1893 Sep 1 JM to Louie p1

• Main Author: Muir, John
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Scholarly Commons 1893
• Subjects: Environmentalist; naturalist; travel; conservation; national parks; John Muir; history; correspondence; letters; Antarctic; Hooker; Dunbar; Huxley; Rosse; Antarc*; Ice cap
• Online Access: https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/4855; https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/context/muir-correspondence/article/5871/viewcontent/muir00_126_let.pdf

[Page 1] Bell Heather from Hookers Home I write to Helen + Wanda a day or two ago. Euston Hotel, London Sep. 1, 1893. Dear Louie. Yesterday afternoon I went to the home of Sir Joseph Hooker at Sunningdale with him and his family and was his guest in grand style and had a glorious time every way At 5:30 this afternoon I returned to London, arriving here about 8 o'clock + now I am done with London and shall take the morning express to Edinburgh "[Page 2] tomorrow, go thence to the Highlands to see the heather in full bloom, visit some friends, I go back to Dunbar for a day, [get some clothes made at Edinburgh, etc. Chen go to Liverpool two or three days before the sailing of the Campania to visit my cousins the Hays and then off for home. I have been at so many places and have seen so much that is new, the time seems immensely long since I left you. Sir Joseph and his lady were very cordial. They have a charming country residence, far wilder and more retired than ours, though within 25 miles of London. We had a long delightful talk last evening on science and scientific men, and this forenoon and afternoon long walks and talks through the grounds and over the adjacent hills. Altogether this has been far the most interesting day I have had since leaving home. I never knew before that Sir Joseph had accompanied Rosse in his famous Antarctic expedition as naturalist. He showed me a large number of sketches he made of the great ice- cap, etc., and gave me many facts concerning that little known end of the world entirely new to me. Long talks, too, " "[Page 3] about Huxley, Tyndall, Darwin, Sir Charles Lyell, Asa Gray, etc. My, what a time we had! I never before knew either that he had received the Copley Medal, the highest scientific honor in the world. I hope to hear from you again before sailing, as I shall order my mail forwarded from London the last thing. I feel that my trip is now all but done, though I have a good many people to see and small things to do, ere I leave. The hills in full heather bloom, however, ...