My dear Hooker

I think you will be pleased to hear about your infusoria in the enclosed letter,¹ which will you be so good as to return— Your data must have been grand ones for Ehrenberg. The statement, which surprises me most, is that about the dust, which is well known to fall on ships off N W. Africa, consisting entirely of Infusoria— I have a series of specimens & facts, which I must send to Ehrenberg.—² Shall I offer for you, if he so wishes, for some more Antarctic specimens, in which to hunt for Infusoria.—

I heard at the Athenæum, from some Botanists of you, about a fortnight since, & that your work is progressing well— I, also, heard that you were not looking well; do not trust to your own medical knowledge, & overwork yourself.—

You were so kind as sometime since to ask me to come to Kew; I should much enjoy seeing the Gardens & still more the pleasure of conversing with you.— W^d you when you return the enclosed, tell me at what hours the steam-boats leave London Bridge or, if there are none thence, elsewhere: how long they take to go to Kew, & at what hours, they return; I sh^d wish to get back here at night if I could.— If I can keep my steam & courage up for this great expedition, I will take advantage of your kindness, sometime in the course of next month.

Believe me | Your’s very truly | C. Darwin

Have you heard that Stokes is going to publish an account of his voyage.—³

Is the steam-boat the best way? I get into London at London Bridge by the Croydon Railway.