To J. D. Hooker   13 [April 1860]

My dear Hooker

Questions of priority so often lead to odious quarrels, that I sh^d. esteem it a great favour if you would read enclosed.¹ If you think it proper that I sh^d. send it (& of this there can hardly be question) & if you think it full & ample enough, please alter date to day on which you post it & let that be soon.— The case in G. Chronicle seems a little stronger than in M^r. Matthews book, for the passages are therein scattered in 3 places.² But it would be mere hair-splitting to notice that.— If you object to my letter please return it; but I do not expect that you will, but I thought that you would not object to run your eye over it.— My dear Hooker it is a great thing for me to have so good, true, & old a friend as you. I owe much to science for my friends.—

Many thanks for Huxley’s lecture: the latter part seemed to be grandly eloquent.³ Thanks for your pleasant little note.— I am very glad that you are so much pleased with your Boy Willy,— that is worth everything.—⁴

I have had most obliging & kind communication from Masters. His Father sends me some facts which partly remove a weight about crossing which has pressed me down for years.— ⁵

Ever my dear friend | Yours affect | C. Darwin

I have had nice long letter from Lyell.—⁶

PS. I have gone over Owen’s Review again & compared passages, & I am astonished at the baseness of the misreprentations. But I am glad I resolved not to answer. Perhaps it is selfish— But to answer & think more on subject is too unpleasant. I am so sorry that Huxley by my means has been thus atrociously attacked.—⁷ I do not suppose you much care about the gratuitous attack on you.—

Lyell in his letter remarked that you seemed to him as if you were overworked. Do pray be cautious, & remember how many & many a man has done this, who thought it absurd till too late. I have often thought the same,—you know that you were bad enough before your Indian Journey.—⁸