38 THE ANTAECTIC VOYAGE : PEELIMINAEIES 
successive generations will often recur in these pages. James 
Smith 1 himself was keenly aHve to all scientific interests. 
Knowing what was afoot, he invited Sir Wilham and Joseph 
to breakfast that the young man might be presented to Eoss. 
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 Eoss sat with the young 
daughters of the house and kept the party hvely. His own 
turn came later. Eoss 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 quahfy 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 Naturahst ; 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 sm'e 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 Wilham's to Dawson Turner, dated 
January 9, 1839, we catch a ghmxpse 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. Eichardson teUing me that their Antarctic Expedition 
had on Saturday received Lord Melbourne's ^ sanction and 
would sail on the 1st of May. Dr. Eichardson 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 SJupicreck 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. 
