My dear Hooker

I sh^d. have answered your note sooner, only I have been very unwell, with a small abscess at the fangs of one of my grinders, complicated as is invariably the case with me with my wretched stomach: I think, however, I shall be well again tomorrow.—

I am truly delighted to hear that you will have some work & come here in middle of January. In all human probability this time will suit us capitally, as indeed w^d almost all times: for the only engagement I know of this winter is a visit for a week to my Father.—

Sorrow take you for wishing me sorrow, merely because I egged you on to make a capital speech, & which I am very glad, if it does not turn you from more valuable work, you are forced to publish.—¹ I do not think you were the least “hard” on Bunbury;² perhaps he hardly got the usual proportion of “butter” on the occasion.— I suggest & urge on you, to find out where the Coal-plants from Melville Is^d. are deposited & have a good look at them: the case is all important & never has been gone into even with approximate care, do think of this.—³

When I was drawing with Leonard,⁴ I was so delighted with the appearance of the objects, especially with their perspective, as seen through the weak powers of a good compound Microscope that I am going to order one: indeed I often have structures, in which the 130^th is not power enough.—

I enclose a prospectus of a lady, our neighbour & friend of Berkeley: I do not know how the book will be done, but her own drawings are in truth quite wonderfully beautiful:—

Thanks for the corallines; Heaven knows when I shall begin them; I have been nearly 3 months on Cirripedia & have done only 3 genera!!!

We are both very sorry not to hear a better account of your Sister.

Ever my dear Hooker | Yours | C. Darwin