Colenso’s collections
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I send you a Newspaper containing a long letter of mine on Aciphylla, in which you are prominently mentioned: also, in another Newspaper, a letter of mine on Holcus, & on Cincus: and a third letter (this morning!) on Arctium. – Weather of late very fine & hot – sultry: thermr. here in my cool house 76°-80° daily. I don’t ever pay any attention to such things, but my heart has lately (during 2-4 months) bumped away at a terrible rate – not fast but loud & strongly, regular in its rhythm! but kicking-up such a row as almost to stop my reading or writing, – or even to my hearing the rain or the rustling of the leaves of the trees outside; such lasts about an hour, or less, then it subsides – goes to sleep! Like that famous Geyser in Iceland, of which your honoured Father wrote so eloquently. Some folks, I fancy, would be frightened at such erratic & abnormal movements and visit a Doctor’s surgery! May I ever be kept from that! –– And now my dear friend, once more, Good Bye! Don’t be too hard on a garrulous and prolix old man. Please make my best respects to Lady Hooker: – and to you – now as ever, eternal love & affections, Yours affectionately, W. Colenso. P.S. closed, Feby. 10th. –– Engaged 3 days – “off & on”! ________________________________________________
28 March 1894322 Napier, N. Zealand, March 28, 1894 My dear old friend, An incident has just happened, which causes me to write to you – instanter – a few lines only by this extra Mail. Last evening the Hony. Secy. of our Society lent me a big catalogue of Books, lately received from London (from Quarritch), – and in going over it (or, rather, rushing through it!) I met with the following item, which made me stare: I copy verbatim for you: – “Lot 792. Banks (Sir Joseph) autograph Ms. of his Voyage in the Endeavour with Capt. Cook, unpublished, 2 vols. calf. 410” – page 60. – also:- “Lot 74. “Bidwill’s Rambles in New Zealand, 1841” with 2 other books. ––––– “To be sold by Auction by Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, at their House, No. 13, Wellington Street, Strand, Monday 28th May, 1894, and 2 following days.” ––– Lot, No. 792, on the 3rd day of Sale: Lot, No. 74, on the 1st From a “Catalogue of Books, formed by J. Henniker Heaton M. P.” (Nearly all on Australian, Australasian & N.Z’land, things & matters: and many valuable works among them.) ––––– Now if “Banks Journal” is genuine, I would go as high as £21. for it, (provided you don’t require it): and for “Bidwill’s Rambles in N.Z.” (which, for many years, I have been seeking in vain!) – any fair price – say, to £2. or so. It is a sm. book: there is now a copy Wellington Pub. Library. Bidwell stayed at my house, on his return journey, (Paihia, Bay Islands,) – Can you possibly manage this matter for me? – Quarritch seeks Commission to purchase – but?? Dear “Joey’s” kind letter and loving book-present are to hand “all right” – will write anon. I am keeping well, very busy as usual! Kindest Regards, W. Colenso.
________________________________________________ 10 July 1894323 Napier, N. Zealand July 10, 1894 My dear old friend, I had but just finished putting up a small book packet for you, (viz. “Authors’ copies” of my papers in vol xxvii “Trans. N.Z. Instit”., recently to hand from Sir J. Hector), intending to write a few lines w. them, when your letter (aye 2!) of May 20th. arrived, our mail closing today, and I not very well, (a strong gale of wind & rain!) all I can at present do is to acknowledge them w. thanks – and, also, your most kind letters – of April (!) including Lady Hooker’s and your dear son Joe’s: – (Eh! What a sinner I am in not having ansd. these last!) I have, however, been ill, severe colic & obstinate diarrhea, (rather seriously while it lasted,) up in the Bush, too! End of May & beg. of June, obliged to call in Med. aid, – when med., low diet and confinements to bed & room, brought me low and very weak when I did rally; and since my return to Napier, I proceeded with my putting up (slowly) Crypts. for Kew – long promised – Mosses, Lichens, &c., hoping to have finished them for this Mail, and then, also, pay my debts – write to you & yours there in your Tusculum, – or, better, perhaps “dulce domum” at Sunningdale. – But “bide-a-wee”. On the whole I am not sorry I did not get that copy of Banks’ Jl., – though I hope the Brit. Mus. may yet possess it, I trust to do better w. that sum of money: besides I am beginning to think (no!) have long been exercised thereon) what to do w. my val. library. – I cannot understand Henniker Heaton – but, there, that is nothing to me! – Re those pubd. papers of mine I now send you: I wish to call your particular attention to one in defence of Von Haast – read, too, at Wellington, before his pseudo-friends! and note specially, at end, my 2 apt. quotations – 1, from Tacitus and 1, from an early Pope of Rome (1st & 4th.) Clement, whose Ep. to the Corinthians was then read in the churches together w. the Apostolic (Canonical) Epistles! I have a double reason for adducing this. Maskell (a Governor, too!) is an out-&-out R. Cath., & now & then shows it there at these meetings; but I don’t think he knew (at the time) of my authority, &c. –– Another paper – on the Agave, will interest you, I think, – if you are not already aware of its many flg. suckers! – and also (in same papers) my anecdote of you and Sinclair in Bay of Islands. I hope you may remember it, and so have explained it to Lady Hooker. Obliged to close in haste. Pray make my very best respects to your dear wife, Lady Hooker. I purpose writing to her ere long: also, give my love to our dear boy Joe – whom you have there and, I hope, all well. I feel indebted to him also! Væ mihi! shall I ever repay? I fear, you are working too hard – too closely. Ever my dear old friend, Yours affecty. W. Colenso. P.S. My youngest son, in Penzance, Cornwall, tells me the Clianthus does well & flowers there in his garden twice in the year. but more anon. W.C.
________________________________________________ 13 September 1894324 Napier, New Zealand, Septr 13th. 1894 Dear Mr Thiselton Dyer At length I am able to breathe more freely! having this day concluded putting-up those long-promised Crypts. for you. You will scarcely believe me when I tell you that I commenced this long & laborious job more than six months ago – having had many hindrances, chiefly however the taking Church services away in the country, and so absent 2-4 weeks at a time: – indeed, I only returned on the 7th from Woodville (100 miles S.) whither I went in August for 3 Sundays, the Incumbent being seriously ill with Influenza.
Several, too, of the Mosses (of those I had collected 7-8 years ago) I had partially examined and named – from the “Handbook Flora N.Z.” and other works on Muscology. Some, probably incorrectly. These generally bear their names written on examination, and also a double number (smaller and within brackets), this is given, that, should you wish for more specimens of them, I may the more readily find them for you, as these (so marked,) having been partly examined by me, are kept separate. I should remark re several small scrappy specimens (mostly from the Alpine interior, and from Poverty Bay), that such were casually collected by others, and sometimes sent me in letters, and attached to other plants. Moreover, there are some sps. nov. (chiefly Hookeria) that have been described by me in the “Transactions N.Z. Institute”, – differing from those others described by Hooker in the “Handbook”: I may, however, have erred in so describing some of them. I shall give a list of them and the vol. and page “Trans.”, in which their descriptions are to be found – as a help to your expert Muscologist. I may mention a curious error in the numbers of the Mosses, which I did not detect in time to rectify it, viz. – that on putting up lot No. 3399, instead of making the next No. 3400, – I made it 4000! and so carried on.325 I have still a lot of Phænogams for you, among them several sps. nov., but cannot send them now: hope to do so soon. And this dish (No. 2) of Podocarpus bark shall be sent with them. I have also, a good spn. of a woven floor mat (Phorm. tenax) 6ft. x 4 ft., composed of regular strips 1/6th inch wide, and made 40 years ago (still unused and clean), which I would send for the Museum if you would like to have it. There is nothing of the kind made now: but I think your side should pay expenses – as freightage &c. I suppose, however, your Government are not generous enough to do this! You may have heard from Sir Joseph that I had sent him copies of my papers published in this last vol. of the “Trans. N.Z. Institute,” – and found that, on this occasion, I did not send you any! the reason this – that as you had just been elected as Honorary Member of our Society (together with Dr Codrington – to fill up the prescribed number of 30), you would of course receive from Sir James Hector a copy of that vol. containing them: and as I only get the old limited number of “Author’s Copies” (25) – nothing near enough for my growing wants, I was only too ready to omit forwarding to you (pardon me this). I must also congratulate you on your election – and I may add that, as a step towards it, I had early written to Sir James in your especial favour. 29th. I now close. I had intended to write to my dear old friend Sir Joseph by this mail (now closing), but the Annual Diocesan Synod, closed late last night, has prevented me: I hope to do so by next Mail. Please give him my kindest best remembrances & regards Believe me, my dear Mr Thiselton Dyer, Yours faithfully, Wm Colenso. 7 January 1895326 Napier, New Zealand January 7th 1895 My very dear old friend. I must not allow this mail to leave us without a line – at the beginning too, of the New Year: – and I heartily wish you and all yours at Sunningdale the good old English greetings of this season from the Antipodes – hoping also that you all are well. I do not intend this to be an answer to your last, (now before me in an ever-growing big bundle of unansd. letters!) I am, I may say, getting pretty near the end of my recent heavy work. When I do so I purpose writing to you fully: so trust me a little longer. I think I may truly say I have not known for many years such a busy time as of late – 3 past months. I have not known a holiday, working Sundays, too! With this I purpose sending you a paper, which will help to show you (in part) how I have been engaged – in fighting the Rom. Catholics! They began the fray. I did intend to send you copies of all my public letters (7 in all) on this question – but I feared to try your patience and steal away your valuable time, and so I only send the 1st and last: the first – that you may see how it originated, & the last that you may know a little more of what your old N.Z. friend has had to meet and fight with in days of yore! (stern realities!!) in this Country: and possibly my experience to Bay of Islds, at those times, too, (your winter Home & anchorage in “Er.”, & “Terror,”) may serve to recall not altogether unpleasant memories. But the public letters were only in small part of my late & present labours: 2ndly my Botanl. papers for Trans. N.Z. I. Last year (Sept-early Novr.) I was called on to aid our branch Institute with Papers (promised), and as they had commissioned an Australian portrait painter327 residing in this District – an artist celebrated in his way to paint my port. in oil for me – I consented to do my best: at last, I had 2-3 papers draughted (not ready for press) which I produced & read from, showing spns. mounted, &c., and had till 3rd Decr. given me to have my fair copies ready for Sir J. Hector, (not yet finished! væ mihi!) Then came suddenly the braying of the R.C. clarion – war note! and at same time, or nearly so, a call to help in our Ch. No. 2, in this town, through Minister unexpectedly resigning charge: & then, in further addition, letter from abroad, and specimens – fresh alpine! from several quarters – all wanting speedy replies! My oldest acquaintances say, I am “a Wonder” – as to work, health, freedom from old chronic Rheumm. age, &c, &c. –– Now my dear old friend, forgive my shortcomings – my apparent forgetfulness – not really so, I assure you; and take my part (if needed?) w. my yg. friend “Joey” and Lady Hooker. And w. kindest regards and best wishes – hoping & fully purposing to write again – soon: Believe me. Yours ever & aye W. Colenso. 15 April 1895328 Napier, N. Zealand, Easter Monday, April 15th. 1895 My dear & valued old Friend, How are you? must be my first line, although I can get no reply. I hope very well – you & your wife & family all hands quite well at Sunningdale: notwithstanding your late very inclement season, which, I fear, may have killed some of yr. choice plants around your Tusculum. I have long been very desirous of writing to you, but have been continually hindered by a multiplicity of things – work, work, always on duty (sans pay), at the wheel or elsewhere in this big ship. I think I scribbled a note to you in the beginning of this year, just to let you know how I had been situated, and promising speedy amendment, hoping for a quiet time; but I little knew then what was coming! Shortly after my note to you we had to prepare for the Consecration of our new Bishop329 (on 20th Jany.), a great Ch. time here: and after that, all hands great & small (new Bp. Dean, Archdeacon, Canons, &c, &c,) went S. to Nelson to the General Synod of the whole N.Z. Church, – and heavy duty fell on me both for Cathedral & St. Augustines’ Ch. in this town, which continued until past the middle of Feby. – then, for 24th Feby, I had to go to Dannevirke (80m. S.) Ch. Services there: then back here again for Ch. Service early in March: then again to Dannevirke for Sunday 24th March, and further S. to Woodville (duty): in intervals correcting sheet of proofs for “Trans. N.Z. Institute”, vol. xxvii, from Hector, & answering many questions – re plants, insects, blights, &c, &c., besides all that I have had (& still have) a heavy amount of business, including much writing for myself – & many others, – as an (or the) old settler much has been entailed on, or grown with me. Now all this by way of preface! I have no letter from you for ’95: indeed, I did not expect neither deserved any, for your last kind ones have not yet been responded to. But I have received Vol. III “Index Kewensis,” and, more recently, (in Feby.) Lady Hooker’s welcome & valuable Xmas. remembrance, in 4 lovely large photos of your paradise; which, I trust, is still retaining its old glory renewed by Spring. I read with avidity your dear son’s long extract from Sir Jos. Banks’ Journal re Poverty Bay, &c., but was disappointed in not finding more that was new. I suppose that you have not been able to meet w. London Publishers to carry out yr. wishes respecting its publication. I have not yet found time to dip deeply into this III. vol. “Index Kewensis,” although I have managed to cut open all its leaves (as, also, of both parts I & II) which I do while resting, or “lying on oars,” – just as a smoker might take a whiff ’tween watches & “spells.” – I noticed, however, your cutting adrift Phormium Colensoi – which I regret for several reasons. You mention Jolis, in vol. III “L. Jl. Bot.” but I think you overlooked my explanatory letter to your Father in vol. IV, l.c. Seeing too, that, both Dieffenbach & yourself had seen the plant growing in my garden at Paihia; so that should “Colensoi” be deleted, I think “Forsterianum” has the priority – (is not this clearly shown by you in your HandBk. N.Z. Flora?) But it is not so much for that, as for the name you gave it having been so long established, through your own choosing, as to have become quite a “Household Word” among us, – and in all Government Papers during the last 30 years, and also a Cosmopolite in Gardeners’ Catalogues, & letters by the score: and I have noticed, that Bentham in his “Flora Austral.” has sometimes acted in a similar way, – i.e. not disturbing an established name well-known; and if I mistake not, you (and Baker, too) have so dealt with some Ferns, &c. And I am, I fear, writing too much on this subject seeing it is too late now. Yet it is just what I should say, were we together. I early wrote to Auckland (Cheeseman), and to Wellington (Hector), and down S., re the “Index Kewensis,” & hope they may all get copies. I have received, during 1894-5, from kind friendly amateur collectors specimens of several mountain plants that are new (to me): a few only of them have I found time to examine, – one, a Trochocarpa, has pleased me much, though I want more & better spns. Also, a Colobanthus, Cerastium, Sagina, Claytonia, Nestera, Caladenia, &c, &c.; – and 2 Ferns from our lower woods – an Adiantum, and a Hemitelia, own collecting, (which may (?) even pass Mr Baker’s scrutiny!) But spns of all I fully intend and hope to send to Kew during our approaching winter months – when I shall be shut up in Dock, though not to hybernate. I intend to write to Lady Hooker by this Mail, but I had better give you some of the dry details. It was my intention to have looked-up some nice striking N.Z. views, at Xmas. time here in our Bookseller’s shops for Lady Hooker, knowing from advertisements in our local papers that such would be there: but the close work I had in writing re Rom. Cath. Ch. at that season, – also copying my Botanical papers for Sir J. Hector, which were sadly delayed, that, when I went to our shops, the best were gone! I was told – “More were coming,” but I have not been so fortunate as I could wish. However, last week, I secured some, intending to send them by this S.F. Mail, but now I find, that the S.F. Mail does not take the “Parcel Post”! So my parcel will have to be sent by the “Direct Mail,” leaving here a fortnight hence. I did hope to get it sent by the “Book Post” per S.F. Mail: but here again am I check mated, my parcel being 4 inches too long, and 8-10oz. too heavy! their Book post limit being 18 inches length, & 4 lbs. weight. This official “red-tape” delay has caused me some vexation – loss of time in going to town and arguing (in vain) with P.Master, &c, &c. – but, as the old adage runs, – “What can’t be cured, must be endured.” Now do you, as a good loving old Friend, put all this into your choicest flowery & poetical language for Lady Hooker. I am keeping well in health – “a wonder”! all my old acquaintances say: certainly much better than I was a few years ago, freer from Rheumatism, which I set down to my terrible long-pull (2nd relapse) of “Influenza”, age, of course, telling: eye-sight beginning to fail for reading small type (margl. references, &c.) save in strong light and the worst is – I cannot get specs. to suit! I get sleep every day soon after dinner (1 p.m.), in spite of all my exertions to stave it off! 5-6 minutes, however, is all the sleep I seem to require; sometimes I doze off sitting in my chair at writing, – and have curious fits, mg. & evg. regularly, of strong sneezing. I tell you all this as an M.D., and having no teeth left, and cannot be fitted by any dentists, unless I submit to have a number of stumps drawn, that are firm as rock, – they proposing chloroform,330 which I will not hear of, – and so I am obliged to live on soft food – but I endeavour to be content w. thankfulness. –– Easter Tuesday, 16th: night. I send you a paper of this morning, which contains a remark or two on me in connexion w. Dannevirke from some unknown writer that may interest you. – It also contains sad news of the stoppage of our S. Railways, also the Coach road between Woodville & Wellington, owing to this long and severe gale; the passage through the tunnels in the Gorge at Manawatu being again blocked! and the wires also down!! I scarcely know how this Mail is to leave Hawke’s Bay, so as to be in time for the S.F. – steamer at Auckland. –– Once more, my very dear old Friend (I may truly say – my Dearest!) Good Bye. And with every good wish, Believe me, yours heartily, W. Colenso. _______________________________________________ 7 January 1896331 Napier N. Zealand Jany. 7th 1896 My Ever Dear Old Friend I cannot allow this mail to close without sending you a few lines – If only to wish you & yours a most “Happy New Year”, and so, here at the Antipodes, keep up the good old sayings of our forefathers. I have been thinking much on you during last few weeks. 1) the 4th vol. (& last) of “Index Kewensis” received all right, made me to think, to dream of you, and to rejoice that that very heavy & extra labour of yours was now completed! The ship off the stocks and in deep water! and 2) which preceded this – your speech & Introdn. at the great Geogrl. meeting – re Antarctic Exploration – you being the only officer left of that old (Ross’) Expedition and voyage! caused me to get up a lecture for our branch N.Z. Institute, and tell them what I had personally seen & known – of you all, & of your fearful ducking on that occasion. 3) The issue here (Dunedin) of an account of those S. Islands you had then visited, w. photos,332 a copy I now send you in a Book post parcel (and also a few little souvenirs for Lady Hooker), believing that such, w. account of those Islands and of your plants will interest you. I should have written before but I (too) have been overwhelmed w. work, sadly pressed for time – owing, of course, to the great injury my right thumb has sustained in Railway train, 100 miles away, on 29th May: – At first & for some time I had feared I should lose the first joint but it has been preserved and is only now beginning to be of service! a dreary long time & often in intense pain. This threw me back in everything – thumb bandaged & in the way and I alone! however, that over, passed. Only yesty. I sent to Sir J. Hector my Botanl. paper (read here last yr. from loose and unfinished drafts) which should have been w. him in Nov. – and, as a matter of course, being the only “emergency man”! I have had to help (when required) both sides i.e. all parties in Ch. matters. –– |