My dear Hooker

Very many thanks for your letter of caution about Murray. I wrote to him & gave him the Headings of chapters, and told him he could not have M.S for 10 days or so., and this morning I receive a letter, offering me handsome terms & agreeing to publish without seeing M.S!² So he is eager enough; I think, I sh^d have been cautious anyhow, but owing to your letter, I have told him most explicitly, that I accept his offer solely on condition, that after he has seen part or all M.S. he has full power of retracting.—³ You will think me presumptuous, but I think my book will be popular to a certain extent, enough to ensure heavy loss amongst scientific & semi-scientific men:⁴ why I think so is because I have found in conversation so great & surprising interest amongst such men & some 0-scientific men⁵ on subject; & all my chapters are not nearly so dry & dull as that which you have read on Geographical Distribution.— Anyhow Murray ought to be the best judge, & if he chooses to publish it, I think I may wash my hands of all responsibility.— And he made very good bargain for my Journal⁶ I am sure my friends, ie Lyell & you have been extraordinarily kind in troubling yourselves on the matter.—

I shall be delighted to see you day before Good Friday; there would be one advantage for you in any other day, as I believe both my Boys come home on that day & it would be a almost impossible that I c^d. send carriage for you.— There will I believe, be some relations in House, but I hope you will not care for that, as we shall easily get as much talking as my ‘imbecile’ state allows.—⁷ I shall deeply enjoy seeing you.— Do not fear about interfering with me in your publication; I have little doubt your views will be, & have arisen, independent of mine.—

Do not judge of your Boys intellect at this early age: I have seen how wonderfully they change.—

I am tired, so no more | My dear Hooker | Yours affect^y | C. Darwin

P.S. Please to send, well tied up with strong string my Geograph: M.S. towards latter half of next week, ie 7^th or 8^th that I may send it with more to Murray; & God Help him if he tries to read it.—

I shall be curious to hear how D^r. Boott has got mixed up & interested with Lyell, Murray & Co.—⁸ I cannot help rather doubting whether Lyell would take much pains to induce Murray to publish my Book: this was not done at my request, & rather grates against my pride. I know that Lyell has been infinitely kind about my affair, but your dashed induce, gives idea that L. had unfairly urged Murray