My dear Hooker

I have been very glad to see Asa Gray’s letter;² but how I sh^d have liked to have seen yours to him; if you had been half a man you w^d have sent it me, though this w^d have been something new in correspondence.³

I have been wonderfully interested about the C. de Verd Alpine plants.⁴ After giving your Fernando Po case, may I give, in the new Ed. of Origin, the enclosed sentence;⁵ & if so, return it in enclosed envelope, without adding a word as I know how busy you must be: If I do not receive it back I shall understand that for some reason I must not give it.

I sh^d have liked beyond any thing to have seen the Hort. Exhib. but without 2 or 3 days hardening in London it w^d be impossible for me.⁶ Do not forget about Caspary,⁷ & if you can remember it, please say to Decandolle & you can say it with perfect truth, how greatly I regret not seeing him in London.⁸

My dissipation in London did me no harm, perhaps good, though I have lately had a poorish week; & I enjoyed extremely seeing my old friends at the Royal Soc. & their reception of me pleased me greatly.⁹ I saw Tyler there & was much struck with his pleasant manner.¹⁰ Can you lend me Crawford’s paper on Cult. plants?¹¹ What you say about “twaddle” gives me a shudder for I fear it is applicable to my 2 Chaps on the same subject.¹² I have often had it at my pen or tongue’s end to ask you to read these 2 Chapters; but they are fearfully dull; yet I c^d not pass the subject over.

I am getting on with my work & have finished correcting but not revising the Origin, which I think I have considerably improved.¹³ I have now begun again at my other book & am at work on a Chap. on Reversion which to me is a most interesting subject & brimful of my dear little mysterious gemmules.¹⁴

Hildebrand of Bonn has sent thro’ me to the Congress a curious paper on the fertilization of Corydalis.¹⁵ The horrid man has been taking the bread out of my mouth, as he has out of G. Henslow’s,¹⁶ for the Fumariacæ have been a pet subject with me & he has likewise just made out the trimorphism of Oxalis.¹⁷

Lastly, but by no means least, we shall be delighted to see M^rs Hooker & yourself & as many children as you have at home at the end of the first week in June or in any part of the 3 following weeks when we shall certainly be at home, & we hope you will be able to give us a week.¹⁸

yours affectionately | Ch Darwin