My dear Hooker

The spirit moves me to write a line or two, though I have nothing particular to say & what is very strange nothing to ask. I heartily wish you joy that Wellwitschia is finished & no doubt it will be a great work.¹ Your Scotch simile made me laugh;² but by the Lord how true it is: I have often said that when this or that job is finished, I will give myself a holiday; but alas & alas the days of even half-holidays are over with me;—a holiday is simply an unendurable bore.—

The Genera plantarum are reviewed in the last Parthenon, by some one who thinks you have neglected the treasures of the B. Museum.³ The Reviewer thinks you a disgraced man; for he says you are “notoriously tinged with Darwinism”.

Here is an odd chance; my nephew Henry Parker, an Oxford classical swell & Fellow of Oriel came here this evening; & I asked him whether he knew who had written the little article in the Saturday, smashing the Duke of A. which we liked;⁴ & after a little hesitation he owned he had. I never knew that he wrote in Saturday; & was it not an odd chance? I sh^d. like now to read the Saturday again, & wish I had thought of asking you to return it.—⁵

I have just received a cargo of orchids & Mitchella in excellent state from Asa Gray.⁶ He sends me American newspapers which I never read, & tells me to forward them to D^r. Boott, who writes to me not to send them, as he won’t read them, but that I must not say so to Gray;⁷ & what the deuce I am to do to stop the poor fellow having trouble of posting them, I know not.—

Ever yours affect | C. Darwin