THE IMPERIAL MAGAZINE.

MAY, 1834.

MEMOIR OF WILLIAM JACKSON HOOKER, LL.D. F. R.A. AND L.S. &c.

REGIUS PROFESSOR OF BOTANY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW.

(With a Portrait.)

THE Science of botany, to which Dr. HOOKER has almost exclusively devoted himself, is a study, in the prosecution of which this country has been at all times so distinguished, as to stand, at least, upon a level with any other in Europe; excepting only during the short period of the life of the immortal Linnæus, when such a stream of light was poured upon Sweden as may justly be said to have eclipsed all other nations. But Linnæus was one of those master-minds, which nature seldom produces; which are not the fruit of a generation or a century; and which, strange to say, commonly stand alone, unpreceded and unfollowed, at least by those who may be supposed to have led the way, or who may be worthy to tread in their footsteps. Such was Homer, among poets; and, among painters, Raphael; and such, also, in natural history, was the great Swede. Before his time, the name of the English Ray might well be compared to that of the French Tournefort; and, with these, no third could be found to compete. The death of Linnæus was truly a new era for botany in England: from that period, it may be confidently affirmed, that she has been without an equal. For this pre-eminence we are mainly indebted to the late Sir James Smith. A young man, equally unknown to fortune and to fame, he did not hesitate relinquishing his prospects in the medical profession, entirely to devote himself to his ruling passion for natural history, and to import into his native country, at an expense to him overwhelming, the herbarium and the library of Linnæus; thus constituting himself his heir and representative. These characters, too, he well supported throughout the course of a laborious life; and the respect, and the regard, and the honours he deserved, have been unanimously bestowed upon him by the learned, as well in his own as in other countries. To him we owe the existence of our Linnæan Society, by far the most distinguished body of that description in Europe; to him we likewise owe the being able to boast incomparably the best Flora that ever was published; and to him, in conjunction with the late Mr. Sowerby, we still further owe, what has, perhaps, been above all things, efficacious towards the extension of botanical science in Britain, the work entitled "English Botany;" a work which, during the twenty-four years occupied in its publication, afforded every young botanist an opportunity of bringing forward the fruit of his researches, certain that they would neither be lost to the world, nor fail to contribute to his own legitimate 2D. SERIES, NO. 41.-VOL. IV.

2 D

185.-VOL. XVI.

fame. It were easy to enumerate a long list of those who, originally indebted to "English Botany". for distinction, have, in their turn, conferred lasting obligations on science; and, in this list, Dr. Hooker would find his place but, as the greater part of these are still happily living, to speak of them might be invidious. Such is, unfortunately, no longer the case with the more early friends and contemporaries of Sir James Smith, of whom the whole, or nearly so, have, like him, paid the debt of nature. But, though Hudson, Curtis, Lightfoot, Withering, Sibthorpe, Dickson, and many others, and, above all, the illustrious Banks, then just returned from his voyage round the globe, at the time when Linnæus was taken from the world, are now no longer among us, their names will not fail to live in the annals of their favourite science; and for them, conjointly with the possessor of the Linnæan Herbarium, has lately been raised a beautiful and a lasting monument, in the Sketch of the Biography of Sir James Smith, published by his amiable, intelligent, and affectionate widow.

Dr. Hooker is a native of Norwich, where he was born on the 6th of July, 1785, and where he received his education at the Grammar School, under the care of the Rev. Dr. Forster well known as the successful opponent of Gilbert Wakefield in a contest for classical honours at Cambridge. His father was originally of Exeter, in which city the family has been long established, and boasts a kindred descent with one of the wisest and best men that Britain ever produced, the author of "Ecclesiastical Polity." His baptismal names he inherits from another relative, Mr. William Jackson, of Canterbury, a young man most honourably recorded in "Nichol's Literary Anecdotes," (viii. p. 279,) and, upon his death, Dr. Hooker succeeded to his property. From early youth, Dr. Hooker has had the most decided taste for the study of natural history in all its branches; and, to cultivate this with the greater success, he fixed himself for some years with a distinguished agriculturist, the late Mr. Robert Paul, of Starston; during his residence with whom, he principally applied himself to ornithology and entomology, and was admitted to the personal friendship, as well as to the correspondence, of Mr. Kirby, Mr. Spence, and Mr. Haworth.

This exclusive devotion to botany took place shortly after he returned from Starston to Norwich, and is principally ascribable to his intimacy with the family of Mr. Dawson Turner, the eldest of whose daughters he married in the month of June, 1815; and by her, who is still living, he has five children. Six years previously to his marriage, Dr. Hooker had, at the suggestion of Sir Joseph Banks, with whose warm and steady friendship he was for many years honoured, undertaken a voyage to Iceland, with a view of exploring its natural productions. The voyage was made in the company of a London merchant of the name of Phelps, who had embarked a large capital in a project for importing tallow from that island. During the three months of their residence in the country, Dr. Hooker had an opportunity of visiting the extraordinary boiling springs known by the name of the Geysers, as well as the principal volcanoes and the other most striking phenomena of that interesting island. Nothing could be apparently more fortunate than this tour;

"Sed scilicet ultima semper, Expectanda dies homini ;"

and the last day of the expedition was truly disastrous to Dr. Hooker. He had already set sail homeward with an ample store of drawings and memoranda, as well as of the natural productions of the island, and the

vessel had just lost sight of land, when she was discovered to be on fire, and all he had collected fell a prey to the flames. What aggravated the misfortune was, that it was not the effect of chance, but was caused designedly by some Danes, whom they had brought prisoners from the island, and who, in this desperate attempt at revenge, were utterly regardless of their own safety, which nothing could have secured but the accidental circumstance of another vessel heaving in sight, in a sea where scarcely three vessels are to be seen in a year. In consequence of this accident, Dr. Hooker returned to Iceland; and the following extract from a letter, written almost immediately afterwards, well paints the circumstance and the man. "Last Friday we embarked in the Margaret and Ann, for England, with the Orion prize under our convoy. The latter vessel sailed so ill, that we almost immediately lost sight of her, and expected to see her no more. Providentially for us, she, during the Saturday night, took a different but more dangerous course among some rocks, and thus hove in sight the next morning just before we discovered our ship to be on fire. On this discovery, we fastened down the hatchways, and endeavoured to make for the first land; but it was soon found necessary to abandon the ship; and, by means of our own boats and those of the Orion, we happily reached this latter vessel in safety. In about two hours, our charming vessel, with her cargo of oil, tallow, tar, and wool, altogether worth £25,000, exhibited one of the most magnificent spectacles ever beheld. She very shortly burned down to her copper bottom, which floated about like a great cauldron, blazing prodigiously, till we lost sight of her, making for Reikevig, which we reached on Tuesday. Nothing could be saved but what was lying in the cabin. All my packages of plants, which I had collected with so much toil, and all my minerals, drawings, and journals, as well as my Danish and Icelandic works, in short, every thing I had, except an Icelandic dress, and the clothes now on my back, perished in the flames. When I read what I have written, I feel inclined to wish I had not told you so much, lest you should think I make myself unhappy about the circumstance; but I assure you I feel so rejoiced at being alive with all the crew, after so narrow an escape, that I think little of what I have lost. I have had the satisfaction of seeing the Geysers in the greatest perfection, and also of seeing the other most interesting objects in Iceland, and I am comparatively regardless of what I have suffered.' So little, indeed, was Dr. Hooker's spirit or zeal broken by this misfortune, that he even made arrangements the following year to accompany the late Earl of Guilford to Ceylon; but he was dissuaded from exposing his life to the dangers which so ardent a naturalist would hardly have failed to encounter in the torrid zone. Thus turned aside from the favourite bent of his mind, he fixed himself in business at Halesworth in Suffolk; and he continued there till he accepted the Professorship of Botany in Glasgow, in the spring of 1820, since which time he has resided in that city. The only journeys he has undertaken subsequently to his visit to Iceland, were to France, with Mr. Turner's family, in 1814; to Switzerland and Italy, in the latter part of the same year; to Ireland, immediately after his marriage; and to Holland, in 1819. His publications, which are very numerous, have all been confined to the subject of botany, with the exception of the Journal of his Tour in Iceland, which, notwithstanding the loss of his papers, he was induced to give to the press, under the modest title of "Recollections.” But he would on no account consent to print it for other than private distribution, till the concurring testimony of his friends induced him to preprepare a second and enlarged edition for public sale. As a professor,

Dr. Hooker is deservedly popular : his extraordinary zeal, and the singular amenity of his manners, are sure to gain the regard of his pupils, whom he annually gratifies by an excursion into the Highlands of Scotland. The same qualities have also won him the most extensive botanical correspondence, and probably the largest herbarium in Britain. Such of his works as contain coloured figures are peculiarly admired; for his powers as a botanical draughtsman, and particularly where microscopical dissections are required, are scarcely to be rivalled.

The following we believe to be well nigh an accurate catalogue of his publications:

Tour in Iceland, 1811; 2d Edition.

British Jungermannia, 4to.

Flora Londinensis, a new edition, with a Continuation.
Muscologia Britannica, conjointly with Dr. Taylor.

Flora Scotica.

Musci Exotici.

Botanical Illustrations.

Flora Exotica.

British Flora.

Botanical Miscellany.

Flora Borealis Americana.

Continuation of Curtis' Botanical Magazine.

Fifth Volume of English Flora.

Icones Filicum, conjointly with Dr. Greville.

MAY FLOWERS.

It is not our intention at present to enter into a dissertation on flowers in general, although what subject can be more attractive than the pleasurable feelings and associations connected with the whole vegetable race? From the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop which grows upon the wall; from the oak which lifts its majestic trunk to oppose the tempest; to the humble grass which quivers in every blast beside it, or the gorgeous lichen which enlays its roots; where shall we find a single plant or blossom, to which we do not turn with a sensation of inward love? An attachment to flowers, indeed, meets us in our cradles, and accompanies us to the verge of our graves; and with an unanimity which shews that this fondness for one of the most beautiful parts of nature's workmanship is interwoven with the most subtle principles of our moral essence, we find that all nations at all periods of history, the most savage as well as the most civilized of mankind, are found to have adopted these fragile but graceful emblems, by which wisdom, goodness, and love are written on the broad surface of universal earth, as the readiest and most intelligible way of expressing the fluctuating sentiments and emotions connected with their own fitful state of being. Joy and sorrow, hope and disappointment, love either successful or cherished in vain, are easily expressed by means of this truly general language, and few of the events of human life are uncharacterised by its With flowers we decorate alike the couch of sleeping infancy, and the pillow of reposing age. The child delights to weave its simple garland, sitting in peace and contentment beneath the summer sun; the maiden adorns her brow with flowers in her festal hours of cheerful mirth; and with these the youthful bride entwines her shining locks ere she delivers herself, in the confidence of fearless affection, to the protection and support of another. The banquet is enlivened by their presence, and the pageant receives an additional grace from their hues. With flowers, finally, the green turf is decked, where the hands of affection have deposited, in hope, all that is mortal of the loved relative or long-esteemed friend, or where the voice of sorrow, mourning over early blighted

use.

promises, and anticipations too sanguinely entertained, has pronounced the melancholy words, "Sweets to the sweet, farewell." Shall we mention, as one among many illustrations of the extent to which this natural feeling prevails among all ranks of mankind, the yearning desire with which the fevered artizan, encircled by the din and tumult of crowded cities, and compelled to spend his time, "from morn to dewy eve," in efforts to procure a mere subsistence, clings to the few sickly plants which ornament his dwelling; as the dusty auricula, placed with all due care to catch the full allowance of sunshine, which for an hour or two in the day streams along the sultry alley; wallflowers, which seem longing to flaunt where nature intended them, from the brow of some crumbling turret, beneath an unclouded sky; or even the straggling mignionette, which, though sufficiently hardy to shew a few embryo buds in defiance of all unfavourable circumstances, disdains to waste any of its seducing fragrance upon an atmosphere so unworthy of it, and retains its incensed breath unexhaled, to the last. Surely the instance is scarcely necessary, to say nothing of its having been already noticed in verse, from which our humble prose must not dare to plagiarise.

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But, to descend from generals to particulars.-May is abroad in her progress through our woods and meadows, scattering far and wide the seeds of new and vigorous existence. The sun is high in the heavens, giving promise of a cloudless course, yet, the fresh herbage glistening with dew, tells us that the rain necessary to its sustenance has not been withheld, although we might look long upon the face of that cheerful sky, without dis. covering a sign of the sweeping shower, which half an hour ago dimmed its bright expansion. The lark is mounting over head, uttering lavishly his notes of joyous music, as he soars, lessening, into the heavens; and the wind, which sweeps past us 'silky soft,' and scarcely waving the bough of the tendrilled honeysuckle, is rich with the odours it bears upon its wings from a hundred fragrant herbs; while the clear unwrinkled stream lies like the dark surface of a highly polished mirror, saving where a solitary trout, rising suddenly beneath the shade of living green woven by the hazels pendent above his haunt, falls back again with a plash, which our venerated friend, Isaac Walton, if yet on earth, like Sport in the 'Ode to the Passions,' would have seized his rod in ecstacy to hear. In truth, a goodly day, not to keep house," for every one who is unconfined within four walls by the voice of actual necessity, and who has sense enough to consider an artificial canopy but a poor substitute for the twinkling texture of the greenwood bough; and we know not whether we can turn it to better account, than by making a reconnoisance for the purpose of discovering how far the Spring has advanced in her labours around us, and what flowers, decked in the pride of their new apparel, are waiting to receive our greeting happier unquestionably in this, than he who devotes his morning to a round of unmeaning visits at the doors of a hundred friends; since, however, his acquaintance may alter with circumstances, and grow cold under the influence of levity and caprice, ours remain from year to year unchanged; ever welcoming and welcomed, and preserving undiminished their claims upon our esteem; some from association with the joys and sports of our infancy; some from connexion with the scenes and pursuits of our maturer years; many by recalling the names of those with whom we are connected by ties beyond the power of intervening time or space to sunder; and all bearing the impress of that beauty of design and harmonious adaptation, by which these, perhaps, of all the works of creative power, appeal most effectually to the observant eye: a conjecture which it is not irreverent to strengthen by the fact, that they were once selected as the most suitable emblems of instruction by the lips of Divine Wisdom, when enjoining his rational creatures, after contemplating the care bestowed upon their form and texture, to rely upon the same unsleeping Providence, which has so elaborately clothed the grass of the field, for their own daily supplies of support and protection.

To commence with one of the most common attendants upon our hedgerows and highways. Is it not much to be regretted that the constant recurrence of what in itself is devoid of neither elegance nor beauty, should effectually blunt our susceptibility to these qualities in any object by which they are frequently represented. What else could