My dear Hooker

I heard yesterday & today of your safe arrival & that you are rosy, jolly & fat; & most heartily do I rejoice at it. I wish I were a despot, for I would punish you most severely if ever you again worked so hard as you did for months previous to your Expedition.—¹ In a week or two’s time you must be a good man & write to me; for some time you will of course have much to do.—   Will you give enclosed scrap to Oliver:² He has been extraordinarily kind & has helped me in all manner of ways.—

Since your absence we have had a miserable time & poor Etty has been fearfully ill; but she is now rallying very slowly. I have nothing to say & I need not have written; only I could not resist saying how heartily glad I am of your safe & prosperous return.—

Yours affectionately | C. Darwin

I have been working like a madman at Drosera.

Here is a fact for you, which is as certain as you stand where you are, though you wont believe it, that a bit of Hair ^1/78,000 of one grain in weight placed on gland will cause one of the gland-bearing hairs of Drosera to curve inwards, & will alter the condition of contents of every cell in the footstalk of the gland.³

P.S. I have just received your most kind note. I send the enclosed note though not worth sending, as I am very busy this morning. Hearty thanks about Donkeys.⁴ Etty had bad night. My wife very poorly, so not up to write another word. It is somehow a real pleasure to me to know you are at Kew.—

God Bless you.—