To J. D. Hooker   [31 October 1847]¹

My dear Hooker

Excuse my writing in pencil, as I am confined to the Sofa by a perfectly devilish attack of my old evil. I have had two miserable days with my stomach also, but am much better today: I should, otherwise have answered your two notes of Thursday & Friday sooner. I am quite delighted that you will come on Saturday: I shall ask no one to meet you— The phaeton shall be at Sydenham on Saturday to meet the Train, which leaves London Bridge at 4^o. 45’ & it shall wait there, for the 5^o. 15’ & 5^o. 45’ trains in chance you sh^d miss the Train, or be much engaged but we will not wait with dinner, beyond 6$\frac{1}{2}$ so that you may be perfectly free & you can have tea & meat. But mind, if it turns out dreadfully inconvenient, do not come, & I will come over to Kew, the ensuing week though it would be a great loss to us.— I fear I shall not be able to leave this place at earliest till Wednesday, & really I have not the spirit to come round by Kew, as we shall see you on Saturday. I cannot tell you, how overdone I have been feeling lately with all fatigue—

You are indeed “game” to the very back bone, to look at, or care for, under present circumstances, the Maldiva Flora: If compelled to guess, I sh^d have expected only the usual Pacific Coral-island Flora, with a dash of India, or perhaps more probably Persia, or even Madagascar— I shall be very curious to hear what it really is.— How I do wish you were back again & Borneo with all its inhabitants (a Sunday wish) at the bottom of the Sea— Do not waste your precious time in answering this.— If I do not hear to contrary my phaeton shall be waiting at Sydenham—

Yours affectionately | C. Darwin