To J. D. Hooker 10 September [1869]1
Down. | Beckenham | Kent. S.E.
Sept. 10th
My dear Hooker
We are all very sorry you cannot come here at once, but shall be very, very, very, glad whenever you can.2 We have had our Dutchman, Prof. Donders, who came with Bowman to luncheon: he is a very pleasant, jolly man & good “Darwinian”(!).3 He was speaking about Miquel. By the way, if you N. B would like it, & Miquel not dislike it, you could propose to bring him here for a Sunday, but it would rather spoil your visit selfishly for us, & in this case you must tell the truth & tell M. how little I can see of anyone.—4
Thanks for news about Exeter; much of which was new to me, but as far as I have heard & read I agree to every word you say.5
But you do not mention the most charming (& that is the correct word) speech of all & that was yours on resigning the Presidentship.—6 By Jove you ought to have been an embassador, a foreign councillor or some such swell to have made speeches when monarchs are received!—
I received the Indian Census, for which many thanks; but now I know not how far to trust it—7
Yours affectionately | C. Darwin
I am unusually well & been working unusually hard.—
P.S. Henrietta8 will be away on Sat. 18 & at home on Sat. 25. & she will be much pleased if the latter will suit you equally well, but most likely you will not be able to take your choice of times being so busy—
Footnotes
Summary
F. C. Donders has been to lunch – a good "Darwinian"!
JDH’s speech of resignation [as BAAS President] at Exeter was charming [Rep. BAAS (1869)]. JDH should have been an ambassador.
Has received Indian census.
Is unusually well.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-6886
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- Joseph Dalton Hooker
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- DAR 94: 151–2
- Physical description
- ALS 4pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 6886,” accessed on 28 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-6886.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 17