38 THE ANTAKCTIC VOYAGE : PEELIMINAKIES 



successive generations will often recur in these pages. James 

 Smith 1 himself was keenly alive to all scientific interests. 

 Knowing what was afoot, he invited Sir William and Joseph 

 to breakfast that the young man might be presented to Boss. 

 It was an unforgettable morning. Sixty years later, writing 

 to Sabina Smith (Mrs. Paisley), Hooker recalled how he had 

 longed to be at the second table, where Boss sat with the young 

 daughters of the house and kept the party lively. His own 

 turn came later. Boss received him very kindly and promised 

 to take him if he would prepare himself for such a duty. One 

 point was that he should first qualify as surgeon. This meant 

 much hard work : as he wrote to Dawson Turner, October 8, 

 1835: 



Papa has I know told you of the distant prospect there is 

 of my going on expedition to the Antarctic Ocean : I can 

 hardly conceive my being prepared both as a Medical Man 

 and Naturalist ; to pass my necessary examinations will be 

 a great push, while again if I do not devote a good part of 

 this winter to Natural History, I had better not go at all. 

 If the expedition does start and I do not go, I shall be dread- 

 fully disappointed, though I am sure I had better not go 

 at all than go ill prepared : the matter will, I hope, stimulate 

 me to exertion. 



From a letter of Sir William's to Dawson Turner, dated 

 January 9, 1839, we catch a glimpse of the difficulties to be 

 overcome and the influences set moving to overcome them. 



To-day's post brought me along with your letter one from 

 Dr. Bichardson telling me that their Antarctic Expedition 

 had on Saturday received Lord Melbourne's 2 sanction and 

 would sail on the 1st of May. Dr. Bichardson fears that 

 Joseph may not be qualified in time, and indeed strictly 

 speaking he cannot be until the 5th of May : but I have 



1 ' Smith of Jordan Hill ' (1782-1867) was a lover of literature and the fine 

 arts as well as a considerable geologist, studying especially the changes of 

 level on the coasts of West Scotland and of the Mediterranean, in relation to a 

 glacial period. In another direction his Voyage and Shipwreck of St. Paul 

 became a standard authority, thanks to his experience as a practical yachts- 

 man. His son Archibald, the mathematician, and his daughter Sabina (Mrs. 

 Paisley) were contemporaries and friends of Hooker's. 



8 Lord Melbourne was Prime. Minister from 1835-41. 



