My dear Hooker

I never thought about the Book belonging to the Public Library.—¹ It is extra-ordinarily kind of Sir William letting me have Books: on some former occasions I do not know what I could have done without this great kindness.—² I will return it next week, by the Carrier & from London by Parcels delivery, which I sh^d think was very safe channel.—

I shall not write to Decaisne:³ I have always had a strong feeling that no one had better defend his own priority: I cannot say that I am as indifferent to subject as I ought to be; but one can avoid doing anything in consequence.

I do not believe one iota about your having assimilated any of my notions unconsciously—you have always done me more than justice. But I do think I did you a bad turn by getting you to read the old M.S, as it must have checked your own original thoughts.⁴ There is one thing I am fully convinced of that the future progress (which is the really important point) of the subject will have depended on really good & well-known workers, like yourself Lyell & Huxley, having taken up the subject, than on my own work.— I see plainly it is this that strikes my non-scientific friends.—

Last night I said to myself I would just cut your Introduction, but would not begin to read—but I broke down & had a good hour’s read.⁵

Farewell | Yours affect | C. Darwin

You are prouder than I am, for I am very glad to hear that Grove patted Lyell & me on the back.—⁶

Some weeks ago, Lyell told me that he had been rereading your Review & N.Z. Flora & looking over De Candolle, so I sh^d. think he ought to know which is yours.—⁷

I had letter yesterday from L. warm with interest & admiration of your Australian Introduction.—⁸