My dear Hooker

Hearty thanks for the Tristan list:² it has cost you much trouble, but I trust & hope that it may be of use to yourself, & I will carefully return the M.S. at a future time with my own M.S.

You may well say that it would be a mystery if I could explain such facts; I expressly bring these antarctic cases forward as the most difficult to account for on any theory whatever;³ not excepting, as I imagine, even continental extension, but on this point I shall enter a note in my note-book to hear what you have to say, in the autumn, when we meet.— I believe much in Lyell’s iceberg action in bringing seeds, & now that I have put a good many facts together, it seems to me perfectly extraordinary if plants have not been sometimes thus transported;⁴ but I know that you do not believe in this.

The particular point in regard to Tristan which I wanted to know was whether there were more representative species of American parentage in Tristan than in Kerguelen,⁵ but of that we will talk— if that were to prove so, it would harmonise well with my notions; but I have not yet studied your M.S. which I am sorry to see includes a good many plants unknown to you.—

Farewell | My dear Hooker | Ever yours | C. Darwin

I have read half your Review & like it very much. D.C. ought to be very much pleased;⁶ but I suppose the sugar is at the top & the sour at the bottom.