Colenso’s collections
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No doubt there is a vast amount of information in it, overlooked by Hawkesworth (if H. ever had it in his possession?) – and now I shall expect to know what I have ever been so anxiously desirous of learning, viz. the very day in which Cook took possession of N.Z., which I (from Parkinson, and from Cook’s former and general manner of acting here in S. Seas,) have stated it to be on the “9th October” – but the Almanac Makers, Newspaper Editors, & others, everywhere! assert to be the 15th November 1769. –– Your letter arrived here on the 1st of this month. On the 2nd our Hony. Secy. wrote to inform me (1) of the last meeting of our H.B. Phil. Instit. for ’93, taking place on Monday 9th., and (2) that he & they were looking to me for my promised papers – so I had to work hard (in imitation of you at Sunningdale!) and get ready: and then I recollected that it was on the 9th. Octr., 1769, – and on a Monday too! that Cook and Banks landed in Poverty Bay and took possession: on 12th their ship was off Table Cape & Portland Island (our N. headland): 13th-15th deep in this Bay sailing round its shores, &c, &c., – and on 15th. (Sunday) the calamity occurred off the S. headland – right Cape Kidnappers! – Well, all this I brought (feelingly) before my audience, & then I produced your letter, so fittingly to hand! and read a few lines (selected) re Banks’ Journal, and its probable publication: winding up by saying – that a future generation in N.Z. will do for Cook & his illustrious band, what has lately been done at Genoa & elsewhere in honour of Columbus & that that day (9th.) should be a Commemoration Day in N.Z., – and doubly so the day & week here in Hawke’s Bay, as this bay was the only one in all N.Z. that Cook sailed slowly round and noted its shores, &c., – all true to life! I had not seen the serial “Nature”, referred to by you, as containing your paper on Banks’ Journal, &c., – it is, however, taken in at our Instit. Library, but many are always on the look-out for it, & get it: but since reading my papers on the 9th. inst., our Library copy has been put into my hands, and I have read your Paper also. It may be that you are a little too hard on Parkinson, that is, what he bona fide wrote, as such, in many instances, I have proved to be correct. (Let “Joe” look up my paper, on “Cook taking possession of N.Z.”, vol. X, Trans. N.Z. Inst. p.99 – it will interest him.) I note w. a sigh – and true sympathy, what you confidentially tell me, re your son in Australia, and the heavy amount of trouble that has been entailed on you! for I, too, am (and have long been) in that boat: my two sons, both in Engd. & both long married, (and, as in his case, to women sans 1d!) have cost me over £200 per ann. each for many years; and then an aged widow sister (relict of a Colonel Tucker) who has a small annuity of £30., costs me £40. a year more; so that – with those certain weights, together with Rates and Taxes, always increasing and very heavy – including Harbour Works (Breakwater, &c.,) waterworks, &c., &c, making a further haul of nearly £200. more per ann. – I have enough to do to keep my ship afloat and running! and seeing that now I am not far from Port, I do not like the idea of getting stranded on some hidden rock or shoal [Banks, financial not Sir Jos., & securities;] before I make my voyage. I saw in some of our S. papers of your son being occupied at Stewarts Island (far away S.,) – and, more recently also, of his having visited a copper mine at a place called Maharahara near Woodville: at this latter place (township) I was engaged all last year (1892) in Church work, but have not been there during ’93: had he come into that locality in ’92 I should have soon found him. I hope, however that he will have seen Sir James Hector, and that Sir James may be able to put him into a fair way – but I fear not! owing to this paltry pettifogging low Democratic Governt. of ours, and the direful apathy of the rich Settlers towards all Science – save that which will immediately interest themselves. Again, I repeat, you astonish me with your account of that terrible work (of labour) “Index Kewensis” – Darwin truly enough said (what he had felt) that such a work would prove to be an inestimable benefit to all good working future Botanists. A short-time ago I received from Oxford a prospectus (& specimen) of the work – with a blank form for me to sign & return as a subscriber, but I have hesitated to do so for 3 reasons: – 1. Of little use to me, now! 2. When I drop, what is to become of such valuable high-price works? (of which class I have not a few) – send them back to London to the hammer! No-one, here, cares a straw for them!! 3. Cannot well afford it. – I don’t know whether you get a copy of the Reports of the “Australn. Assn. for Advancet. of Science” – but in their 4th., just out (a bulky vol.) – the Governor of Tasmania as President at the annual Meeting held there, in his Address – mentions you & Sir G. Grey, & myself – as being the only 3 original corresponding Members still alive of the Society instituted by Sir J. Franklin!! How such an incident tells! I am keeping well: Rheumatism painful, occasionally, in tip of shoulder, where clavicle joins scapula, especially bad at nights; and, also, curious remains of Influenza (or its 2nd relapse!) at times in soles & toes; so that I can scarcely hobble on the day, yet on the next can run, & dance (i.e. in my way). I do, however, believe (as I have told our Medicos here), that, somehow, Influenza has ½ routed Rheumatism. Don’t you (an M.D.) enquire “How?” – for I cannot explain: I merely state the fact! I have still my share of Church work – assisting on Sundays, often two entire services on the Sunday; the night service, however, always tries one, especially the long walk back & steep hill to climb by a zig-zag track roughly cut in it to my house – or “Hermitage”. My eyesight, however, is beginning to fail – that is, only very small print (as marginal references) and in common light, and hitherto I cannot get fitted with specs. here, and am thinking of writing to Browning, London. Just in front of my writing-room window is a fine shrub in flower – Entelea arborescens, 15 feet high; I don’t know if you have it in cultivn. at Kew, I have some stored at present flg. – this hill by seaside being its nat. habitat. its large membranous leaves – as big as dinner plates, on long petioles free & distant, & large cymes or corymbs of fine white flowers at tips of branches, make it a pleasing object and always serves to remind me of your (grander) Indian scenery. My Cordyline diffusa, is also coming rapidly into flower, a tall erect flg. stem something like that of Phormium its leaves are very long: – a sm. plant 10 yrs. ago – first flg. here. I trust to get a small package ready for Kew by Xmas, not of much consequence, but among them 2 articles for Economic Museum (which Mr T-Dyer wished to have) viz. 2 bark dishes (O.S.) – Podocarp. Totara, and a woven Belt of Demoschœnus. I owe “Joe” a letter, which debt I fully intend to pay shortly (before N.Year), please tell him. And now my dearest old friend – once more, Goodbye! May this find you & all at Sunningdale in good health. Please make my respects of Lady Hooker and with much love to you believe me. Yours faithfully, W. Colenso. 16 November 1893317 Napier, N. Zealand, November 16th 1893 My very dear old & valued Friend. I have just finished a long letter to your dear young son, which I send under cover with this to you. I hope it may not prove to be a tedious one to him! I had certainly no intention when I commenced it of writing so much – although (contrary to my usual mode) I took a large sheet of paper. I wrote to you (in reply) about a month back, and then I said, – I would write to “Joey” before Xmas. I trust you are still well and strong, and, if so, working as usual. I have been very well – throughout October especially that month being wholly dry & fine, but with November came rain (welcome, being much needed,) which off-and-on, has been pretty general, glass high – 70°-75° & even 80°, but damp and close – little wind, and I feel it; not much Rheumatism, but a large amount of listlessness – no “Go”! – feeling scarcely fit for anything with poor appetite. – As soon as our General Elections are over, I intend to go inland, to my dear old haunts in the forests – though, I fear, not to work there: perhaps to say, Farewell! I should have gone thither this week, but the Electoral writs are only just out, and the Elections are all to come off on the 28th. inst. and as these are now with us! to be sub-Amazonian and doubly noisy – all hands preparing for the fray, or frays! (Homer’s battles of Frogs & Mice nothing to it!!) and the country hotels and Publics occupied with candidates, and committees, and meetings, &c, &c., – I keep away until “the hurly-burly’s done.” At present I am engaged on rather a long paper in vindication of my late deceased old friend, Von Haast, as against the Frenchman, Quatrefages; – Buller, Maskell, and others having again brought forward Q’s old paper re the Moa of 10 years ago, and got it republished in vol. XXV. “Trans. N.Z. I.” Von Haast would have answered it, had he not to go to England as Commissioner, and I had agreed to help him in it; and now that he is gone, Buller & Co. must fain bring it up again. But, I think they will find out their mistake. With kindest regards to Lady Hooker – and nothing less to your own dear Self, I am Ever Yours sincerely W. Colenso. P.S. I also send a small packet for him, but addressed to you. ________________________________________________ 24 November 1893318 Napier, N. Zealand November 24th 1893. Dear Mr Thiselton-Dyer At last! I am about to fulfil my promise, and write to you. I trust you may by this date have heard from Sir J. Hooker, that in my letter to him of Octr. 14th, I had told him I had not forgotten you. By this mail I send you a small box of sundries.
I should not write to you now, but for the Dish & the Belt & my Promise, as I have not yet been able to put together for you, some Phænogams, Mosses, and Lichens – but hope to do so before long. I suppose you have received a copy of each of my Papers (“excerpts”) in vol. xxv. “Trans. N.Z. Inst.”, I mention this, as I have been recently battling here with our P.Off. authorities about some missing book parcels sent to England by me, and this day, my man at P.Off., in carrying out my instructions, (the weather pouring rain – not permitting my going to town), had a long fight with the officials in getting my little box registered; as they will not register “parcels”, but they will “Books”. Some time ago I sent you some seeds of our N.Z. Palm (Areca sapida); when you next write I will thank you to tell me if they have germinated: as some I sent also to others in England failed to do so.319 I think, in my haste yesterday in packing the little box, in the memo. on the “pine from Cuba”, – I did not state, – that such is the common name of the plant here with the gardener who brought me the spn. I enclosed: and just so, and for many years here (in spite of all I could say), Entelea arborescens growing here in its own proper habitat) bore the name of “Paper Mulberry” = Brauss. papyr.!! –– I hope this may find you quite well – free from Rheumatism. I am very well at present. ––– And with kindest regards Believe me, Yours truly, W. Colenso 8 February 1894320 Napier, N. Zealand, Feby. 8th 1894 My very dear old friend, I wrote to you briefly on 16th Novr. last (tho’ at same time lengthily to your son “Joey”) and now, last week (Jany. 29th) yours of “Nov. 9th” (but postmarked, “London Dec. 11th/93,”) arrived, and gladdened my old heart pretty considerably. Such a long and interesting letter! and you having such a world of writing to do! I have read it, again and again, w. thanks, and w. widely different feelings – for you give me both black & white, sunshine and gloom, and, may I say, I go thoroughly w. you in all! In your grieving over your dear friend, Prof. Tyndall, (a man whom I have long highly honoured & esteemed) whose doubly tragical and distressing end I have only first met with in “Standard” Newspaper since I received your letter: yet, as I am here, I could wish such a quick departure for myself. – and in the loss (pro tem.) of your able zealous assistant in this additional opus magnum, “Index Kewensis”: I hope, however, that his further visit to Isle of Wight may have served to bring him quite round again. I am much interested in your detail re “Banks’ Jl.” & the Londn. Bksrs., &c, and hope that preliminary is over and the printers duly at work on your copy provided, and that I may live to see it published – though unworthy, for my mind has lately been half upset at reflecting that I had not fulfilled my promise to you, of aiding pecuniarily in this matter; and this feeling has been increased through receiving from you (per Wesley & Co.) a copy of part I “Index Kewensis”, and so I determined to go to “work with a will” – and I have lately sold a piece of land, that enables me heartily & lovingly to send you the enclosed £50 – in 2 Drafts = £53, (the over-plus £3. is for “Joey”, to add to his stock in the Bank, as the dear young fellow wrote to me in his note) – said piece of land fetched me £200, divided thus, £50 to you: £50. towards a Bishop’s Endowment Fund, absolutely needed now: £20, subscription to fund for poor Settlers here who lost their all in a great flood in December: and £50. to a hard-working aged Settler w. family (an old friend) who had lost considerably lately. And I feel happy, a load off my mind, that I have this £50. for you – to redeem my promises for “Index Kewensis,” or for “Banks’ Journal” or for any other purpose you may please: it is yours, only say nothing about it. –– With this I send a small registered packet containing a little souvenir from N.Z. for Lady Hooker and a copy of my old paper (in “Trans. N.Z. Institute,”) re Cook’s taking possession of this Country – that you may have it handy, & read what I have brought together in it; for I believe Parkinson to be correct in his “log” – or Journal, as to that particular entry, – more than Orton, Cook’s Clerk, who evidently, was a free & easy careless fellow, (see Cook’s Journal, passim, respecting Orton, & particularly page 258, an incident also given fully by Parkinson,) – P. was a remarkably steady & observant young man, member of the “Society of Friends.” I like his “Journal” & have in several instances, proved its correctness. There may be a few other items re N.Z. in my Papers that may interest you and you can give the Pamphlet to “Joey.” – I have been carefully cutting open top pps. of “Index Kewensis,” (paper very thin, such contrast to that of Cook’s Journal, which is too thick!) dipping in here and there, full of wonder at your work, w. your able collaborators. What a boon for future Botanists! What a world of labour & loss of time you would have saved had such a work been executed earlier! How you can possibly escape many errors I can scarcely conceive – indeed, you already have a Corrigendum. I have noticed 2-3 entries with their future generic references I should like to enquire concerning, but I dare not do so at present, I will wait. One however, that seems complete I will mention, i.e. under Anthericum: –
“– Rossii – Bulbinellæ, sp., &c.” –– Why are neither placed there? –– Why Hookeri in Italic, & Rossii in Rom. letters? Three days ago I received from you an early copy of your speech at R.G. Socy. Meeting, – on a Paper by Dr Murray on “Antarctic Exploration.” I scarcely need observe how deeply your remarks have interested me, (caused me to see, as it were, you & some of your brother officers, and Ross himself in his big sea-boots wading in the calm sea on Paihia beach, collecting, – and the queer-looking ships of the Expdn – at anchor,) – surely all proper attention will be given by the authorities to your remarks. I have often looked into Ross’ Voyage, generally to see about you & S. Botany, and mostly in the cold stormy nights of winter – when I contemplate the pictures! and during last winter I also brought forth from its long sleep, a ponderous 4to. of Ross’ voyage to the N. Pole, and went over that. Likewise Paul Marcoy’s travels across S. America, from Pacific to Atlantic oceans, 4 vols. Folio! with 600 good engravings – a capital work (though, I fancy little known,) which has greatly interested me, (a second kind of Cook’s Voyages – of old, when a boy,) I have had that work nearly 20 years, (pubd. in 1873,) hidden away in lumber-room owing to size, under bundles of plants, mosses, &c, &c. I have also Weddell’s, Magellan’s, Tasman’s, LaBillardiere’s, Krusenstern’s, Kotzebues, Vancouver’s, Wilke’s, & others: and I find, at least, one consolation in growing defective memory, that I can and do go over them again & again, and pick up something new(?) & interesting every time. When I last wrote to you I was very well, but, alas! on 16th Decr., I was again attacked by Lumbago! and this shifting occasionally to sciatica, then to pelvis & trochanters – so that my Xmas. & N. Year were anything but happy seasons – save my knowing that others were enjoying themselves, and this state of chron. Rheumatism kept me back till very lately, so that I have not yet been to the Bush for this summer, but hope to get away thither next week. At same time I know that I shall not be able to get into the virgin forest, & therefore do not think I shall be long away from my town Hermitage. “Rus in urbe.”321 Since date of my last I have passed another “Jubilee” – of my first coming to Hawke’s Bay in 1843, also, another Birthday, and “all alone in my glory” no one to drink my health w. me. Our Bishop left us (for ever, on Earth!) last week, gone to become a Missionary in Persia!! an old man past 60. I wrote to him in Septr., on first hearing of it, against it, telling him plainly my mind, and so far clearing my conscience. In losing him I have lost one of my best friends – if not the very best one, in N.Z., one I could badly spare. There are “2 Richards in the field,” at present, for the vacant Bishopric, if one succeeds, then, I suppose I shall have to shut up – as I consider him, my bitterest enemy! but, bide-a-wee. The young clerics and myself do not – can not pull together: I am not “High Ch.”, and they know that well. I fall in w. Dean Stanley, my cousin the late Bp. of Natal, Jowett (alas! also lately gone,) and others like them in theological matters – as Paul said, “a reasonable Service.” Being tolerably well up in Ancient Ecclesl. History (which many of the younglings are not – though I lend them my books); I fancy that even you might be kept from napping in Church if I were preaching – for I seek always to tell the truth, and that too sans Ch. garnish old and new; and as I say to my Congn. I, an old experienced man apply same to myself, and (as I am never paid – always stand my own expenses of all kinds,) I do not seek popularity, nor work for hire, Oh! that I were younger for this work! but – – – –. Here is a scrap for Lady Hooker: the children – wee bit bairnies – used to be on the look-out for me at Woodville on Saturday afternoons, on the arrival of the train, to catch me on my going to the Church to see that all was in proper order, &c., – the little toddlers without boots, ran along the road, asking in their prattling way – “Going to preach tomorrow, Mr Colenso.?” It always amuses me, aye & pleases me, they are sure to come in for a corner of my sermon on Sundays, which they well understand & remember. I endeavour to keep in mind how the Great Teacher dealt with children, and that “the common people heard him gladly.” I have some youthful correspondents there at Woodville, from 6 to 10 years of age, as I like to write to children. A dear little girl named Ethel, 7 years old, wrote to me before Xmas saying, her father was going to take them (herself and younger brother, Edgar) to Christ Church for the holidays, and there she should see an old lady (probably her grandmother) past 80 yrs of age, who can thread her needle without specs. “Like you, Mr Colenso in the pulpit with your small pocket Bible”. – Of course, my painful disorder hindered my taking any Church duty – save once, obliged to go or shut up Ch. – I was helped into & driven thither in a cab, as I could not walk, & managed the work in Ch. well enough: and I am also down for next Sunday evening. I begin to need specs., but only for very small type and in bad light; and fear I cannot be supplied here: have made several trials with “oculists’ opticians.” (so-called) – yet must try again, – or send to Browning, London. I have lately received a lot of spns. small plants from the alpine interior (not Crypts.), unfortunately they are sadly damaged in collectg. & in carryg. but I think I may find a few novelties among them – in Dracophyllum, Helophyllum, Veronica, Raoulia, Ourisia and Forstera: one spn. in particular has attracted my attention, as being wholly new to me, I shall enclose a flower, to get your early opinion on it. |