To J. D. Hooker   [25 January 1864]1

Down

Monday

My dear Hooker

As I do nothing all day, I often get fidgetty, & I now fancy that Charlie2 or some of your family ill. When you have time let me have a short note to say how you all are.— I have had some fearful sickness: but what a strange mechanism one’s body is; yesterday suddenly I had a slight attack of rheumatism in my back & I instantly became almost well & so wonderfully strong that I walked to the Hothouse, which must be more than 100 yards.—3

I have sent Scott’s paper to Linn. Soc.—4 I feel sure it is really valuable, but I fear few will care about it. Remember my urgent wish to be able to send the poor fellow a word of praise from anyone.—5 I have had work to get him to allow me to send the paper to Linn. Soc; Even after it was written! out.—6

I asked in former letter about Herbert Spencer, & now I see a number come about Variation &c,—7 but I cannot of course at present read it.—

I find it hard to be patient; now for five months I have done nothing but be sick.—8

Farewell my dear old friend.— | C. D.—

1
The date is established by the fact that this letter crossed with Hooker’s letter of 24 January 1864 (see letter to J. D. Hooker, [27 January 1864]). The Monday following 24 January 1864 was 25 January.
2
Charles Paget Hooker, the Hookers’ third child, was 8 years old.
3
Emma Darwin’s diary (DAR 242) records frequent illness for CD in January 1864; for 24 January she wrote ‘rheumatism & excellent day’ (see also letter to J. D. Hooker, [10 and 12 January 1864] and nn. 2 and 11). The hothouse at Down House was completed in February 1863 (see Correspondence vol. 11, Appendix VI).
4
CD refers to John Scott, Scott 1864a, and the Linnean Society. See letter from John Scott, [13 January 1864] and nn. 5 and 6.
7
CD refers to number 10 (pp. 239–328) of Spencer 1864–7, vol. 1. See letter from J. D. Hooker, 24 January 1864 and nn. 3–8.
8
See Correspondence vol. 11, Appendix II, and this volume, Appendix II.

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

2.4 the paper] above del ‘it’
2.4 out.—] added
3.1 in former letter] interl
3.2 at present] interl

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-4397,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-4397