To J. D. Hooker   28 [July 1859]

Down Bromley Kent

28th

My dear Hooker.

The returned sheet is chiefly that which I read in M.S: parts seem to me (though perhaps it may be forgetfulness) much improved, & I retain my former impression that the whole discussion on the Australian Flora is admirably good & original. I know you will understand & not object to my thus expressing my opinion (for one must form one) so presumptuously.— I have no criticisms.— Except perhaps I shd. like you somewhere to say when you refer to me that you refer only to the notice in Linn: Journal; not that on my deliberate word of honour do I expect that you will think more favourably of the whole than of the suggestion in the Journal. I am far more than satisfied at what you say of my work; yet it would be as well to avoid the appearance of your remarks being a criticism on my fuller work.—1

I am very sorry to hear that you are so hard worked.— I, also, get on very slowly, & have hardly as yet finished half my volume.— My health has been bad enough: with pretty bad returns of vomiting, & I returned on last Tuesday from a week’s Hydropathy.—2

Take warning by me & do not work too hard.— For God’s sake, think of this.— It is dreadfully up-hill-work with me getting my confounded volume finished.— I wish you well through all your labours.—

Adios | My dear Hooker | C. Darwin

1
Hooker wrote (Hooker 1859, p. ii): In the present Essay I shall advance the … hypothesis, that species are derivative and mutable; and this chiefly because, whatever opinions a naturalist may have adopted with regard to the origin and variation of species, every candid mind must admit that the facts and arguments upon which he has grounded his convictions require revision since the recent publication by the Linnean Society of the ingenious and original reasonings and theories of Mr. Darwin and Mr. Wallace. He also inserted a concluding footnote which reads (ibid., p. xxvi): In this Essay I refer to the brief abstract only (Linn. Journ.) of my friend’s views, not to his work now in the press, a deliberate study of which may modify my opinion on some points whereon we differ. Matured conclusions on these subjects are very slowly developed.
2
CD visited Moor Park hydropathic establishment from 19 to 26 July 1859 (‘Journal’; Appendix II).

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

1.5 (for one must form one)] interl
1.7 Journal] ‘J’ altered from ‘j’
1.7 not that] after del ‘as your’
1.9 Journal.] full stop over semicolon
2.1 are] interl
3.1 For God’s … this—] added

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-2478,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-2478