! and almost think – fear, you may yet overtax your brain. Well: that is good news. I never could learn what had become of Banks’ Journal! the why & the wherefore thereof, &c, &c., all being a mystery to me: now you have unravelled & explained. I sincerely hope you may get a Publisher, (in such a case, I should think, the head London Booksellers would join in bringing it out, – as they used to do in former days (from their long imprints in Title-pages of many heavy works): I would that I could well help you in this matter, but I will subscribe £10 towards your getting it fairly copied (as you say) for Press: – and, if necessity arises, I will even endeavour to double that sum, and make it £20. – |