Darwin Correspondence Project

Royal Institution of Great Britain

9th. Oct. 1868

My dear Darwin.

Hinrichs is also a correspondent of mine. Had he trusted more to the natural weight of his views if they have any and less to the policy of making a noise about them he would in my opinion have acted more wisely than he has done.

He has published an attack upon Dana which I should not like to circulate as he shows a temper not to be trusted where cool judgement is required. But you can ease your conscience by sending his papers to me, and I will place almost the whole of them on the table of the Royal Institution. You can tell him that you have sent them to me.

I was rejoiced to hear from dear old Hooker on Thursday week that were able to have a little party of your friends about you, and then again, Bates dashed my happiness by saying that you were not so well as you ought to be. I hardly think that even your naturalists care more about hearing of your improved health than I do.

That charming man Asa Gray, and his still more charming wife are staying with Hooker. I dined there on Wednesday and endeavoured to make it clear to Mrs. Gray that your ill health was a benefit to you inasmuch as it compelled you to ponder a great deal, and this accounted for the extraordinary proportion of thought which your works display.

Goodbye: I hope you will continue to flourish.

Ever Yours | John Tyndall