My dear Sir William

I write merely to thank you very sincerely for your great kindness in taking the trouble to inform me about your son. I was very anxious to hear something about his safety.¹ Your account is far better than I had ventured to anticipate; I feared that his collection would have gone to rack & ruin— If nothing worse comes of it, it will be in after years a striking episode in his Himmalaya wanderings. How anxious Lady Hooker & yourself must be to see him back, & I am sure that he has very very many friends who cordially unite in this feeling.

With my best thanks | Pray believe me | Yours sincerely obliged | C. Darwin

Some time since Henslow forwarded to you a Geological letter from your son to me; no doubt you will keep it securely, which I mention because your son asked me to keep all his letters.—

I trust Miss Hooker is well— pray remember me very kindly to her.—