My dear Hooker

I have returned home now three days.— You offered to send me a copy of your testimonials; I sh^d like to see them (for the purpose of mentally abusing the corporation),¹ for I have read with much interest & sympathy in the Gardeners’ Chron. the speech of the Provost.—² I cannot get over my surprise at the result, so confident did I feel about it, knowing who your competitors were.

I have finished Cosmos & you must excuse my having sent it to be half-bound, for I was really ashamed to return it, with the out side (not inside) in so tattered a condition. On the whole I am rather disappointed with it; though some parts strike me as admirable; there is so much repetition of the Personal Narrative, & I think no new views, in those parts on which I can at all judge.— His occasional notice of my Journal ought to turn my head.—³

I have been taking a little tour, partly on business, & visited the Dean of Manchester & had very much interesting talk with him on hybrids, sterility & variation &c &c.—⁴ He is full of self-gained knowledge, but knows surprisingly little what others have done on same subjects.— He is very heterodox on ‘species’: not much better, as most naturalists would esteem it, than poor M^r. Vestiges. I also visited Chatsworth, & was absolutely delighted with the great Hot-house.

When you feel inclined (but not before) write to me, about yourself & tell me what your intentions are for the ensuing winter: I suppose you have lots of work in hand. I trust from my bottom of my heart, that this election will not discourage you in the noble scientific career which is open to you.— I was much amused with one of the Baillies remarks, that if Balfour had gone on the Antarctic Expedition, he would have done as well as you;⁵ & no doubt if he had gone to S. America, he would have done as well as Humboldt! How they do crow over their Professors; in my day at least, it w^d. have been hard to have picked out a poorer set.

I see the “Antarctic Expedition” advertised:⁶ if Sir J. Ross’ face & maners do not belie him, it will not be a very entertaining work.— How long & earnestly I have wished, that you w^d. publish a Naturalist-Journal of the Expedition.—

Have you anything you wish to send to Ehrenberg? I am going in a few days to send a parcel to him

Will you be so good as to remember me kindly to Sir William. Yours ever | C. Darwin