Palgrave writes to express sincerest sympathy with Hooker in his sorrow and great loss [of his wife Frances Harriet Hooker]. He explains that the sad and unexpected news only just reached him and Katherine [his wife] in the last mail: they received long letters on the subject from 'Frank, Inglis [Palgrave], Cecil and Maria'. He adds that Katherine is writing to Harriet [Hooker], who he is sure is at an age that will make her helpful to her younger brothers and sisters. Palgrave writes that he is glad Hooker has been able to continue with his 'many occupations'. He recalls having previously sent Hooker an incomplete list of the ferns of St Thomas and writes that his family is now, for their health, staying in a drier part of the island where no ferns grow. He describes the vegetation in his present locality as predominantly thorny bushes with the occasional 'feeble' bamboo in the gullies. He thinks that the fresh if unceasing trade winds and dry weather have done him and his family good and the children enjoy playing in the country; he does not look forward to returning to the 'close, hot, unsavoury town'. Palgrave wishes Hooker as happy a new year as is possible in the circumstances, and invites him to write when he has time and ask any questions he may have about the scant flora of St Thomas. Palgrave concludes by stating that there is no prospect of his returning to England, as Lord Derby is keen to continue Lord Granville's arrangement as concerns him. Pages 1 and 4 of 4.