My dear Mrs Darwin

Will you kindly te⁠⟨⁠ll⁠⟩⁠ me whether I ought ⁠⟨⁠to⁠⟩⁠ write to Mr Darwin whil⁠⟨⁠st⁠⟩⁠ he is so ill—promising th⁠⟨⁠at⁠⟩⁠ my letters require no answering—¹ Do you know that it is such a real pleasure to me to write to him, that I feel it a positive privation not to—

I was very glad to get his letter,² this morning, but he must not try to write to me.

Please tell him that I ⁠⟨⁠ha⁠⟩⁠ve prepared a mere notice of ⁠⟨⁠the⁠⟩⁠ introduced plants of ⁠⟨⁠New⁠⟩⁠ Zeald: from letters of Mr Travers, for Nat Hist Review—³ would he object to my adding Haast’s notes on the introduced Animals? I see Haast says that Mr Darwin may make “any use of his communications how & when you like.”⁴— I should also like to read the letter to the Phil. Club.⁵

My wife & 2 children are still in Norfolk, & will be till end of month.⁶ Willy has been scoured with oil & soft soap & sent to Hastings.⁷ My Mother still keeps her bed, but is well recovering.⁸

With most sincere regards | Ever ty yrs | J D Hooker