Dear Darwin

I shall always be at home from 9–11 am. so pray choose a day most suitable to yourself, you need not write beforehand—& bring Frank or any one you please (who will perhaps stay after you go)— Sunday is the best day, as no one will disturb us then—²

I have had a weeks cessation of all Nepenthes work, owing to having to get out a paper for 1^st. meeting of Linnean last Thursday on a very difficult subject.³ I shall now begin again.

I was trying M. albida in the Hot House the other day & found it wonderfully sensitive compared to what it was in my room—.⁴ I wonder if the damp heat kept it in the “qui vive”, like a pig before rain! It is in our hottest house now.

I am in a state of temporary inflation— a book just published on the Military operation in Sikkim says of my travels “Never was the Officer Commanding a force favored with a fuller, more able, or more lucid report of a country & it’s inhabitants than I was by the study of D^r Hooker”⁵

I wonder whether Leonard will ever display such military sagacity & acumen as this Commander in Chief exhibits—;⁶ & he has his reward, by being made “Keeper of Crown Jewels”⁷ a sort of Lady’s Maid extraordinary you will say—

Ever yours affec | Jos D Hooker