My dear Hooker

The extract from Naudin, which I owe to M^rs Hooker’s kindness, was amply & more than amply sufficient.—¹ Pray thank her also for her nice little note received yesterday which has pleased me much.— I am very sorry to hear about the price of your Introduction; it seems very high, but I suspect that it contains much more matter or words than anyone would at first think. Your presentation copies will cost you a little fortune.— It is really a horrid shame to think that after all your immense labour that you should be heavily fined in hard cash.—²

By an odd chance, on my honour it was only night before last, I was thinking to myself how you could work up your published materials into one volume. It seemed to me very difficult; but I thought you might make a new Essay, & beginning by a sketch of the general great affinities & classification of the great orders, & then pass on to their geographical Distrb. & Geological Succession. And add a chapter on effect on Landscape.— But I clearly foresaw that you would object to the noble art of compiling; but for a general subject surely compiling is necessary. You know how I admire a Compiler! Such a Book would be very difficult; & style would come much into play; & yet I believe you could, if you would, produce a grand Book of the kind.—

You did not answer my query about date of publication of Essay, but I have put down December 1859, & that ends my little Historical sketch.—³

Farewell my dear Hooker | Ever your affect | C. Darwin

I walked home with Grove from last Royal Soc. meeting⁴ & he harangued me to that extent I was half-dead, & he did not at all clearly see what he was talking about. I had thought you rather unjust about Grove; I humbly axe your pardon.—

From a talk a year or two ago, I am sure he then saw nothing about means of modification, & he knew nothing of difficulties—