Dear Darwin

I am asked to take shares in the Artizans &^c Dwelling Cy, Limited—, in which you are a shareholder.¹ I do not care about the profits, but if it is really a project for public good, I would be glad to have my name associated with it.

I am trying hard to bear myself after my favorite Motto of “Servate animam aequam”.² I have heard of Owen’s last, but have not looked at it, though Mr Bennett, the subeditor of “Nature” came to me last night, & put a copy in my hands, expressing his profound regret that the Editor had admitted such an article into the paper, & his assurances that he was no party to it.³ I say I have not looked at it, because I have been for some time suffering from sleeplessness, palpitations & pain under the left clavicle—a return of old ailments that I thought I had got rid of for ever, many years ago.⁴ As it is, I suppose I must now answer Owen—which I am led to believe requires nothing but to show the falsity of his assertions.⁵ Is it not strange that an officer in my position, should serve under a Govt., which (through its’ own Minister, Ayrton) hounds on a man (Owen) as to attack a subordinate official character & labors, such is literally the fact—⁶

I have not yet thanked you for your book, nor I regret to say have I opened it.— Harriette is deep in it— Berkely was also charmed with it.⁷

Please do not allude to my pains (corporal) in writing to me— they will all pass off I doubt not. I am otherwise robust.

We had a long letter from Tyndall, read at the x. last night, he writes in great spirits & very picturesquely—delighted with the country, views & people.—⁸ I hear that an American paper describing his Lecture says that “he speaks with a slight English accent”— I think this is charming—⁹

Ever yr affect | J. D. Hooker

With regard to Dionæa, I would keep it cool—& damp—during the winter, that is if you do not want to examine it at once—if you do, give it very gentle heat, (green house) & cover it, with a bell glass with a hole in the top, allowing plenty of air to get under the glass & out of the top, & raise it close up to the glass of your green house.¹⁰