My dear Hooker

You are a pretty fellow to talk of funking the returning thanks at the Dinner for the Medal.—¹ I heard that it was decidedly the best speech of the evening, given “with perfect fluency, distinctness & command of language”.— And that you showed great self-possession: was the latter the proverbially desperate courage of a coward? But you are a pretty fellow to be so desperately afraid & then to make the crack speak. Many such an ordeal may you have to go through!.— I do not know whether Sir William² w^d. be contented with L^d. Rosse’s speech on giving you the medal;³ but I was very much pleased with it; & really the roll of what you have done was, I think, splendid. What a great pity he half spoiled it by not having taken the trouble just to read it over first. Poor Hoffman came off in this respect even worse.—⁴ It is is really almost arrogant indolence against everyone not an astronomer.—⁵

The next morning I was at a very pleasant Breakfast party at Sir R. Inglis.—⁶

I have received, with very many thanks, the aberrant genera; but I have not had time to consider them, or your remarks on Australian Bot. Geograph.

My dear Hooker | Very truly your’s | C. Darwin

I direct to your Fathers, as I do not know your address in Richmond, which I suppose is a large place.