My dear Hooker

I have read your 1^st Sheet & return it by this Post.— I like it very much, but really have no criticisms.— Some of your remarks are new to me. There is a good deal, of course, the same as will appear in my Book; but yet somehow everything is taken up from such different points of view, that I do not think we shall injure the originality of our respective Books.—²

I sh^d. have liked to have seen several examples proving truth (or showing its probability) of some of your remarks; as of best marked vars. being on confines of the range.³ Or again in regard to your remark of a species remaining for many generations constant under culture & then suddenly commencing to vary.—⁴

Under a purely selfish point of view I cannot help groaning to think what an advantage such a criticism would have been to me, if written after my Essay had been published; I now fear you will wash your hands of subject & think no more about it.— My God how I long for my stomachs’ sake to wash my hands of it,—for at least one long spell.—

Ever My dear Hooker | Yours affec^y | C. D.

I again beg to say that there are many new remarks & observations to me.— I felt very sure that this would be so, & only make this conceited remark, because you seemed uneasy about borrowing from me.—⁵

I hope expressed clearly that the sole reason, why I suggested any other day for your visit here was for your convenience in regard to the Carriage.—⁶